History of origin
The history of the origin of such dogs is full of many myths, but it is known for sure that the Chinese Crested dog breed is very ancient.
Evidence of it was found in the notes of antiquity: there is evidence that pets lived in the richest houses even before our era.
Then the dogs were brought to the European continent by Chinese merchants. There are 2 types of such dogs - hairless and downy.
Direct descendants are definitely unknown. Scientists believe that it arose after crossing the Mexican Hairless Dog and the Chihuahua.
It is generally accepted that the hairless crest is due to a genetic mutation. It is also possible that dogs originated from African countries.
China is considered to be the birthplace of the breed, on whose territory they did not think about its preservation, which led to its almost complete extermination.
By the middle of the 20th century. Chinese Cresteds were found by an American breeder, from whom the dogs were brought to England to restore the breed.
In Russia, dogs became known only at the end of the 20th century. They immediately became popular due to the dog's unusual appearance.
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Kinds
The most common is hairless, that is, hairless Chinese Crested. But there is another type of breed - downy. Let's look at each of them.
- Naked. The fur of the animal on the top of the head folds into a small tuft - hence its name. The hair on the tail is straight and forms a “tassel”. At the tips of the paws, it should also not be wavy, it resembles boots. This individual has no undercoat. The dog's skin is very delicate and almost always warm. Show-class dogs should have thick head fur so that they resemble small lions.
- Downy. The main difference between this type of breed is the presence of thick fur throughout the body. There are few such dogs. The fur on the body and tail is stiffer. Downy crested cats have an undercoat. It needs to be looked after regularly.
As for the requirements for the color of the skin and fur of such a dog, there are none. It may have small gray spots on its pinkish-white body. This is acceptable according to the standard. The downy representatives of the breed often have black, white and gray-beige hairs. Less commonly, they are born with brown markings.
Contents of the Chinese Crested
A dog should be adopted by owners who are able to devote a lot of time to it.
The Chinese Crested needs a balanced diet to stay beautiful and healthy.
Nutrition
Newborn dogs need to be fed about 6 times a day, subsequently the number of meals is reduced to 2.
Chinese Cresteds are not demanding, but it is important to remember that they have a tendency to gain excess body weight.
Your daily diet should include:
- lean meat;
- fish; vegetables and fruits;
- chicken or quail eggs;
- porridge;
- cottage cheese;
- sunflower or olive oil.
It is forbidden to feed the Chinese Crested cat fried food, sweets, smoked meats, or baked goods. When feeding ready-made store-bought food, you should purchase premium and super-premium products.
It is better to give older dogs canned dog food to reduce the likelihood of tooth damage.
Care
The dog needs constant hygienic care, despite the lack of fur.
The Chinese Crested is not adapted to life outdoors; it needs clothing to protect it from dampness, frost and sunlight. At home, it is important for your dog to choose a comfortable sleeping place without drafts.
General care rules:
- regular combing of the coat with a soft-bristled brush and wiping bare skin with a napkin;
- washing with specialized shampoo once every 2 weeks;
- periodic treatment of the skin with herbal cream;
- washing limbs after walking;
- Grooming your Chinese Crested Dog as needed.
The dog should be bathed. Such dogs are afraid of very hot and cold water. After washing, the wool should be blotted with a towel and dried with a hairdryer. Only those dogs that do not participate in exhibitions can be groomed.
How to trim a Chinese Crested dog? It is best to trust a professional groomer who will turn your dog into a real handsome dog in a matter of hours.
Self-cutting is also possible if you only need to trim overgrown and protruding hairs.
Ears and eyes should be regularly wiped with cotton pads soaked in an antiseptic solution. Nails should be trimmed monthly (or more often if necessary).
A lot of attention is paid to the teeth - brushing with a special paste, showing the pet to the veterinarian.
Walks
Chinese Cresteds do not require regular outdoor visits as they are easily litter trained.
But it is better to walk your dog several times a day. This way the animals will actively socialize and get used to new people and places.
Outdoor physical activity prevents obesity. The dog gets tired and behaves more calmly at home.
Features of care and maintenance
If you want your pet to look beautiful and neat, then special attention should be paid to the animal’s fur. It is recommended to bathe Puffball quite often - once or twice a week. But to avoid tangles, you will have to comb the fur every day. Regular trimming of the hair on the face will give your four-legged friend a complete look.
Mandatory hygiene procedures include examining the ears, caring for the teeth and trimming the nails. Read more in a special article about the care and maintenance of this breed.
Training
Dogs of the Chinese Crested breed have a good memory, are smart and love to please their owners, so they can even carry out complex commands without any problems: they walk on their hind legs, climb on inclined surfaces.
Such dogs are attentive and inquisitive, and quickly remember their nickname. It only takes them a few repetitions to learn a new command.
It is better not to let the Chinese Crested off the leash. If an animal gets scared and runs away, it will be extremely difficult to catch it. It will run away from people, hide in corners, and not respond to calls because it is unable to defend itself.
External features
The Chinese Puffy Crested is a small dog. Its height at the withers does not exceed 33 cm, and its weight does not exceed 5 kg. The head is long, the muzzle is elongated. On the head there is a characteristic lush crest.
