Chinese Crested Dog: Description and Subtleties of Content

Chinese Crested Dogs are a typical example of pocket dogs that noble ladies took with them to high receptions and balls during the Renaissance. These dogs are considered one of the oldest breeds, in addition, they have a unique exterior and are famous for their friendly and kind character. In this material you will find a description of this breed, the history of its origin and the intricacies of keeping it at home.

Modern breeders and dog handlers are not exactly sure of the homeland of Chinese crested dogs (or CXC), but absolutely all agree with the opinion that this is one of the oldest breeds in the world. The most popular official version says that the birthplace of these adorable babies is Africa and some regions of Mexico.

Even today, animals with a similar exterior are still found in regions with a subtropical climate. There they acquired their individual names, which differ depending on the area.

Some dog handlers say that the first representatives of this breed appeared 3 thousand years ago, however, the first documented data on these dogs date back to the 9th-12th centuries. At that time, these dogs had a high status, their breed belonged to one of the 10 symbols of the Kingdom of God Ketsakoatl. The individuals of this breed symbolized virtue, love and devotion. Already at that time, people noted the extraordinary fidelity of these animals to their owners, they were considered a living example of selflessness and trust.

Especially interesting is the purpose of these dogs at different times and in different nations. So, around the 10th century, these dogs were placed in sick people's beds. They emitted a huge amount of pleasant heat, which was considered healing among the healers of that time.

These dogs were always kept with them - it was believed that they heal toothache, rheumatism, paralysis and some other diseases associated with the skeletal system. Midwives advised taking these animals to the birth of noble ladies - it was believed that they facilitate the baby's exit from the womb, prevent the formation of colic and soothe the baby.

This breed got its name thanks to the country where these dogs became a full breed. According to the records, these dogs entered the territory of China as far back as the 3rd-2nd centuries BC (during the Han Dynasty). These cute miniature dogs were so fond of the Chinese that they began to spread actively throughout the state. Even then, the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom engaged in the breeding of this breed and the formation of its standard.

As expected, the first owners of these pets were precisely the rich and noble Chinese nobles. It was believed that these dogs brought prosperity, prosperity and stability to the house. This situation continued until the sixteenth century, when these dogs were actively taken out of the state on merchant ships. In the future, this led to the spread of the breed throughout Eurasia.

Proof of the great popularity of this breed are records in the stud books of Spanish, English and French breeders and travelers of the XVI-XIX centuries. Some of them stated that already in the XVII century they met these animals in North America and Africa.

At the beginning of the XXI century, the situation with the origin of these dogs was clarified thanks to large-scale archaeological excavations. Historical evidence suggests that these dogs are native to Mexico and Central America, from where these dogs immigrated to other territories in the future. The most important evidence for this theory is fragments of Mayan ceramics found on the island of Yucatan. On pottery, primitive images of “naked” dogs were found, and the products themselves were found not far from the burial places of these animals, as evidenced by mummified remains.

All signs indicate that these dogs were unusually revered among ancient tribes. According to ancient manuscripts, they were often buried next to the owners - they had to become guides of their owners to the afterlife. In the Aztec language, individuals of this breed have a strange and mysterious name - Xoloitzcuitli. From the ancient language, this translates as "the dog of the god Xolotl."

In Russia, the first individuals of this breed appeared only at the end of the twentieth century. Popularity came to them almost immediately - rich Russian young ladies were delighted with the extravagant look of these animals.

A Chinese crested dog is very easy to distinguish from everyone else. No one else has such soft hair on their paws and eyebrows, as well as a hairless graceful body. According to the MKF standard, this breed is represented by the following appearance characteristics.

