The Chinese Crested is a toy breed with a shoulder height of 11-13 inches, weighing in at 8-12 pounds and having a life expectancy of 13-18 years. The fine-boned and elegant features of the hairless version of the Crested are complimented by a poof of hair on the top of the head, feet and tail. It’s no wonder that they have been likened to the mystical creatures of Dr. Suess’s famous children’s books.
Being an ancient breed with at least a thousand years of recorded history, it is difficult to determine the origin of the Crested. Modern genetic testing indicates a relationship with the now extinct African Hairless, as the predecessors of the Crested. What is certain is that these dogs were popular with Chinese sailor and were kept onboard sailing vessels as rat catchers which is where they got the name. Sailors carried these dogs with them on their travels and the dogs soon became residents of port cities in Eurasia and Africa.
Crested are rated as being highly trainable and adaptive making them excellent companion dogs. They are also good when meeting strangers and do well with children. Many hairless Cresteds have poorly developed teeth and will need extra care and vet visits for dental checks.