Chinese Crested Care

The Chinese Crested (CC for short) is a unique-looking toy breed that's beloved by owners everywhere. The breed comes in two coat varieties: Hairless, which is mostly bald except for the head, feet, and tail, and Powderpuff, which sports a full double coat. The good news: regardless of coat variety, Chinese Crested care doesn't take a huge amount of time overall. (The Powderpuff variety obviously needs a little more grooming, but not much.) Below you'll find plenty of details on how to care for a Chinese Crested dog: puppy development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. For some great tips on CC care, keep reading!

Like every breed, a Chinese Crested needs consistent exercise--but overall, these dogs' activity requirements aren't too substantial. CCs are small and lively, but unlike similar toy breeds, they're not overly hyperactive, so they don't need a lot of long walks or prolonged play periods. They're very intelligent, though, and will do best with activities that stimulate them mentally as well as physically. An adult Chinese Crested, depending on its age, will need 30-45 minutes of exercise per day. You can begin exercising a CC puppy at three months of age by taking it on short (5- to 10-minute) walks, then increasing the walks' duration as the puppy grows.

Some things to keep in mind when exercising your Chinese Crested: first, puppies younger than nine months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping and running, as doing so can injure their still-developing bones and joints. And regardless of its age, a CC should be leashed when exercising in public. For one thing, these dogs are incredibly curious little animals with an uncanny knack for wandering or escaping--so if owners take their CC for an unleashed walk, they can expect to spend an hour or two trying to chase down the little booger! And in public places like a dog park, CCs--especially with their hairless bodies--can resemble prey to larger dogs or predators. Even when exercising your own yard, make sure the area is properly secured, and that your Chinese Crested is closely supervised. As mentioned, these dogs are "Houdini Hound" escape artists, and will either climb over or dig under a fence if left to their own devices.

Safeguards aside, it's important to give your Chinese Crested a bit of exercise every single day; and since these are extremely social little dogs that easily suffer separation anxiety if left alone, it's best to participate in activities with them. A bored or ignored CC will be miserable, and will bark, dig, and turn destructive in response. Here are some exercise ideas for you and your Chinese Crested:

• Walking: Two 15- to 20-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch: Can be played indoors or out
• Canine Sports: Chinese Cresteds perform well in obedience and agility trials
• Blowing Bubbles: Use commercial bubble solution; your CC will enjoy "attacking" the bubbles as you blow them
• Hide-and-Seek: Give the dog a treat when it finds you

When indoors, it's a good idea to give your Chinese Crested access to one or more balls or chew-toys to allow it to release any pent-up energy. It's also recommended that you establish a consistent daily exercise schedule for your CC, such as walks after breakfast and dinner combined with a play period in the afternoon.

Maintenance needs for these dogs in terms of shedding and drooling are pretty low. Chinese Crested shedding depends upon an individual CC's coat type: the Hairless variety barely sheds at all, while the Powderpuff variant does shed--but only a little. Drooling is not an issue.

Many people consider Hairless Chinese Crested dogs to be completely non-shedding. Technically, that's not the case, as they do lose a bit of hair from their head and tail plumes--but the amount of shed hair is tiny compared to most other breeds. CCs with the Powderpuff coat variety have double coats that do shed a bit, but the undercoat (which is responsible for a lot of the shed hairs in dogs) is short and woolly, and thus doesn't lose nearly as much hair as other double-coated breeds. In either case, CC owners may need to vacuum the floors occasionally or use lint rollers on clothes and furniture every now and then, but that's about all.

And Chinese Cresteds may drool a bit in anticipation of food, but practically never otherwise. If your CC is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a trip to the veterinarian is needed.

As with any breed, Chinese Crested diet and nutrition is vital in keeping these dogs happy and healthy. Though small, CCs are not extremely active for a toy-sized breed; still, they'll need food that's packed with nutrients, including animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, and--particularly in the case of CCs of the Hairless variety--lots of omega fatty acids to keep their skin healthy. Ideally, Chinese Crested dogs will do best with a diet only of fresh or prepared foods like lean meat, fish, eggs, and fresh vegetables. Many owners find such a diet for their CCs too expensive and inconvenient, however, so the most popular and sensible choice is premium dry food, possibly mixed with a bit of canned (or even fresh/prepared) food. If your preferred Chinese Crested food is the dry kind, a premium brand is an absolute requirement, because these high-quality foods contain the required nutrients that cheap dog foods just don't have. Inexpensive foods normally contain a lot of empty "filler" ingredients that are entirely unhealthy for the dog--so while premium foods may cost more, the dog will eat less of it and will receive more complete nutrition.

And regardless of food type, your CC won't eat much of it in the first place. A full-grown Chinese Crested--and the amount may vary depending on the dog's age and activity level--will need about ¾ cup of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals. Growing puppies need a bit less: about ½ cup per day, divided into three meals until six months of age. Most owners also feed their CCs puppy food until it's nine months old. For further guidelines on feeding your Chinese Crested, see the following chart:

Obesity can be a problem in Chinese Cresteds--and while not a frequent issue for dogs of this breed, it's a serious one. A fat Chinese Crested will have digestive, breathing, and joint problems, not to mention a shortened lifespan. Your CC's weight is best controlled by having a consistent feeding schedule, giving the dog daily exercise, feeding the dog only healthy treats (like fresh fruits or vegetables), and not "free-feeding" it. Free-feeding is leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time, allowing it to eat anytime it wants; veterinarians say it's the primary cause of canine obesity, and is a thoroughly unhealthy practice. It's best to put your CC's bowl down only at mealtimes, then pick it up 15-20 minutes after the dog begins eating, even if food remains.

If you're concerned your Chinese Crested is overweight, give the dog this simple Ribs Test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time. Decrease your CC's daily food consumption by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise regimen.

Breed experts and many owners say the best dog food for a Chinese Crested is a diet consisting of fresh or prepared foods like lean meats, fish, and fruits and vegetables. A lot of owners, though, say they have neither the time nor the money for that kind of diet for their dogs, so they choose premium dry food instead.

Without question, the Chinese Crested is an indoor breed. While these little dogs will usually need a bit of outdoor playtime each day, they'll definitely be happier living inside with their human family members. And for the Chinese Crested dog, apartments are ideal--just make sure your little buddy gets out to stretch its legs on a near-daily basis!

Another consideration for owners of a Chinese Crested: weather. Though they can tolerate hot temps okay, these little dogs get cold very easily. Overall, Chinese Crested dogs are best suited to life in mild to warm climates.

Cresteds are much more suitable for warm weather; the Hairless variety in particular will suffer badly in cold climates. Use of a doggie sweater, especially for Hairless dogs, is highly recommended for outings in cold temperatures.