Cresteds are companion dogs through and through. They can have playful, comedic, and mischievous personalities and they also tend to be considered “ultra-affectionate”. These little dogs bond closely with their families, love being near their favorite humans, and thrive on receiving attention and affection from them.

They are known for being sensitive and in tune with their families. Although they are highly affectionate and loving with all of their family, they will often bond more closely with their favorite human. Well-socialized and trained, they get along well with children, other dogs, and other pets.

Although they will bark to alert you of strangers, they tend to be open and friendly with them once introduced. They can be prone to barking a lot if they are not socialized well or if the behavior is not kept in check. You can start to train your dog to stop barking early on to keep it to alerting instead of a constant nuisance.

Cresteds are highly adaptable little dogs. They do well in smaller apartments as well as larger homes. Provided they get enough daily exercise, and especially enough attention, they can adapt to almost any living situation.

Although they are sensitive to heat, their hairless nature or short coat on the coated variety means they handle the heat a little better than some other dog breeds. That, along with their small size, also means they will get cold easily and may not handle winter weather well. It’s a good idea to gear up with some winter dog products to make sure they stay warm while out on winter walks.

Because Chinese Crested Dogs bond so closely with their families and thrive on being near them, they do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. They can also be prone to developing separation anxiety if you do not socialize them well and work on this early on.

Potential health concerns to be aware of in Chinese Crested Dogs can include patellar luxation, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, primary lens luxation, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy, and epilepsy. Good breeding practices and the health of the parents make a big difference in the health of Chinese Crested Dog puppies.

Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to ensure they are not passing preventable issues to puppies. Make sure you ask the breeder about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about health tests or clearances that have been done.

The American Chinese Crested Club recommends a patella evaluation, a primary lens luxation (PLL) DNA test, a progressive retinal atrophy/rod-cone dysplasia 3 DNA test (PRA-rcd3), an ophthalmologist evaluation, and a cardiac exam at a minimum.

Chinese Crested Dogs are intelligent, sensitive, and eager to please. They respond best to consistent, clear training that is focused on praise and reward. Harsh tones or negative actions can damage your bond with your dog and can lead to a stubborn Crested that does not listen to you.

Their eagerness to please and spend time with their owners makes the Crested a good fit for owners of all experience levels. It’s not a bad idea to still enroll in puppy training classes to ensure training stays consistent. Plus, obedience classes can further strengthen your bond and also provide opportunities for socialization.

Although the Chinese Crested Dog is most often recognized for their spotted pink skin with tufts of fur around their head, feet, and tail, they aren’t all hairless. There is a coated variety called the “powderpuff” that’s covered by a silky and soft coat. It’s usually genetically recessive while the hairless variety tends to be dominant.

Coated, or powderpuff, Chinese Crested Dogs will need to be brushed daily. They are double-coated dogs and are particularly prone to developing mats. Daily brushing ensures tangles and loose fur are removed before mats can form. Bathing is usually once a week or every other week, depending on your dog.

Although the hairless Chinese Crested Dog doesn’t shed, the little hair they do have still needs to be combed every now and then and you need to do a lot of maintenance to keep their skin healthy. Because their skin is exposed, hairless Cresteds are more prone to skin allergies, skin irritations, sunburn, and can even develop acne. You will need to bathe these dogs weekly or every other week depending on their skin, be careful about the products you use, and take care to protect their sensitive skin while outside.

Regardless of dog coat type and maintenance, you will need to also take care of your Chinese Crested Dog’s nails, ears, and teeth. Nail trims once or twice a month keep nails from growing too long and causing issues. Weekly ear checks along with cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections.

As a small dog breed, Chinese Crested Dogs are more prone to developing gum disease and other dental diseases later in life. This makes good dental care for dogs early and throughout your dog’s life even more important to help prevent them. Daily brushing or use of an enzyme toothpaste, along with cleanings at the vet when needed, is a good start.

Although Cresteds tend to be playful and may have bursts of high energy while they play, they tend to sit in a lower activity range. Daily walks plus some playtime are usually plenty for these small dogs.

But, they are also athletic little dogs that love spending time with you. So, they will often be up for more activity if you are, especially if it means they get to spend more time with you. Once fully grown, they are also great candidates for several popular dog sports, including agility, lure coursing, obedience, flyball, and more.

Fully-grown Chinese Crested Dogs usually stand 11-13 inches tall and weigh 8-12 pounds.

Chinese Crested Dogs generally live for 13-18 years on average.

The Chinese Crested Dog has accumulated several nicknames over the years, like the Chinese Hairless, the Chinese Ship Dog, the Chinese Edible Dog, the Chinese Royal Hairless, and more. Due to their whimsical appearance that resembled the fantastical characters in his books, the hairless Crested even earned the nickname the “Dr. Seuss Dog”.