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Chinese Crested Dog Facts & Worksheets

Affectionate and alert, Chinese Crested dogs are distinctive for their spotted pink skin, pinky “crested” hairdo, furry socks, and feathery tail.

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Affectionate and alert, Chinese Crested dogs are distinctive for their spotted pink skin, pinky “crested” hairdo, furry socks, and feathery tail. These intensely social exotic-looking dogs were originally bred to be an invalid’s companion.

See the fact file below for more information on the Chinese Crested dogs or alternatively, you can download our 19-page Chinese Crested Dog worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY

  • Despite their name, Chinese Crested dogs don’t really originate from China. Researchers suggest they have evolved from African or Mexican hairless dogs who were reduced in size by the Chinese.
  • These breeds were believed to have travelled with Chinese sailors on the high seas as early as 1530, hunting rodents during and between times of plague.
  • In the mid-19th century, Chinese Crested appeared in a number of European paintings and prints.
  • These dogs received earlier names, such as the Chinese Hairless, Chinese Edible Dog, Chinese Ship Dog, and Chinese Royal Hairless.
  • The Chinese bred the dog for its outstanding ratting abilities aboard their ships, and sailors sold them at different ports. As early as the 1700s, the Europeans had documents which recorded a hairless dog who closely looked like the Chinese Crested. This took place when European travelers went to Chinese seaports and boarded Chinese trading vessels.
  • Apparently, the Chinese thought of these dogs as having magical healing powers; they also used Chinese Cresteds as living heating pads and were kept by Chinese rulers as well as by sailors.
  • It is still unclear when these dogs officially arrived in North America, but the first breed club here was established in 1794. However, in China, Chinese Cresteds have become rare.
  • In the 1950s, Debora Wood formed the “Crest Haven” kennel and started to purposely breed and record the strains of her Chinese Crested dogs.
  • Gypsy Rose Lee, a famous burlesque dancer, was also a Chinese Crested enthusiast, and upon her death, her dogs were turned over to Crest Haven.
  • Ms. Wood also established the American Hairless Dog Club in 1959, which was eventually renamed the American Chinese Crested Club (ACCC) in 1978. The ACC became the US parent club for the breed when they were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991.
  • On top of the nicknames mentioned, Chinese Cresteds have also been called the “Dr. Seuss Dog”, a reference to their hairless resemblance to the book’s fanciful creatures.

APPEARANCE

  • Both male and female Chinese Cresteds reach a height between 11 to 13 inches, and generally weigh up to 12 pounds.
  • These toy dogs are fine-boned and graceful, and come in two varieties: Hairless and Powderpuff Chinese Cresteds.
  • Given that hairlessness is an incomplete dominant trait, Hairless Cresteds have soft, human-like skin. They have tufts of fur, commonly known as “socks”, on their paws and tail, and long, flowing hair on their head (“crest”). This variety can also differ in its amount of body hair. Fur on the muzzle, called the beard, is common. A true Hairless Crested usually does not have much hair on the head, tail, and paws.
  • Their skin color ranges from a pale flesh to deep black, and they often lack a full set of premolar teeth.
  • The Powderpuff variety, on the other hand, has a soft, thick double coat. It resembles much of a terrier, as its fur is completely grown out of its face and its ears are large and erect. Most of the time, the Powderpuff’s snout is shaved as a standard cut.

TEMPERAMENT

  • Energetic and cheerful, Chinese Cresteds love companionship. Expect kisses and lots of snuggles from these happy, loving little dogs.
  • Chinese Cresteds make an excellent companion and are exceptionally smart. Note that most dog trainers unfairly brand them as low on the intelligence scale because they don’t fit the normal dog personality profile. This breed is not suitable for insensitive trainers.
  • They can be stubborn and extremely social. They interact closely with their immediate pack. Very friendly Cresteds are the exception rather than the rule, since most don’t accept strangers easily. They can be reactive, and that trait plus their high social drive makes them needy.
  • They can be wonderful with familiar people but tend to be aggressive towards strangers, unless socialized and trained at an early stage.
  • Chinese Cresteds are alert; they bark to guard their home. They do not bark too much, but they are determined about their guard duty and will do their job. Some Cresteds also love to howl or sing.

HEALTH

  • Dental Issues. These usually affect Cresteds due to the genetic link between dominant hairlessness and missing teeth. The Hairless variety has small, peg-like teeth that can protrude toward the front of the mouth and can cause problems; the Powderpuff, however, has normal toy breed dentition. Hairless Cresteds sometimes lose many teeth at a young age of two or three; thus, they are usually required to eat canned food.
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). An eye condition that may lead to blindness.
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease. This abnormality targets the hip joint. If your Chinese Crested is affected, the blood supply to the apex of the femur is decreased, and its connection to the pelvis starts to disintegrate. Initial symptoms include limping and atrophy of the leg muscle, usually happens when puppies are four to six months old.
  • Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca. Dry eye happens when the eyes don’t give off enough tears to maintain moisture. The eye becomes inflamed, and the membranes are left with only oil and mucus.

CARE

  • Chinese Cresteds require only minimal exercise, as they don’t make good jogging companions; however, it is important for owners to incorporate mental stimulation, such as utilizing toys and puzzles.
  • Both Hairless and Powderpuff Chinese Cresteds need certain amounts of grooming. A weekly bath and frequent brushing will keep their coats matt-free.
  • Maintenance of the Hairless Crested’s skin is similar to that of humans.
  • It can be prone to acne, dryness, and sunburn, so hypoallergenic or oil-free moisturizing cream can help keep their skin from becoming too dry. Most owners apply baby sunscreen to these hairless breeds before spending time under the sun.

Chinese Crested Dog Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Chinese Crested dog across 19 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Chinese Crested Dog worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Chinese Crested dogs which are distinctive for their spotted pink skin, pinky “crested” hairdo, furry socks, and feathery tail. These intensely social exotic-looking dogs were originally bred to be an invalid’s companion.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Chinese Crested Dog Facts
  • Ni Hao!
  • Breed Standards
  • Fetch Some Facts
  • Growing Up Crested
  • Ask a Chinese Crested
  • Other Unusual Dogs
  • Handle With Care
  • Bring One Home
  • Adopting a Chinese Crested
  • Tracing Roots

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Link will appear as Chinese Crested Dog Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, June 3, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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