Chinese Crested

Updated on March 12th, 2026

The Chinese Crested is an affectionate toy breed known for its distinctive hairless look and playful personality. These alert, loving lapdogs enjoy attention, cuddling and spending time with their families.

Temperament

Affectionate, Playful, Alert

Colors

Apricot, Black, Black White & Tan, Blue, Color Variety

WEIGHT

08 – 12 Pounds

HEIGHT

11 – 13 Inches

LIFE EXPECTANCY

13 – 18 years

Maintenance Level

Low Maintenance

High Maintenance

Friendliness

Reserved

Extroverted

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About Breed

Alert, friendly, and affectionate, the Chinese Crested is a delightful house pet. With origins in Africa and China, this exotic looking dog has an unmistakable appearance, and many people hold polarizing opinions on the cuteness factor of this dog. While the hairless variety of the Chinese Crested is typically the first image that comes to mind, this breed also has a fluffy Powderpuff variety. Regardless of appearance, the Crested is a loving and playful lapdog who loves to be the center of attention.

Origin: China, Africa, Mexico Other Names: Crested, Dr. Seuss Dog

Toy Group

The diminutive size and winsome expressions of Toy dogs illustrate the main function of this Group: to embody sheer delight.

Breed Appearance

Chinese Cresteds almost look as though they’d belong more in a hair metal band than a dog show. With the silky soft mane of hair on their heads or crest, the plume of hair on their tails, and the little fur leg warmers or socks, there’s no chance of ever misidentifying this breed. Cresteds are lean hairless dogs that are usually between 11-13 inches tall. The hairless variety has a very exaggerated and tapered hairdo on their heads, while the “powderpuff” variety are completely covered in their signature long soft hair, and are sometimes mistaken for a taller, leaner Maltese. Cresteds have large and wide set eyes with delicate lean features, including a fine pointed muzzle and thin legs. The Crested can come in any color or color variety.

Chocolate

Size & Weight

Chinese Cresteds typically stand between 11-13 inches tall and weigh between 8-12 pounds, making them a small dog, but without the small dog attitude.

Full Grown

Female

11 in. / 8 lbs.

Male

13 in. / 10 lbs.

Height is measured up to the shoulders.

Chinese Crested Breed Characteristics

Size & Coat
Lifestyle
Training & Behavior

Size

Tiny

Jumbo

Weight

Light

Heavy

Shedding

Minimal

Abundant

Coat Length

Short

Long

Grooming Frequency

Occasional

Frequent

Living Space

City apartment

Ranch

Exercise

Couch potato

Bring it on!

Climate

Warm

Cold

Personality

Antisocial

Outgoing

Protection

None

Bodyguard

Behavior with Kids

Always monitor

Babysitter

Training

Headstrong

Obedient

Barking

Mute

Loud

How to Care for a Chinese Crested

Learn about Chinese Crested grooming, training, health, nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle needs. This section covers the key areas of care to help support their daily routine and overall well-being.

Grooming

Coat & Grooming:

You might think that because this breed is hairless that it doesn’t need grooming, but what the Chinese Crested lacks in shedding and regular grooming needs, it makes up for in skin care problems. First of all, since their skin is bare, you’ll need to put lotion on them to stop their skin from drying out. Of course that also means putting sunscreen on your dog for longer excursions outside. Cresteds are also prone to rashes and blackheads, so believe it or not, you may have to get specialty skin treatments, or ‘dog facials’ for your pet. The powderpuffs of the breed require regular grooming every few months, and tend to stain around their mouths and eyes, so most groomers will keep the fur on and around the face cropped very close.

Coat length:
Short

Grooming:
Occasional

Shedding:
As there is no fur on the standard hairless Chinese Crested apart from his crest, socks, and plume, there should be little to no shedding with this breed. However, the powderpuff variety are completely covered in the breed’s signature silky long mane, and they will shed more than the hairless versions. Regular brushing will keep their coats healthy and keep shedding to a minimum.

Training & Behavior

Training:
Cresteds are smart and love to spend time with their owners, which makes them great candidates for agility training and flyball. They also make excellent therapy dogs, but it’s important to start their training and socialization early. They will be more than content to be trained to lay in people's laps or to do tricks for treats.

Barking:
One of the best parts of owning a Chinese Crested is how little they bark. This trait is particularly unusual since they are a typically vocal toy breed. Cresteds are pretty laid back, and you should find that when they bark it’s for something important or fun, not just to hear the sound of their own voice.

