Chinese Crested Complete Breed Guide

This mostly hairless breed and it’s powderpuff siblings are great for people with allergies as both varieties are hypoallergenic. Their broad head, large perky ears, and long muzzle give the Chinese Crested a distinct look to go along with their ultra-extroverted and fun-loving personality.

The hypoallergenic Chinese Crested is a small breed with a distinct appearance and unique personality. There are ‘Hairless’ and ‘PowderPuff’ varieties which are so different in appearance that they are sometimes mistaken for different breeds. In fact, hairlessness is a genetic trait; both types can be born in the same litter. They have a broad head, long muzzle, very large upright ears, and almond-shaped eyes... the better to see their owners with! Chinese Cresteds have a flat back, merrily carried tail, and distinctive long, narrow ‘hare feet.’

Lifestyle & Living Conditions

The Chinese Crested gets along well with children who respect their pup's personal space, other dogs, and any household pets. Young children should be watched around the Hairless Chinese Crested as they lack the naturally protective coat most breeds have to protect them from rough play. However, these are very affectionate dogs who love to play tricks and entertain you. They aren't barkers, but they can fall into the "small dog syndrome" category, so they will still need a calm but firm human leader.

Exercise & Activity

Chinese Crested exercise and activity needs are rather minimal. They prefer a daily walk, but can usually have their needs met by indoor play. The Chinese Crested is well-suited for apartment life.

Chinese Cresteds have a distinctive extroverted personality, and they love to be around their humans for plenty of cuddles. They are known to be ‘one person’ dogs that grow particularly attached to their owners and quickly sound the stranger danger alert around people they don’t know. This breed is known for their intelligence, making them easy to train. With a consistent, gentle regiment you’ll have your Chinese Crested pup fetching the paper or catching treats off their noses with ease.

There are two distinct varieties of Chinese Crested—the ‘Hairless’ Chinese Crested and the more common ‘Powder Puff’ Chinese Crested. The Hairless Chinese Crested has soft, human-like skin and tufts of fur on their head and ears, tail tip, feet, and other sporadic places on their bodies. The Powerpuff variety has a thick double coat with a very soft, silky topcoat. They may be groomed with a full face of hair, in which case, they have the appearance of a Terrier, but more commonly, the snout is shaved. Both types of Chinese Crested are good fur allergy sufferers (pun intended).