Chinese Crested
Also known as Chinese Crested, Chinese Hairless Dog, Powderpuff
- Height at the withers
- 23 to 33 cm
- Weight
- 2 to 5.5 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10 to 13 years
- Daily activity
- 30 minutes
- Origin
- China
- FCI group
- 9 · Companion and toy dogs
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- apartment living, with regular outings
- a first dog
- living with a cat
- people bothered by dog hair (no breed is guaranteed allergy-free)
Less suited to
- long absences: it struggles when left alone
Overview
A small, elegant, fine-boned dog that comes in two varieties: the Hairless, with soft skin and tufts of hair on the head, feet and tail, and the Powderpuff, fully covered in a soft, veil-like coat.
History and origins
An ancient breed probably descended from African or Mexican hairless dogs and refined in China. Chinese sailors kept them on ships to hunt vermin and traded them in ports around the world.
Health
Life expectancy is 10 to 13 years, and its hardiness is average. The most common health problems in the breed:
- Dental anomalies (missing teeth in the Hairless)
- Primary lens luxation
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Patellar luxation
- Sunburn, acne and dermatitis (hairless variety)
Choose a breeder who has the parents health-screened for this breed, and ask to see the results.
Coat and care
Hairless or double coat. Almost no shedding, average coat care.
All ratings
Rated from 1 to 5, comparable across breeds. Green marks a strength for most households, orange something to plan for.
Lifestyle
- Energy
- Moderate, 3 out of 5
- Apartment
- Perfect, 5 out of 5
- Home alone
- Poorly, 2 out of 5
Family and sociability
- With children
- Fair, 3 out of 5
- With other dogs
- Good, 4 out of 5
- With cats
- Good, 4 out of 5
- With strangers
- Polite, 3 out of 5
Training and temperament
- Ease of training
- Average, 3 out of 5
- For a first-time owner
- Good fit, 4 out of 5
- Guarding instinct
- None, 1 out of 5
- Prey drive
- Low, 2 out of 5
- Tendency to roam
- Low, 2 out of 5
Care and neighbors
- Coat care
- Average, 3 out of 5
- Shedding
- Almost none, 1 out of 5
- Drooling
- Never, 1 out of 5
- Barking
- Moderate, 3 out of 5
Climate and health
- Heat tolerance
- Average, 3 out of 5
- Cold tolerance
- Very low, 1 out of 5
- Hardiness
- Average, 3 out of 5
In our lists
Chinese Crested FAQ
How big does the Chinese Crested get?
The Chinese Crested stands 23 to 33 cm at the withers and weighs 2 to 5.5 kg. It is a small dog.
Does the Chinese Crested shed a lot?
It sheds almost nothing and its coat needs average care. It is one of the breeds that shed very little and are often better tolerated by people with allergies, with no guarantee: spend time with the breed before you decide.
Can the Chinese Crested live in an apartment?
Yes, very well: calm indoors, it adapts perfectly to an apartment.
How much exercise does the Chinese Crested need each day?
Allow about 30 minutes of activity a day: its energy is moderate.
Is the Chinese Crested good with children?
Fairly well, preferably with children old enough to respect its limits. Never leave a young child alone with a dog, whatever the breed.
How long does the Chinese Crested live?
Life expectancy is 10 to 13 years, and its hardiness is average. The main health problems to watch for are dental anomalies and primary lens luxation.