The official name of the breed does not contain the words “hairless” or “hairless”. It is interesting that in one litter both completely naked babies are born, who over time grow tufts on their head, tail and paws, and puppies completely covered with hair. The existing standard allows for numerous combinations of coat colors - from brown-red to blue. The Chinese Crested Powder has unusual paws - elongated toes are very similar to human ones.
Tendency to diseases
Chinese Cresteds have good health. However, sometimes there is a tendency to the following pathologies:
- allergies;
- dental diseases;
- acne;
- destruction of the hip joint;
- dislocated knees;
- chronic drying of the mucous membrane of the eyes;
- urinary tract diseases;
- sunburn.
Dogs live on average 12-13 years, but there are individuals known that lived up to 16 years. Life expectancy is influenced by the quality of maintenance, walks, and stressful situations.
Attitude towards children
As already mentioned, our smaller bald brothers love children very much, regardless of age. However, it is worth considering the fact that they only love “their” children. Strangers will be treated with suspicion and wariness, just like all adults. They may start barking and even try to bite.
Dogs are very friendly with “their” children, enjoy participating in joint games, and love to frolic in nature, but not in the cold season. However, you should not leave your pet with children one-on-one for a long time, as they are very fragile and easily injured. After all, children cannot always calculate their strength.
Pregnancy and childbirth
Puberty in female dogs occurs on average at the age of 1 year. It is better to breed dogs when they reach 20-24 months. After 8 years, breeding a Chinese Crested is not recommended.
Pregnancy lasts 2 months. Until 3-4 weeks, no deviations in the behavior and appearance of the pregnant bitch are observed. Sometimes loss of appetite and foamy vomiting are possible. Puppies begin to move about 2 weeks before birth.
Childbirth is often complicated by weakness of labor. Young dogs are not aware of their condition and can fall and injure their offspring, causing their premature birth.
The first birth is best done with the help of a veterinarian. Most often, 3-5 puppies are born.
Character
Unlike many decorative breeds, the Crested Powder is silent. This dog barks little, does not show strong emotions about the long absence of the owner from home, and does not disturb the neighbors with a piercing howl.
The Chinese Crested Powder (you can see the photo in our article) is a wonderful companion. She is happy to spend as much time as possible with her owner. Therefore, if you are too busy at work, then it is better not to have such a pet. In a family, the Chinese Downy Crested has not one leader, but several. A real mystical connection is established between them and the dog. Cases have been recorded when this devoted little girl died of melancholy when one of the family members went on a business trip. These fragile animals need contact with people like air.
Where to buy hairless and fluffy puppies?
It is better to choose a pet not from a photo of a Chinese crested dog on the Internet, but to look at it yourself in a kennel or from professional breeders.
In such establishments, dogs are in suitable conditions, they are cared for and vaccinated on time.
When purchasing, you need to make sure of the dog’s health and the purity of the breed by seeing its parents and reading the documentation.
The price of a Chinese Crested dog depends on the heredity, appearance of the puppy and other criteria. In nurseries, the cost of downy dogs can be up to 30 thousand rubles. The price for a bald dog reaches 55 thousand rubles.
Diseases and life expectancy
The average lifespan of puffballs is 13-15 years. How long representatives of the breed live largely depends on providing proper care for the pet. If you don't take care of their fur, dogs suffer from various parasitic diseases, which are not easy to get rid of.
The most common diseases are:
- allergic reactions;
- dental diseases;
- dislocated kneecaps;
- skin burns (usually sunburn);
- eye diseases.
If any health problem is detected, you should immediately contact a veterinarian.
Photo of Chinese Crested Dog
Nutrition
The Chinese are practically indistinguishable from other dogs. They also need meat in their daily diet, offal, cereals, fresh vegetables, milk, vitamins and microelements.
It is strictly forbidden to feed pets with low-quality food or products. Eating tubular bones, fatty pork, and sweets is also unacceptable. From all this, the pet will have a lot of problems, and not only from the gastrointestinal tract. Tubular bones quite often cause constipation and provoke volvulus; teeth can also be destroyed due to excessive stress. From sweets, the eyes begin to run, fat sets in the pancreas, which is subsequently extremely difficult to restore.
Super-premium industrial feed can be used as the main diet. They are well balanced and perfectly nourish the body. The main thing is to always have a bowl of clean and fresh water nearby.
How to choose a puppy
Choosing a Chinese Crested puppy is a kind of lottery, since sometimes even an experienced breeder cannot predict the color of a future adult dog.
- The main point in deciding which puppy to take home should be the owner’s understanding of the specifics of caring for the fur of these animals.
- If future owners are not willing to spend too much time combing their hair, it is preferable to adopt a hairless Chinese Crested.
- Assessing his bite can provide some help in choosing the type of puppy. According to the standard, powderpuffs have a regular bite, while hairless individuals have fangs that protrude slightly forward.
In any case, the puppy should be active, sociable, with shiny eyes and smooth skin.
The Chinese Crested is an exceptionally intelligent and quick-witted dog. The almost complete absence of aggressive tendencies makes her desirable in any home. This breed is able to completely adapt to the character of its owners and become an inexhaustible source of cheerfulness and good mood.