Temperament & Behavior:
Chinese Cresteds are happy, alert dogs who love to cuddle and interact with humans. They have a great disposition for therapy dogs and make great pets for disabled persons or seniors. A Crested can spend all afternoon playing with you in the yard and all evening snuggled up in your lap. They are incredibly affectionate and sweet dogs. Chinese Cresteds also make for excellent agility dogs and love to compete in flyball.

Behavior with kids:
Chinese Cresteds are wonderful for families and great with children. It’s important to start the socialization process early and remember to never leave your Chinese Crested, just like any dog, alone with new children.

Protection:
The Chinese Crested is neither ferocious nor particularly protective when it comes to other humans. The Chinese Crested is as much a guard dog as it is a Wall Street broker. On the bright side, you’ll rarely have to worry about this breed barking or nipping at new people.

Health

Life Span:
On average, Chinese Crested live to be about 13-18 years old.

Inherited Health Issues:
As with any breed of dog, certain health conditions occur in Chinese Cresteds at an increased frequency, or as inherited conditions. Given their unique hairless appearance, many of these conditions involve disorders with their skin. These conditions may include, but are not limited to, the following: Progressive retinal atrophy, Vitreous degeneration, Follicular dysplasia and Follicular cysts.

Preventive Care:
As a hairless breed, the Chinese Crested is prone to developing a variety of skin conditions. Sun protection is a crucial step in preventing skin cancer in Cresteds, just as it is in people. Be sure to regularly use sunscreen or UV rated clothing to minimize the risk of sunburn. Additionally, keeping your Chinese Crested’s skin clean and moisturized will help to keep it healthy. Bathing too frequently, however, will dry out your dog’s skin.

As with any dog, Chinese Cresteds should go to the veterinarian regularly for routine examinations. Veterinarians have been extensively trained to pick up on subtle changes, which can be helpful in diagnosing minor problems before they become more significant.

Nutrition

Nutrition:

If overfed or under-exercised, Chinese Cresteds can quickly become overweight. Eating a bite or two of your dinner may not seem like much, but it can be quite a feast to these tiny dogs. Try to limit treat consumption and avoid table scraps, since these goodies will easily pack on the pounds. Instead, feed your Crested a high quality balanced diet with portion-controlled meals.

Daily Consumption:

Adult Chinese Cresteds eat 1/4 to 1/2 cups of dry food per day

Exercise & Lifestyle

Energy Level:

Enjoys some moderate exercise every now and then

Exercise:

The Chinese Crested is an alert and playful breed, but is relatively low maintenance when it comes to exercise. A typical Crested will be more than happy with a short daily walk, so long as you let them frolic around your yard or living room. It’s important to remember that because this breed is hairless, they need to wear sunscreen when they are outside for extended periods of time, or you may need to put them in a coat and boots for walks on cold nights.

Climate:

These little guys prefer warmer climates and shelter from the sun, as it’s no surprise that their hairless appearance leaves them susceptible to the cold and to sunburn. It’s important to consistently apply sunblock to them, just as you would to a child on the beach. Really, the need to keep them warm is just a great excuse to buy them some fetching outfits.

Living space:

Because of their size and laid back nature, the Chinese Crested makes an excellent apartment dweller or suburban pet.

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Cost of Owning

The average cost of owning a Chinese Crested is $900 per year

$300

Vet Care

$200

Grooming & Boarding

$250

Food & Treats

$150

Other

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Fun Facts

Most Chinese Cresteds are allergic to wool.

This breed is in a league of their own when it comes to winning the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest. The most famous of them is a blind Chinese Crested called Sam, who won the contest three years in a row.

The famous burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee was an avid breeder of Chinese Cresteds and used her celebrity to promote the breed in North America and Britain.

Unlike other dog breeds, the Chinese Crested can sweat to regulate their body heat.

The Chinese Crested breed carries a recessive gene for a double silky coat, which means in some litters there will be all hairless Cresteds with one powderpuff puppy.

History

It is believed that this breed is descended from hairless African dogs brought to China in ancient times. The breed was miniaturized after many generations at the hands of Chinese breeders. Eventually, they started making the rounds on Chinese trading vessels as ratting dogs. The dogs were often traded at ports, so by the ‘Age of Discovery’, European explorers reported seeing Crested-style dogs in ports of Central and South Africa, and Asia.

The roots of the Chinese Crested in North America are tied to the efforts of two women, journalist Ida Garrett and breeder Debra Woods over several decades starting in 1880. In 1991, almost 100 years later, the Chinese Crested was entered in the American Kennel Club Stud Book.