Dog breed

Chinese Crested

The Chinese Crested is a small companion dog that comes in two varieties: the hairless, with a crest on its head, “socks” on its feet and a plume on its tail, and the fully coated powderpuff. Under the FCI standard, males stand 28–33 cm at the shoulder. It is a cheerful, affectionate, non-aggressive dog that does well in an apartment, but the hairless variety needs careful skin care.

Low shedding
FCI Group IX · Companion dogs · standard no. 288

Weight: 3.6–5.4 kg
Height: 23–33 cm
Lifespan: 13–18 years
Origin: China

How much food for this breed?Compare with another breed

Photo: Tommy Gildseth, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The FCI standard sums up the Crested briefly: happy, never vicious. In practice, it's a dog very attached to its owner that loves warmth, laps and human company and doesn't handle being alone well. The AKC rates both its openness to strangers and its trainability 4: a Crested learns quickly, especially for treats, and can be quite good at sports for small dogs. It's usually friendly with visitors, though some dogs need a moment to warm up. It typically lives peacefully with other dogs and cats. It does well with children who are calm, but its delicate build and, in the hairless variety, sensitive skin mean it's not a dog for little ones to tug at or carry around. It can be alert and will bark when someone comes to the door, but it isn't a nuisance barker.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Chinese Crested for?

The Chinese Crested does well in an apartment with a senior, a couple or a family with older children who want a small, affectionate dog and spend a lot of time at home. It's often recommended for people with allergies, though no dog is fully hypoallergenic. We don't recommend it for people who don't want to care for skin or coat, who are away all day, or who want a dog for long mountain hikes in all weather.

Pros

barely sheds
affectionate and friendly
does well in an apartment
long-lived

Challenges

skin needs protection from sun and cold
missing teeth are common in the hairless variety
doesn't cope well with being alone
the powderpuff needs daily brushing

Size and looks

Size and looks: Chinese Crested
Height at the withers	males 28–33 cm, females 23–30 cm
Weight	males 3.6–5.4 kg, females 3.6–5.4 kg
Lifespan	13–18 years
Coat	hairless
Colors	any color or combination of colors (except merle)
Country of origin	China
Classification	Group IX: Companion and Toy dogs
Also known as	Chinese Crested Dog, Powderpuff, Hairless Crested

Care and exercise

30–45minof exercise a day

2/5grooming needs

1/5shedding

About half an hour of exercise a day, as the Kennel Club recommends, plus play at home is enough for a Crested. The hairless variety, however, needs skin care. The AKC stresses that exposed skin is prone to irritation, allergies and sunburn, so in summer use sunscreen or light protective clothing before going out in the sun. In winter, the dog gets cold and needs a warm sweater. Wash the skin with a gentle product and moisturize it regularly; young dogs may develop acne. The hair on the head, feet and tail needs brushing. The powderpuff has a long, soft coat with a shorter undercoat that must be brushed daily to prevent mats. In both varieties, take care of the teeth, and expect some missing teeth in the hairless.

How much should the Chinese Crested eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Chinese Crested is a long-lived breed. The AKC gives 13–18 years, and in the British McMillan et al. (2024) study the median was 13.4 years. Breeders screen for inherited eye diseases: progressive retinal atrophy, glaucoma and primary lens luxation. The AKC also lists epilepsy, luxating patella and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. The hairless variety has special needs: its skin is vulnerable to burns and irritation, and incomplete dentition is so typical that the FCI standard doesn't penalize it. It's not a grooming flaw but a trait that needs looking after throughout the dog's life.

skin problems in the hairless varietyExposed skin is prone to sunburn, irritation, allergies and acne.
missing teethIncomplete dentition is common in the hairless variety and is not penalized by the FCI standard.
primary lens luxation (PLL)An inherited eye disease that can lead to glaucoma and vision loss.
progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)The AKC lists it among the eye diseases breeding dogs are screened for.
luxating patellaCommon in small breeds, Cresteds included.
Legg-Calvé-Perthes diseaseNecrosis of the femoral head; the AKC notes there is no DNA test for it.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

eye exam (ECVO)
PLL DNA test
PRA-prcd DNA test
patella exam

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Chinese Crested's exact origins are unknown. The AKC cites a theory that large hairless dogs from Africa reached China, where they were bred down in size, and the Kennel Club mentions traces of the breed from the Han dynasty. Cresteds are said to have sailed on Chinese trading ships as ratters, which is why they were also called Chinese ship dogs. That's how they reached ports around the world. From the mid-19th century, they appear in European paintings and prints. The FCI names China as the country of origin and the United Kingdom as the standard's patron country. The FCI recognized the breed in 1972, the AKC in 1991.

Fun facts

Among the breed's old names, the AKC lists “Chinese ship dog” and “Chinese royal hairless.”
According to the AKC, the powderpuff is inherited recessively, so it can appear in a litter from two hairless parents.
The FCI standard allows any color in the Crested except merle.
According to the FCI standard, hairless Cresteds have a primitive trait: forward-pointing canine teeth.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Chinese Crested good for people with allergies?

It's often recommended, because the hairless variety barely sheds and the powderpuff sheds little. But allergens are also found in saliva and dander, so no dog is fully hypoallergenic. Before buying, anyone with allergies should spend time with the specific dog.

Do Chinese Cresteds get cold?

Yes, the hairless variety gets cold very quickly. In fall and winter, it needs a warm sweater for walks and a soft, warm bed at home. In summer, on the other hand, it must be protected from the sun with sunscreen or a light shirt.

How long do Chinese Cresteds live?

The AKC gives 13–18 years, and in a large 2024 British study the median lifespan was 13.4 years. It's one of the long-lived breeds, especially when the dog has healthy eyes and well-cared-for teeth.

What's the difference between a hairless Crested and a powderpuff?

The hairless has bare skin with hair only on the head, feet and tail. The powderpuff is covered entirely in soft, long hair. They're the same breed, and both types can be born in one litter. The powderpuff usually has full dentition and needs daily brushing.

How much does a Chinese Crested weigh?

Adult dogs of this breed usually weigh: males 3.6–5.4 kg, females 3.6–5.4 kg. Height at the withers: 23–33 cm. That range is for healthy adults in good condition.