Chinese Crested Wonder Hairless and Recommended Foods

Chinese Crested Breed and Breeders
The Chinese Crested, a "hairless breed", developed in China as a favorite pet of the Mandarins. However, it is now extinct in that area of the world. For the last five centuries the Crested that we know today has been a resident in the West Indies and coastal port cities of South America. The Crested survived, thanks to the sailors from the Clipper Ships out of Spain and Portugal. These ships traded with China, taking this breed to other ports of call as both a food and a trade item. It is the smallest of the "hairless breeds"; such a small dog to have such a very long and colorful history.

For the Chinese Crested Dog I recommended foods that have a blend of fish and rice. These should be low in their fiber content. I also recommend you avoid feeding this breed a food with high carbohydrate percentages or meats like beef and horse meat. Native food supplies for this breed would have been those from the coastal cities of China and later, South America. The primary nutrients would have consisted of ocean fish, white rice and soy products.

Chinese Crested

The Chinese Crested Dog is not only a very sensitive and warm creature in heart and soul, but they are quite physically warm to the touch as well. With skin almost baby soft and smooth, they communicate their tenderness with a unique wholeness. Being odorless, they will keep themselves very clean in almost a catlike fashion. And-if the need does arise, (like when one breeder discovered all of her angels snuggling into her lap AFTER pestering a local SKUNK!) a bath takes only a few minutes. The PowderPuff variety does not have a heavy seasonal molt, except for when it must lose its puppy coat.

They are often suspicious of strangers, and can appear aloof. Yet-they are sincerely warm, loving, creatures. Quite tender, they become deeply attached to their person, as well as each other. A group of Chinese Crested will "sing" or howl in unison often at the lead of their owner! One long standing and devoted breeder reports her fondest joy is to watch a bundle of them chasing around on her 20 acres, with crests and plumes flying, looking much like miniature Arabian Horses.

Chinese Crested

They are graceful, elegant creatures, with a delightful pixie-like playfulness. It is not uncommon to watch one use his/her long slender paws to draw toys or desired items through obstacles and toward themselves. In addition to a variety of "dog" toys, Crested’s adore playing with "baby" toys as well, such as small rattles, stuffed toys (no hard plastic parts), activity pillows, and small solid plastic figurines typical for the baby/preschool age child. And don't forget their veggies! A favorite with many of them...most adore lettuce,
cabbage and bananas!

Every Hairless Chinese Crested carries the dominant gene for producing hairlessness, i.e. hair on head, feet and tail only. In the case of the Chinese Crested, it is the amount and extent of the hairlessness that varies, as well as highly unpredictable. There may be only a few sparse hairs to large patches of hair on the body of a hairless Crested or perhaps a ridge of hair running down the back. This would be in addition to the furnishings of the Crest, Muffs, Mane and Plume. At one extreme, a pup can be born with so little hair, that he hardly carries any furnishings at all...and then at the other end, there could be a Hairy Hairless, with a fine layer of hair covering the majority of his body, but without an undercoat whatsoever.

Chinese Crested Dog

Chinese Crested In order to check whether your dog interest is a Hairless or PowderPuff, simply look in the mouth. If the dog has the Hairless gene he will have forward pointing tusks, if it is a PowderPuff, he will have a "normal" mouth. Here we have an excellent example of how the various Chinese Crested hair types can be found, all in the same litter whelped. This litter shows, from the top:

PowderPuff, black and white, True Hairless, black, True Hairless, pink with black spots, PowderPuff, white and brown, Hairy Hairless, white with black ears, and two spots, PowderPuff, white and black, with tri-colored markings.

Degrees of hair growth not only vary from Chinese Crested puppy to puppy but can and more likely will change with age, as will their various markings. Trimming or shaving areas of undesired hair growth is a matter of personal choice, and is recommended per the breeds standard. Clippers can be easily purchased to accomplish this relatively simple job, or your Crested can be taken to a professional groomer.

The Chinese Crested is a breed that is generally acceptable for people with allergies-and so, for this reason, has sometimes been called "hypo-allergenic". This information is based on the understanding as to the various breeds that possess a single layer of coat and therefore usually produce less dander than double coated varieties. Please consult your individual physician as to your own allergy issues, and as to whether or not a Chinese Crested will suit your particular situation. It is important to use lotion to keep the hairless variety's skin from becoming dry. Suntan lotion should also be used to protect the skin when outdoors. Chinese Crested's thoroughly enjoy the outdoors, even in winter! However, please keep in mind that they are as weather sensitive as their people, and will require coats as well.

Posted in: Planet Dogs