• Body. The skeleton is lightweight, the body is more elongated than square, but proportional and elegant. The main muscle groups are located on the shoulder blades and hips. The back is straight, the croup is exceptionally rounded, not particularly steep. The length of the hull can vary significantly depending on the type of CXC (for example, deer and stocky).The deer type is proportional: it is represented by an equal ratio of the length of the animal and its height, the stocky individuals are lower, and their body is slightly elongated. The chest in individuals of this breed is quite wide, the stomach is tightened.
• Head and face. Proportional to the body of the dog, not particularly large. The skull is round in shape, but due to the long and narrow muzzle it seems elongated. The stop (or transition from the forehead to the muzzle) is smooth, weakly expressed.
• Jaws and teeth. These dogs have strong and powerful jaws, tightly assembled and strong teeth. The lower row of teeth is completely overlapped by the upper row. For hairless individuals, the absence of the main row of molars is characteristic (they simply do not cut through). This is a genetic pathology that is not considered a defect.
• Nose. Not particularly large, nostrils well developed. The color of the nose in this case is not regulated by anything, pigmentation with lighter or darker spots is possible. Most often it is a dark shade of the nose.
• The ears. Usually covered with a thick layer of wool length (which can grow both from the outside and in the shells themselves). The ears themselves are long, of a standing type, the tips are most often rounded, but they are also sharp. In individuals of the downy type, the drooping type of ears is permissible. Ears set at a great distance from each other, with their outer side looking forward.
• Eyes. Small in size, rounded and moderately convex, set wide. The color of the iris is exceptionally dark, however, brown-eyed or blue-eyed individuals are found.
• Neck. Long and rather thin, there is a visible bend, which can be clearly seen at the moment the dog moves.
• Limbs. In KHS, the legs are not powerful, thin, straight, and the front legs are parallel to each other. The shoulders are narrow, looking back. Unlike other breeds, there are no visible knees at the hind legs, there is a slight slope forward, while the hind legs are longer and more massive than the front. The hock is too low, which prevents the dogs from making long jumps or moving fast. The paws themselves are not particularly large, oval and elongated forward. From the metacarpals to the paws, the legs of the dogs usually cover a thick layer of long hair.
• Tail. Regarding the size of the dog itself, it is quite long and is either covered with long hair or with a brush at the very end. Some people call this type of hair growth a plume. Raised and slightly bent in motion, lowered down in a calm state.
• Leather. Gentle and quite thin, in naked individuals pinkish, white or gray (color depends on color). Skin pigmentation is acceptable with small but clear spots of contrasting color. Zonal pigmentation of large areas is also possible.
• Wool. The breed belongs to a long-haired look. The standard allows several coat growth options for Chinese crested dogs. If the individual is “naked”, then the coat is acceptable on the legs, tail, head and ears. If these are powder puffs (a type of KHS), then the location of the fur is allowed throughout the body of the animal except for the chest and muzzle. The standard in terms of the location of the wool is very vague, but the main condition is the presence on the head of a forelock of long and soft hair. From birth, individuals of this breed look like real lamb because of their miniature size and curly gun on the body.
• Color. Unlike other dog breeds, Chinese crested dogs are not limited by the standard for color. All common types are allowed, including different types of skin pigmentation in naked individuals. On the territory of the Russian Federation, 20 types of KHS color are officially recognized. The most popular are solid white, cream, light pink, solid black, white-black, chocolate, bronze, sable, blue, blue-white, three-color, black and tan.
• Average weight. These dogs are of the mini type.Regardless of the variety of these dogs, they rarely reach a weight of 6 kg. Most often it is 4-5 kg.
• Height. Males are standardly slightly taller than females, but the growth of both does not exceed 30 centimeters at the withers.

Externally, individuals of the Chinese crested dog seem pretty, obedient and well-mannered, but if it comes to the nature of this breed, it’s not so simple.

These dogs are very curious; going to visit them or going outside is for them a real journey into the sea of ​​new smells and sensations. They will not calm down until they examine the entire territory of the apartment right down to the farthest corners. That is why these dogs are so difficult to protect from any separate areas in the house. Such adventures often lead to the fact that these dogs are poisoned by spoiled food, detergents or other household items.

Although these dogs seem very independent, they are very easy to offend or upset. Particularly painful, these dogs react to open aggression and physical punishment. This can lead to the fact that the dog will be scared of every rustle and any extraneous sound.

For these dogs there is nothing worse than being alone for a long time. They fade from loneliness, become uninitiated and weak, passive, unstable to disease.

Chinese crested are stubborn, but not so much that it was difficult to manage with them during training. In this regard, they are suitable even for amateurs, because they have a good mind, quickly remember commands and love to execute them exactly. Often, Chinese crested dogs are represented at sporting events. With an experienced trainer, they are able to carry out even the most complex teams.

Chinese Crested are friendly to other pets. They will not be against joint games, but they always clearly monitor the observance of personal space. In relation to street animals, Chinese crested do not show a certain aggression - as a rule, they are well aware of the power advantage and dare only to compete with relatives of the same size.

