Chinese Crested Dog - breed description
The Chinese Crested is a breed that belongs to the Companion Dog Group (IX FCI), Naked Dog Section. An adult specimen reaches about 30 cm at the withers and weighs 5-6 kg. They live on average 13-15 years.
There are two varieties of Chinese Crested: hairless and hairy. The first one (hairless) may resemble a horse in its appearance. The second, powder (powder – puff), is significantly different from its naked counterpart in that it is completely covered with long, silky hair and looks like a miniature Afghan hound. The naked crested dog has erect ears, while the hairy crested can have hanging ears. It is more of an acquired trait than an innate one, as powders with beautifully standing ears are more and more often seen at exhibitions. However, the differences are only visual, while the structure of the crested dogs is the same. Both hairless and powdery varieties can come from the same litter.
Suggested sizes and widths of accessories for this breed of dog:
Here are the suggested sizes for adult dogs of this breed. They were selected on the basis of many years of experience in sewing accessories and the most common choices of other dog owners of this breed. Remember, only measuring will give you 100% certainty - every dog is different.
The Chinese Crested has hair on its head, a distinctive plume on its tail, and distinctive socks on its limbs. The rest of his body is hairless. On the other hand, the powder-puff dog has delicate, long and slightly curly hair all over the body. The color of the Chinese Crested Dog can be tricolor or black, apricot, chocolate, white, blue. Both varieties are great for allergy sufferers. It should be emphasized that the Chinese Crested Dog has hair, not fur, and therefore is not allergenic.
History of the breed
The first mentions of a hairless dog such as the Chinese Crested Dog come from the XNUMXrd century BC. It was bred in China, where it served as a temple dog and accompanied members of the imperial court. Later on, this little quadruped helped people to hunt. It is believed that this breed was probably the result of crossing a Mexican and Peruvian naked dog with long-haired miniature breeds. The Chinese crested dog traveled to other continents from Asia on board merchant ships. In a short time, the dog of this breed became a very fashionable pet in America.
The current appearance of the Chinese Crested Dog is due to the breeding process of this breed, which was intensively carried out in the 80s in the USA. In Europe, the dog of this breed was presented for the first time at the exhibition in Westminster in 1885, and in 1991 the FCI introduced a standardized standard for both varieties.
Character of the Chinese Crested
The Chinese Crested Dog is a mild-mannered, joyful and lively dog. He is a graceful domestic pet, obedient, cheerful and playful. It does not require intense physical activity, which makes it a perfect companion for seniors and people who do not like long walks. Since the Chinese Crested Dog is a companion dog, leaving it alone for too long can lead to separation anxiety. The crested dog gets along very well with dogs and cats, so the company of other animals could mitigate its effects.
The most important character traits of the Chinese crested dog:
- caring - he loves his master very much, he is a devoted family member
- gentle - he is so lovable, cheerful and playful that he can act as a therapy dog
- tireless - he is never tired of playing with children or other animals
- alert - barking at anything that can be both helpful and irritating
- cheerful - loves to play with toys and run around the house and yard
- funny - being the center of attention and becoming a bit of a showman if he gets praise during training
Training
The Chinese Crested Dog is very intelligent, quick-witted and is very good at obedience training. Has the ability to rally and skill competitions. But training this pooch requires a lot of patience, consistency in action and a positive attitude of the guardian. The Chinese crested dog has a delicate psyche, so learning should be gentle, in a friendly atmosphere, and reprimands should be used with great caution.
Chinese Crested Dog and care
The hairy variety of the Chinese Crested Dog is delicate and requires proper care, mainly consisting of careful, regular brushing of the dog. In order to avoid dullness of the hair, its hair should be brushed daily. It is recommended to perform this treatment when the hair is wet. It is best to sprinkle the hair with water from a bottle before brushing it, which will make it easier to detangle and keep the hair in proper condition. In addition, it is a good idea to bathe your hairy pet once a month. It is allowed to trim his hair, leaving longer hair only on the head, tail and feet.
Nude dog skin, just like human skin, requires regular care, bathing and moisturizing. It should be lubricated three times a week with a moisturizing cream or hypoallergenic oil, and in the summer also with a sunscreen cream. Due to its lack of fur, the Chinese Hairless Crested Dog is prone to skin cancer. It is recommended to regularly check for possible skin changes. Moreover, good it would be to lubricate the dog's skin with an anti-acne cream every few months.
Health
The Chinese Crested is a fairly hardy and long-lived dog. The most common health problems, mainly due to the dog's age, are eye problems: glaucoma and PRA (progressive retinal atrophy), as well as patellar luxation and Legg-Perthes disease (femoral head necrosis).
Writing of this breed may also have dental problems. This applies more to the hairless variety, whose teeth are all pointed (like canines) and prone to decay. However, in hairy dogs, full and healthy dentition is the norm.
Chinese Crested Dog - interesting facts
- The famous burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee was a great fan of the breed. After the artist's death, her Chinese Crested Dogs were added to the selected breeding herd, helping to create a template for this dog breed.
- Probably the most famous Chinese crested dog is the thoroughbred hairless Sam, who won the "Ugliest Dog in the World" competition three times in 2003–2005.
- Due to the unique appearance of the hairless Chinese Crested, the breed has been featured in several movies, including Cats & Dogs, 102 Dalmatians, Hotel for Dogs, and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
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