Chinese Crested Picture Gallery

Chinese Crested Breeders

Chinese Crested Clubs/Associations

The Full Chinese Crested Description

The Chinese Crested comes in two varieties, Hairless and Powderpuff. The Hairless is the most unusual looking of the two. He is not completely hairless. He has a tuft on his head, called his "crest", a "plume" on his tail, and his feet are covered with hair, called his "socks". The skin should be soft to the touch, but may sometimes need moisturizing lotion. Outside, he needs lotion to keep him from getting sunburned.

So you want to own a Chinese Crested?

The Chinese Crested is a breed that generally does well with people with allergies. This information is based on breeds who possess a single layer of coat and therefore usually produce less dander than double-coated breeds.

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 Cresteds are happy and alert. They are loyal and affectionate dogs who make wonderful, playful, and entertaining companions.

Indicative Breed Standard

General Appearance

A small, active and graceful dog; medium- to fine-boned, smooth hairless body, with hair on feet, head and tail only; or covered with a soft veil of hair.

Characteristics

Two distinct types of this breed; Deer type, racy and fine boned, and Cobby type, heavier in body and bone.

Temperament

Happy, never vicious.

Head and Skull

Slightly rounded and elongated skull. Cheeks cleanly chiselled, lean and flat, tapering into muzzle. Stop slightly pronounced but not extreme. Head smooth, without excess wrinkles. Distance from base of skull to stop equal to distance from stop to tip of nose. Muzzle tapering slightly but never pointed, lean without flews. Nose a prominent feature, narrow in keeping with muzzle. Any colour nose acceptable. Head presenting graceful appearance, with alert expression. Lips tight and thin. An ideal crest begins at the stop and tapers off down neck. Long and flowing crest preferred, but sparse acceptable.

Eyes

So dark as to appear black. Little or no white showing. Medium size, almond in shape. Set wide apart.

Ears

Set low: highest point of base of ear level with outside corner of eye. Large and erect, with or without fringe, except in Powder Puffs where drop ears are permissible.

Mouth

Jaws strong, with perfect, regular scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Lean, free from throatiness, long and sloping gracefully into strong shoulders. When moving, carried high and slightly arched.

Forequarters

Shoulders clean, narrow and well laid back. Legs long and slender, set well under body. Elbows held close to body. Pasterns fine, strong, nearly vertical. Toes turned neither in nor out.

Body

Medium to long. Supple. Chest rather broad and deep, not barrel-ribbed. Breast bone not prominent. Brisket extending to elbows; moderate tuck-up.

Hindquarters

Rump well rounded and muscular, loins taut, stifles firm and long, sweeping smoothly into the well let down hocks. Angulation of the rear limbs must be such as to produce a level back. Hind legs set wide apart.

Feet

Extreme hare-foot, narrow and very long, with unique elongation of small bones between joints, especially in forefeet, which almost appear to possess an extra joint. Nails any colour, moderately long. Socks ideally confined to toes, but not extending above top of pastern. Feet turning neither in nor out.

Tail

Set high, carried up or out when in motion. Long and tapering, fairly straight, not curled or twisted to either side, falling naturally when at rest. Plume long and flowing, confined to lower two-thirds of tail. Sparse plume acceptable.

Gait/Movement

Long, flowing and elegant with good reach and plenty of drive.

Coat

No large patches of hair anywhere on body. Skin fine-grained, smooth, warm to the touch. In Powder Puffs coat consists of an undercoat with soft veil of long hair, veil coat a feature.

Colour

Any colour or combination of colours.

Size

Ideal height in dogs: 28-33 cms (11-13 ins) at withers; bitches: 23-30 cms (9-12 ins) at withers. Weight varies considerably, but should not be over 5.4 kgs (12 lbs).