Chinese crested children are not particularly friendly. Toddlers during their games often pester pets, they can injure them. In addition, these dogs see potential rivals in children for their owner’s attention. If a pet grows up in a family of already enough adult children (8-10 years old), then no strong problems in their relationship will be noticeable.

The peculiarity of these dogs is that they prefer not to become attached to any particular owner.

Before you buy an individual of a particular breed of dog, the breeder must compare the pros and cons of this variety. Chinese crested dog can not be called uniquely ideal breed, it has its pros and cons.

• This breed of dog is amazingly convivial. For some owners, these dogs are a living antistress due to their small size, pleasant coat and restless character.
• Due to the insignificant coat of wool (local type), these pets shed little, and their coat has a unique fat layer, due to which neither dirt nor moisture linger on it for a long time.
• Due to its small size, weak molting and good natured character, this breed of dog is ideal for keeping at home. They do not need much space or food, they quickly adapt to the rhythm of their master's life.
• KHS wool does not have a characteristic dog smell, unlike many other dog breeds.
• These dogs are considered companions of wealthy ladies and aesthetes, they became one of the first dog breeds that were used as "pocket". Due to their extravagant appearance and small size, these dogs look great with any bow. In addition, these dogs can make creative hairstyles that will become an adornment and joy of the owner.
• KHS is absolutely not suspicious, it is easy to find an approach to them and win it over. They are wonderful towards strangers - it’s enough just to kindly entice or give sweetness to them, and now you have already won their trust. This is exactly a plus, since there are no problems at the taming stage of already adult individuals.

• Due to their weak bones, fragile physique and weak limbs, these dogs are not suitable as watchmen, nor as guards or service dogs.
• Due to the fact that most of the hull of these dogs is not even covered with a minimal coat, they are extremely susceptible to drafts, poorly tolerate cold and frost. For walking these dogs in late autumn, winter and spring will need blankets or special clothing. Also, do not walk these dogs in sunny weather without clothes - direct sunlight can greatly damage the delicate skin of the animal.
• Do not think that in the absence of molting, all problems in caring for a dog’s coat disappear. In order for the coat to look tidy and not quickly dirty, these dogs should be regularly taken to grooming sessions, as well as comb, wash and strengthen their fur with oils and nutrient solutions.
• Despite their seemingly small size, these dogs are unusually stubborn and often like to show their opinions and relevance during training and walking. The stubbornness of these dogs can only be fought with patience and regular training.
• These dogs have a rather finicky stomach; far from all varieties of vegetables, feed or meat are suitable for them. Moreover, CHC is often capricious of food and may refuse it if not properly educated.

Chinese crested have quite good health and immunity, which have been formed over hundreds of years. However, with the spread of the breed outside its warm homeland, the lifespan of these dogs has changed dramatically. So, in the northern regions due to prolonged frosts and cold weather, even in a warm apartment, these individuals live no longer than 10 years.

It is worthwhile to understand that such a concept as life expectancy is rather vague and depends on a number of factors.

• Conditions of detention, care. This is not a breed of dog that you can simply buy and forget about it. Chinese crested animals need painstaking and regular care, as well as safe and comfortable living conditions in order to feel healthy and cheerful. The main condition here is keeping the pet in constant heat, without moisture and drafts.
• Feeding. The second most important factor that affects both the health of the pet and its behavior, mood. Proper nutrition provides KHS with the necessary energy for daily adventures, and also favorably affects muscle development and the digestive system.
• Heredity. Some individuals are more or less predisposed to some kind of disease or illness. Some of them appear only at a certain age and may not directly affect the life of the pet. However, some serious illnesses can significantly bring your pet into aging or make him unhappy.
• Socialization. For such a social pet as a Chinese crested dog, establishing friendly relations with the owner has simply a huge role.Only being confident in his devotion and love can an animal feel relaxed and happy.

Puppies of this breed are sold in kennels starting from the age of one and a half months, but experienced breeders prefer to book their pets in advance and evaluate the current conditions of their keeping and feeding on the spot.

Close attention should be paid to the coat of the animal. Inspect the tail, head and ears of the puppies - if the hair is thick there, then in the future they will grow densely, if the hair is sparse, then it is unlikely to be added in the future. Often, naked puppies come across, which over time become overgrown with a thick layer of wool throughout the body - this is not some kind of physiological defect. Excessive hair in hairless dogs usually means strong and thick hair on the head and legs.

