Mary Allen
This little dog polarizes: some love him, and others smile at the look of the supposedly spoiled fashion dog. The Chinese crested dog is a very robust, lively little fellow with a history that goes back thousands of years.
A Chinese crested dog radiates something very special, which is not only due to its hairy trademark because as a hairless dog it only has fur in a few places: This includes the so-called “mop”, the hair that flows as much as possible up to the neck. In addition, the two rear thirds of the tail and the legs are hairy. On the extremities, the hair ideally grows to “sock height.” The coat can be any color according to the standard. Chinese crested dogs reach a maximum height of 33 cm at the withers and are bred to be very dainty or, as the “cobby type”, somewhat stronger. The graceful head has hardly any wrinkles and sits on a long, slender neck. The wide-set eyes are medium-sized and very dark, giving the appearance of black. The large ears, which are set low and carried upright, are also striking.
#1 Many associate the breed with being hairless, but that’s not always the case: If you want a full-body Chinese Crested dog, you can find out more about the “Powder Puff” variety.
Because in the crested dog litter there are usually also hairy puppies because hairless dogs carry the gene for "hair". The hairy crested dogs are necessary for healthy breeding, as otherwise there would be more missing teeth - this defect is more likely to be associated with hairlessness. Incidentally, the hairy representatives of the crested dog are also allowed to have lop ears.
#2 Whether the Chinese crested dog really comes from China is actually not entirely certain.
The fact is, however, that the breeding of hairless or almost hairless companion dogs has a long tradition in the Middle Kingdom: sources testify to possible ancestors of this breed as early as the 12th century BC. The ancestors of the Chinese crested dog probably already experienced a first heyday in the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD). They were companions of the rulers and served them as companion dogs, in larger variants also as hunting and guard dogs. Finally, the first specimens came to the USA, where the four-legged friends with a lot of bare skin quickly became known through exhibitions in the 1920s. It is closely related to the Mexican and Peruvian hairless dogs.
#3 The FCI recognized the breed in 1987.
In Europe, their popularity has increased in many countries over the last few years: the elegant four-legged friends are often seen tripping through Europe's streets. Representatives of the breed are regular winners of "Ugliest Dog" competitions because of their extraordinary appearance - a curiosity that only makes them even more lovable in the eyes of their numerous supporters.