Dog Breed Guide

Chinese Crested Dog

Profile

Size

Extra Small

Country of origin

China (breed developed in Britain)

Origin

Around the 13th century

Bred for

Companion, Ship's ratter

Height

male 28 - 33cm (11 - 13in), female 23 - 30cm (9 - 12in)

Weight

5.5kg (12lb) and under

Life span

13 - 15 years

There are two varieties: the Hairless, which is mostly bare with long, silky hair only on top of the head (the crest), the feet and the tail, and the Powderpuff, covered all over in long, soft hair. Both varieties can be born to the same parents.

Bright, cheerful and affectionate, the Crested loves cuddling up to its family and does not like being left alone. It is smart and good at learning tricks.

The Hairless sheds almost nothing, but its skin is exposed, so it needs skin care such as sunscreen and moisturizing. It is also sensitive to cold and needs clothing in winter. The Powderpuff's long coat needs brushing.

Good to know

Despite "Chinese" in its name, the breed's roots are unclear. One theory says its ancestors were hairless dogs from Africa or Mexico, and there is a story that it spread around the world as a ship's ratter, traveling from port to port aboard Chinese trading ships.

One thing that made the breed famous worldwide is the World's Ugliest Dog Contest, held every year in California. Chinese Cresteds and Crested mixes have won it many times, and one, Sam, became a celebrity by winning three years in a row. Their scraggly tufts of hair and bare skin have charmed many people.

The contest is known as an event that celebrates the message "don't judge by looks" and that every dog deserves to be loved.