Chinese Crested Basics:

The beginning of this ancient breed are lost in the sands of antiquity. No one truly knows where they first came from. Some think that they are an offshoot of "Canis Africanus" and actually originate in Africa. Others state they were the original "Chinese Ship Dog" used before Christ was a child. Some even say they are the ancestors of the Xoloitzcuintli or "Mexican Hairless Dog". No one knows for sure, but all agree this is a truly ancient breed.

At first glance you would think that there is in fact two very distinct and very different breeds being called "Chinese Crested". This has to do with the fact that these strikingly handsome dogs carry a "hairless" trait. The "powderpuff" variants are Chinese crested dogs that do not have this trait. The amount of hairlessness can vary in amount from slightly to nearly hairless. Most Chinese hairless fall somewhere in the middle and are usually called "hairy" hairless.

The difference between a very hairy Hairless and a Powderpuff is that the Hairless has a single coat, often with hairless parts on the body, while the Powderpuff has a thick, luxurious double coat. The powderpuff’s fur is so incredibly soft it has been described as "cashmere" in texture. Due to its coat type, both Powderpuff and Hairless are considered good pets for allergy sufferers.

When you get down to it, hairless vs powderpuff doesn't really matter; for both have such amazing personalities that after awhile you don't even notice if they have a coat or not.

 
Ancient, Intelligent And Majestic, Chinese Crested's Are The Total Package.
This is Star and Mystic doing what they love to do - cuddle!

My cresteds are raw fed and minimally vaccinated. I do health testing including CERF, OHip and Optigen. I also do yearly blood work to check out thyroid levels and titer levels among other things.

Chinese Cresteds are big dogs in a little package. They get along well with most other animals (including cats) and everyone they meet. They are happy-go-lucky and are not incessant barkers, making them ideal apartment dwellers. They quickly make a place in your life and heart and can convert even the most die hard 'big dog' lover into a crested lover.

I believe in selectively breeding and as our motto says what we strive for:

Elegance, Grace, Health and Intelligence.

For more information on this wonderful breed click HERE for the CKC breed standard (in adobe pdf format, aprx 10k).

Does the escalating number of commerical pet food recalls worry you? It should! If you currently feed a commercial, manufactured food, please educate yourself as to what you are really feeding your family companion! Click HERE to donwload a .pdf document (aprx 80k) from the API.