Chinese Crested Dogs are true companion breeds that are ultra-affectionate and love nothing more than spending time with their favorite humans. They are known for being alert and lively dogs that in tune with their families and also for moving with elegance and grace.

These little dogs tend to get along with just about everyone, but they will definitely prefer being with the person they bond with the most. As long as they are properly socialized and trained, they do well with children, other dogs, and other pets. They tend to take some time to warm up to strangers, but are back to their open and affectionate selves once they do.

If a Chinese Crested Mix takes after their Chinese Crested parent, you can expect similar traits in them. The other parent breed could introduce some quirks of their own that could affect temperament, so you do want to ask about them.

You can also meet the mother in person to see what her temperament is like, what behavior she is modeling for puppies, and what manners she is teaching them. The breeder should have started socialization and training. But, it is up to you to continue to train and socialize a puppy once you get them home to ensure they grow into a well-rounded, well-behaved dog.

The Chinese Crested is a moderately adaptable dog breed. Although they do well in almost any living situation, they are very sensitive to the cold and hate being left alone for long periods of time.

If the other parent breed is similar, you could expect similar adaptability in a Chinese Crested Mix. You still want to make sure you ask about them as they could introduce their own set of traits that could affect adaptability.

Although mixed-breed dogs can sometimes be healthier than purebred dogs, it’s not a guarantee. Because a mix can inherit issues common to one, neither, or both of the parent breeds, responsible breeding practices are essential.

Potential health conditions to be aware of in a Chinese Crested include primary lens luxation, progressive retinal atrophy, and glaucoma. As a small dog breed, they can also be prone to luxating patella. Epilepsy and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease are less common in the breed, but can occur.

Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing issues to puppies even with a non-established mix. So, don’t be afraid to ask about the health and genetic history of both of the parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done.

Chinese Cresteds love to spend time with their owners, receive affection from them, and are eager to please. They are highly trainable and a good fit for owners of all experience levels as long as training is patient, consistent, and focused on praise and positive reward.

Because these dogs are so sensitive, they are highly affectionate and in tune with their owners. This also means they do not do well with harsh reprimands, words, or negative actions. Harshness or negativity tends to damage the bond and often results in a Chinese Crested that is not willing to learn from you or listen to you.

If the other parent breed is also a highly trainable dog breed, you can expect something similar from a Chinese Crested Mix. The other parent breed could also make a Chinese Crested Mix potentially more difficult to train. Regardless, puppy training classes can be a great resource for every owner.

A mixed-breed dog can inherit a coat similar to one of their parents or one that is truly a mix of both. Should a Chinese Crested Hairless Mix be just like a hairless Chinese Crested, you may not need to worry about shedding, but you will need to do some maintenance.

Because their skin is exposed, these dogs are sunburned easily and prone to allergies and skin irritations. You’ll need to brush their tufts of fur every once in a while to prevent tangles, but most of your grooming will be using skin treatments specific to your dog’s skin type.

In addition to caring for their skin, you also need to take care of your Chinese Crested Hairless Mix’s nails, ears, and teeth. Nail trims once or twice a month are usually frequent enough to keep nails from growing too long. Weekly ear checks and careful cleaning as needed can help prevent ear infections.

Dental disease is one of the most common health issues in dogs and is usually due to a lack of good dental care throughout their lives. As a small dog breed, a Chinese Crested Hairless Mix is prone to developing dental disease later in life, which makes good dental care even more important. Daily brushing or use of an enzyme toothpaste is ideal.

Although Chinese Cresteds are athletic dogs and can be competitive in dog sports, they tend to sit in a lower activity range. Daily walks and some playtime are usually enough for them. They’ll usually be happy to do more if it means spending more time with you.

The other parent breed could result in a Chinese Crested Hairless Mix that is about the same or higher energy. If they are a high-energy dog breed, you will need to be prepared for the potential of a high-energy dog in a Chinese Crested Mix.

Fully-grown Chinese Cresteds usually stand 11-13 inches tall and weigh 8-12 pounds. The other parent breed can have a big effect on size, especially if they are the mother.

Although it is not a guarantee, you can meet the mother in person to get an idea of what size to expect in a fully-grown Chinese Crested Mix.

A Chinese Crested Dog generally lives for 13-18 years. Although the other parent breed could affect this slightly, you should be able to expect a similar life span in a Chinese Crested Mix.

Chinese Crested Dogs come in hairless and coated varieties. A Hairless Chinese Crested only has tufts of fur on their head, tails, and ankles while a coated Chinese Crested has a soft-silky coat across their whole body and is referred to as “Powderpuff”. And, the two varieties can even show up in the same litter!