Chinese Crested

The Chinese Crested is an animated and observant toy breed famous for one type’s lack of fur. There are actually two types of Chinese Crested: hairless and coated. The hairless variety has velvety, smooth, often speckled skin with puffs of hair around its head, ankles and tail. The coated Chinese Crested, known as “powerpuffs”, has a smooth, silky coat. While they look quite different, there are no other difference between the two varieties, aside from their coat (or lack thereof). These dogs are known for their slight, fine-boned build and elegant strut. Both types are delightful companions that are as fun to play with as they are to look at. They are loyal and in sync with their humans—a great companion! An added bonus for the hairless variety is that they’re ideal for tidy environments because they don’t produce much odour and obviously don’t do much shedding. 

The breed’s origin story is challenging to pinpoint since it goes way, way back. It’s believed that big, hairless dogs from Africa were sent to China and got smaller as a result of centuries of breeding. Cresteds would sail upon Chinese trading vessels, where they were tasked to catch diseased rats. The dogs were then traded at ports around the world, and picked up the moniker Chinese Ship Dog, along the way.

Did you know?

Chinese Crested have many funny nicknames, including the Dr. Seuss Dog, since it looks like a character from one of the famed author’s kooky books.