In the period from 1 to 3 months, the exterior of a Chinese crested dog can radically change. Most often this applies to changes in color or proportions of the head. So, individuals with darker or chocolate wool can eventually acquire almost a snow-white fur coat. At about 3 months, the shape of the most important external element of this dog, the crest, is fully formed. The length of the head and face in infancy should not be measured; it will probably change more than once.

As already mentioned, it is likely that a number of molars in newborn puppies with Chinese crested will not be fully formed. After evaluating the puppy’s teeth condition, you can choose more rigid or soft food for him.

Boys of this breed become literally uncontrollable during estrus in females, they are difficult to control and difficult to concentrate on training and even feeding. Often, such experiences bring to the shoots during a walk. Girls have only two problems:

• estrus, during which the bitch behaves extremely excitedly and aggressively, and can also leave traces of blood throughout the house along with secretions;
• pregnancy, during which these dogs are very weak, susceptible to many diseases and mentally unstable.

This problem can be dealt with only by sterilizing dogs (it is believed that it even extends the life expectancy of dogs), but who wants to deprive themselves of the happiness of caring for small puppies of this breed? Puppies of Chinese crested are not so expensive when sold by hand, however purebred individuals from kennels are very appreciated among breeders.

Be sure to check availability all necessary documents. The standard package consists of a metric, pedigree and a veterinary passport. Nurseries, for example, can familiarize you with the documents of the parents of the pet - so you can learn about hereditary diseases and predispositions of your future pet.

Rate the puppy’s conditions - private sellers often forget about basic safety rules, which leads to banal flea colonies in the fur of babies. Pay special attention to your pet’s diet - It is very important to understand whether he received all the vitamins after birth. In addition, you will have an idea about the products that you should feed it at first, so as not to cause problems with the digestive tract.

Around the age of 2-3 months, the exterior of these animals is fully formed.

pay attention to puppy behavior. Between several individuals, you should always choose the most active, restless and inquisitive. Such behavior indicates good health and cheerful character.However, note that excessive passivity, as well as anxiety (not to be confused with activity) often speak of serious puppy diseases or fleas.

Ask how many puppies were in the litter of the female. If from 3 to 5, then these puppies must be healthy and strong. If more than 8, then this may indicate poor feeding of the pet in the first days after birth (lack of milk and maternal care).

Each dog needs care, as well as decent maintenance rules, but this is especially true for delicate Chinese crested dogs.

For inexperienced breeders, the process of caring for these dogs may seem too tedious - it's all about the problematic skin of these dogs, which needs the same painstaking care as its fluffy coat. On the skin of these dogs, acne, “millet”, gum and black spots are regularly formed, which can only be removed by steaming the skin.

In addition, rare long hairs often appear on the skin of Chinese crested dogs, which very spoil the appearance of the dog. They can be removed using wax, a razor or a regular depilation cream (a more gentle method). After such procedures, the skin should be treated with an antiseptic or lubricated with after shave balm.

In addition to skin problems, a significant part of the attention should be paid to animal hair. The fact is that even the “naked” types of KHS have bundles of hair on the chest, head, ears and limbs. Without regular combing, adjustment, washing and oiling, this wool completely loses its appearance, forming one continuous dirty tangle.

Do not forget about regular hygiene procedures: brushing your ears, cutting your nails (if necessary), brushing your teeth, and rinsing your eyes with cotton pads. All these procedures should be carried out at least 1 time per week. In the ears of these dogs, real thickets of long hair often grow, which can interfere with cleaning - they can be plucked or sheared, but try not to harm the pet. For washing the eyes, it is worth using filtered or boiled water or a special veterinary lotion.

Grooming is one of the main points of care for the show individuals of these dogs. The success of a dog in competitions depends on the correct and beautiful haircut. There are different options for grooming these dogs, but it is best to trim the dog according to the following scheme:

• the entire body of the dog is shaved or briefly grounded;
• the limbs (before the metacarpus) and the muzzle are also shaved (up to the stop and eyebrows);
• the length of the hair on the crown, eyebrows, tail and legs is maintained and adjusted to the same length;
• the hair on the top and eyebrows is combed and stacked so as not to interfere with the dog's vision;
• the hairstyle is adjusted to the required shape and fixed with wax, oil or hairpins.

