Chinese Crested Dog

General Information - Chinese Crested Dog

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History

The origins of the Chinese Crested are difficult to trace. Hairless dogs seem to arise by mutation all over the world, but they have been principally found in Central and South America. The Chinese Crested is the exception, apparently existing in China as early as the 13th century. Chinese seafarers are said to have kept the dogs on ship as ratters and curios and to have traded them with local merchants wherever they called. Thus, the breed was distributed throughout Turkey, Egypt, South Africa and possibly Central and South America. Only in the 1800's were they recorded in Europe, with paintings and later, photographs, including dogs of Chinese Crested type.

Temperament

Chinese Crested dogs are exceptionally friendly. They love hugs and constantly crave human companionship. Chinese Cresteds are intelligent and can perform tricks. This breed should not be babied in order to ensure it grows up to be well adjusted. Chinese Crested dogs love to play with children, they do not bark, but they like to dig and climb.

Upkeep

The Crested enjoys a romp outside, but it hates the cold. It is small enough that it can get sufficient exercise with vigorous inside games. Hairless varieties will need a sweater for cold-weather outings. This is not a breed for outdoor living. Chinese Cresteds are gifted jumpers and some climb. Coat care for the powder-puff variety entails brushing every day or two. The muzzle is usually shaved every two weeks in puffs. The hairless need regular skin care, such as the application of moisturiser or sunblock, and bathing to combat blackheads. Most hairless need some stray hairs removed prior to showing.

Chinese Crested Dog

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions and exaggerations, as well as being mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

Breed Standard - Chinese Crested Dog

General Appearance: A small, active and graceful dog; medium to fine boned, smooth hairless body, with hair on feet, head and tail only; or covered with a soft veil of hair. 

Characteristics: Two distinct types of this breed; Deer type, racy and fine boned, and Cobby type, heavier in body and bone. 

Temperament: Happy, never vicious. 

Head and Skull: Slightly rounded and elongated skull.  Cheeks cleanly chiselled, lean and flat, tapering into muzzle.  Stop slightly pronounced but not extreme.  Head smooth, without excess wrinkles.  Distance from base of skull to stop equal to distance from stop to tip of nose.  Muzzle tapering slightly but never pointed, lean without flews.  Nose a prominent feature, narrow in keeping with muzzle.  Any colour nose acceptable.  Head presenting graceful appearance, with alert expression.  Lips tight and thin; An ideal crest begins at the stop and tapers off down neck.  Long and flowing crest preferred, but sparse acceptable. 

Eyes: So dark as to appear black.  Little or no white showing.  Medium size, almond in shape.  Set wide apart. 

Ears: Set low to highest point of base of ear level with outside corner of eye.  Large and erect, with or without fringe, except in Powder Puffs where drop ears are permissible. 

Mouth: Jaws strong, with perfect, regular scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. 

Neck: Lean, free from throatiness, long and sloping gracefully into strong shoulders.  When moving, carried high and slightly arched. 

Forequarters: Shoulders clean, narrow and well laid back.  Legs long and slender, set well under body.  Elbows held close to body.  Pasterns fine, strong, nearly vertical.  Toes turned neither in nor out. 

Body: Medium to long.  Supple.  Chest rather broad and deep, not barrel-ribbed.  Breast bone not prominent.  Brisket extending to elbows; moderate tuck-up. 

Hindquarters: Rump well-rounded and muscular, loins taut, stifles firm and long, sweeping smoothly into the well let-down hock.  Angulation of the rear limb must be such as to produce a level back.  Hind-legs set wide apart. 

Feet: Extreme hare foot, narrow and very long, with unique elongation of small bones between joints, especially in forefeet, which almost appear to possess an extra joint.  Nails any colour, moderately long.  Socks ideally confined to toes, but not extending above top of pastern.  Feet turning neither in nor out. 

Tail: Set high, carried up or out when in motion.  Long and tapering, fairly straight, not curled or twisted to either side, falling naturally when at rest.  Plume long and flowing, confined to lower two:thirds of tail.  Sparse plume acceptable. 

Gait/movement: Long, flowing and elegant with good reach and plenty of drive. 

Colour: Any colour or combination of colours. 

Size: Ideal height for Dogs 28:33 cm (11:13 ins) at withers. Bitches 23:30 cm (9:12 ins) at withers. 
Weight varies considerably, but should not be over 5.5 kg (12 lbs). 
Copyright Dogs New Zealand
01 Mar 2006

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.