The Chinese Crested is a toy breed that is alert and intelligent and can make charming companions.
This breed is known to be playful and affectionate but they still remain elegant and charming.
Contrary to the belief and not in line with their name, the breed is believed to have been originated in Africa and was used by Chinese traders on their ships for catching rats.
In China, they have been used as healing dogs.
In addition, they were used as heating pads and also the Chinese often ate them as a delicacy.
The Chinese Crested comes in two varieties, Hairless and Powderpuff.
To people, who are unaware of this, might consider the "Hairless", and "Powderpuff" varieties of they can appear to be two different breeds.
The Hairless variety is not completely hairless and one can find hair on their head, tail, and socks.
The Powderpuff variety has a decently thick fur with two coats, a short but dense undercoat and medium length topcoat.
This small breed has lots of health issues especially with their teeth and eyes.
They suffer from several diseases such Addison's Disease, Cherry Eye, Deafness, Epilepsy, Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (also called Dry Eyes), Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, Patellar Luxation, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy.
When it comes to training the Chinese Crested needs lot positive reinforcement and if the trainer can be patient, this can be a really easy breed to train.
One should also note that they can be very stubborn at times.
Chinese Crested is a very shy and timid breed by nature and, hence, proper socialization is a must for them.
In the absence of proper socialization, Chinese Crested tend to suffer from "Small Dog Syndrome" which eventually leads them to being snappy and aggressive.
While Chinese Crested is a small family breed that can live comfortably in an apartment, it is not advisable to keep this breed in company of small children.