Walking in the fresh air for these dogs is a kind of outlet where they splash out all the energy accumulated during the day. These dogs should be walked at least 1 time per day. You should not think that a dog of this size will not be able to harm anyone, and therefore it is not necessary to walk it on a leash. In the course of their research, these dogs may lag behind you or run into a stronger street animal. In sunny weather, you should not walk these dogs without sunscreen on their skin.

Little tricks to care for Chinese crested dogs.

• No matter how you comb the hair of such a pet, it will still stray into tangles. However, their density depends on the regularity of combing - the less dense the tangles, the easier it will be to comb the next time.If the warlocks are solid and can not be combed out or simply interfere with the pet - they should be carefully trimmed, without damaging the entire hairstyle.
• All procedures with a comb should be done only on wool moistened with lotion. When combed, dry hair is electrified and sticks out in all directions. In addition, the chance to harm the structure of dampened wool is not so great.
• You will often encounter a situation where hair at the withers or eyebrows will interfere with the view of the animal. This wool can be fixed with rubber bands and hairpins.
• For barbecue or just in the woods "naked" should not be taken. In nature, there are usually many insects from which these dogs have no protection.

The main condition for feeding a Chinese crested dog is the complete exclusion from the diet of all types of human food: salty, spicy, smoked, pickled products. All this food will badly affect your pet’s body and will certainly lead to indigestion.

Unfortunately, Chinese crested ones are not distinguished by a strong intestine, which is able to digest absolutely all types of food. This is especially true for feeding with natural products, where even the smallest change in diet has a detrimental effect on the processes in the digestive system.

Digestive problems are not the only scourge of the Chinese crested. They are often prone to allergies to cereals and vegetables. - The basic elements in the diet of any pet. All this is expressed in an absolutely unpleasant way: redness of the eyelids, swelling of the glands, swelling of the cheeks, wen, sneezing with a runny nose, itching on the skin, vomiting and diarrhea. Take a dog allergist or veterinarian to understand which foods your dog is not allergic to.

The following foods are banned from eating Chinese crested foods: raw meat and fish, dairy products, pork and chicken (huge fat content / powerful allergen for "crested"), sausages and smoked meats, products containing sugar (sweets, chocolate, cakes), bones (both tubular and regular - they form constipation, get stuck in the throat), some cereals (semolina, oatmeal and pearl barley).

Most of the benefits to individuals of this breed will bring dairy products with a low fat content (cottage cheese, cheese, kefir), some cereals on the water (corn, rice, millet), lean meat (veal, lamb, hare), apple, pear. Occasionally, new food can be added to the diet. To replace the meat, boiled boneless sea fish can be used. Of vegetables, it is better to limit yourself to carrots, beets and cabbage.

Feed the pet after a walk. Exercise and a little jogging will greatly tire the pet and wake up his appetite. DFor morning feed, it is better to choose plant food - it is lighter, it is better digested even during the period of activity.

With the growing up of the dog, its requirements for feeding food also change - in older individuals, the intestines become weaker, teeth grind, gums become inflamed from the smallest solid food. Dental problems are often observed precisely in the “naked” variety of CHC; in old age, they have no teeth at all. For a sparing attitude to the oral cavity, it is enough to grind the food before serving the pet, especially meat.

Chinese crested - this is the breed of dogs whose body the feed will be perceived as a more complete and healthy diet. This is especially true for pregnant females of the CHC - in a quality dry feed contains all the necessary vitamins and elements for the development of the fetus. When choosing such a feed, it is better to stay on hypoallergenic feeds like super-premium or holistic.

Owners of Chinese crested prefer to give their pets cute and extraordinary names, which at the same time emphasize the individuality of the individual, its small size, tenderness and playful character.

Most often, the following nicknames KHS are found:

• for boy: Archie, Nemo, Yasha, Cupid, Isik, Joyce, Dan, Ryu, Jiro, Hiro, Hayako, Sino, Jerry, Shelton, Sweet;
• for girl: Hoshi, Daphne, Miya, Aiko, Oji, Ran, Notty, Taya, Alice, Grace.

Some breeders prefer to choose the eastern names for such pets. So they want to emphasize the pet’s belonging to Chinese culture. Each such nickname denotes a specific action or item.

About the features of the breed, see below.