Curlious Chinese Cresteds

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are Chinese Cresteds hypo-allergenic?

Yes and no. Different people have different allergies, that all get lumped together as being allergic to "dogs". The main allergens are saliva, dander, and hair. No type of dog is 100% hypo-allergenic to everybody. Most people will build up a tolerance towards their own dogs, but they may still react to other dogs. If you believe you have an allergy to dogs, I suggest finding someone who has only one or two dogs and visiting their home, and see how your allergies react.

Saliva: If this is your allergen, you will be just as allergic, or possibly more-so, to a Chinese Crested. All dogs have saliva, it's a fact of life. Many Cresteds enjoy grooming themselves, similar to how a cat would, so they are covered in dried saliva. Regular bathing can help, but if saliva is your allergen, you are most likely out of luck.
Dander: All dogs have dander. It is essentially dried skin cells that you are allergic to. When a dog shakes, or scratches himself, he releases these dried skin cells into the air of your home, where it enters your lungs and causes an irritation. Hairless dogs, and dogs that are bathed frequently, tend to have less dander, and as such, people who suffer from this allergy tend to do better with this type of dog.
Hair: In most cases, people are not allergic to dog hair. They are most likely reacting to something on the surface of the hair, such as dust, pollen, mold, and other particles that the dog can pick up during it's daily travels. When the dog sheds his hair around your house, you are further exposed to the particles on his hair, causing your allergies to react. If you have this type of allergy, you will usually react better to a Chinese Crested than you would a regular dog. The hairless variety obviously doesn't have the hair pick up the particles and then shed throughout your house. Powderpuffs, on the other hand, will still pick up the particles, but because of their non-shedding coat, they won't drop that hair throughout your home. Regular bathing of your dog will help reduce the amount of allergen in your dog's coat.

You say they are non-shedding, then what's all this hair in my brush?

Just like you and I, your dog will loose hair when you brush it. Non-shedding, or continual-growth coats, hold on to the dead loose hair instead of letting it drop out. When you comb or brush your dog, you are removing this dead hair and it comes out in your brush. This dead hair may also come out when your dog scratches himself (essentially combing his coat with his claws), so you may occasionally find dog hair in your home, usually where your dog sleeps. Because the dead hair doesn't fall out on its own, it is very important that you brush your dog regularly, to remove the dead hair and prevent the formation of mats. The only type of dog that is 100% non-shedding is a dog that is 100% hairless.

Are they shaved that way?

The simple answer is 'no', they are either born hairless, or born coated (powderpuff). You can tell from birth which dogs are puffs and which are hairless. You would not shave down a powderpuff into a hairless cut, and then take it into the ring. The hairless dogs you see in the ring are born hairless. (Puffs can look quite cute in a hairless cut if you are not planning on showing them though!)

The complex answer is 'sometimes'. Sometimes, hairless Cresteds do need some shaving in order to get that ring ready look. Just like people, Cresteds can have varying degrees of body hair. Some have very little, and do not require any shaving. Others are quite hairy, and require some work to get them to the point of "ring ready". Some people have very hairy arms, chests, or backs, but that doesn't make them any less of a person. Same is true for the "Hairy hairless", they are no less of a Crested than their "true" hairless counterparts. Often, but not always, the more furnishings a hairless dog has, the more body hair goes along with it that needs to be removed. If you want a dog with thick furnishings, be prepared for the grooming involved.

Do they make good apartment dogs?

Cresteds can do wonderfully in an apartment, providing they have an owner who will meet their daily needs. Dogs need active time every day, to stimulate their minds and exercise their bodies. I have found that most dogs living in an apartment get more leash-walks than house dogs, as they need to go on a leash and outside every time they need to relieve themselves (unless of course the owner offers an indoor bathroom). Their owners are also more attentive to changes within the body, usually first seen through changes in the dogs poop. Since the owner's don't own the land, they are forced to pick up after their dog as soon as it happens, unlike most home-owners who do a yard pickup once or twice a week. Cresteds don't have unusually high energy levels, and do quite well with daily walks. If your area allows, running off-leash in a dog park is a great way for your dog to burn off some energy. On the down side, Cresteds do bark. Although they aren't a "yappy" breed, they are more of an 'alert' dog, barking when they hear people approaching their house. It's very important for you to train your dog not to bark endlessly at regular noises that occur when living in an apartment.

Know your rights! The Residential Tenancies Act (Ontario) states that "A provision in a tenancy agreement prohibiting the presence of animals in or about the residential complex is void." Essentially, it's illegal for them to tell you pet's aren't allowed. However, they do have the right to terminate your rental based upon your pet, if a) the animal has substantially interfered with the reasonable enjoyment of the residential complex, b) the presence of the animal has caused the landlord or another tenant to suffer a serious allergic reaction, or c) the presence of the animal is dangerous to the safety of the landlord or the other tenants. (http://www.ontariotenants.ca/law/act.phtml) Please be aware of the laws in your area, and keep your pet under control at all times.

Are they good with cats?

Generally, most Cresteds enjoy the company of other companion animals such as cats. The breed of cat doesn't matter, I've had random-bred strays as well as purebreds and they all co-exist with the dogs just fine. There are a few things you should take into consideration:

When introducing a new dog into a house with existing cats, don't rush it! Your cat may be scared of the dog, or simply put off by the new 'intruder'. Watch them closely, and never leave them alone together until you are certain there won't be any issues.Give them time and plenty of space (you may not see your cat for a few days), and eventually they will learn to tolerate each other. Younger animals are usually much more accepting of new housemates, although animals of any age can learn to co-exist.
Put the kitty's litter box someplace where your dog can't access it. For some reason, most dogs LOVE to eat little kitty 'tootsie rolls'. Although there aren't a lot of diseases that can be passed to the dog from ingesting the cat poop, the litter that your cat uses can cause major problems within the canine digestive system.
Keep feeding areas separated. Dogs really enjoy cat food, but it doesn't give them the nutritional requirements they need. Most cats are free-fed (a bowl of food available at all times), and if this is the case for your cat, I suggest moving the food dish to someplace inaccessible to the dog. You've already partitioned off the litter, but most cat's won't like to eat where the litter is. A solution is to feed them up high, either on a branch of their cat tree, or on your counter or the top of your fridge. You CAN successfully train your cat to only jump on the counter where his food is.

Can they be housetrained?

Like all dogs, housetraining is an ongoing process and requires dedication, patience, and CONSISTENCY! There is no reason that your Crested cannot become fully housetrained, unless YOU are not willing to invest the time and effort to do so. Often, people allow accidents from small dogs because they are small. The piddle on the floor can be cleaned up with a single tissue, so it's no big deal, and they allow the behaviour to continue. An 'accident' becomes a regular occurrence, simply because the dog is not taught any better.

Cresteds (especially hairless ones) can develop issues with going outside during miserable weather, and will prefer to do their business in the house. It is your job to make going outside fun, even if its snowy or raining, or supply an area of your home which it is suitable for your dog to use. With proper training, your puppy should be housetrained by the age of 6 months old. Any younger and you are expecting too much from him, but that doesn't mean you don't START housetraining until he's 6 months! Start training from day 1, lay the foundation for success and enjoy the rewards of a successfully housetrained dog for years to come.

Do Hairless Cresteds require any special care?

There is no doubt they require different care than a regular dog, but its just that, different , not special. Crested's skin is very similar to our own. You may need moisturizers, deep cleansing lotions and sunscreen, while your friends don't, it all depends on your skin type. You will know your dog best, and can tell if he needs any special products to keep his skin healthy. Keep your crested clean, by using a non-scented body wash, and moisturize as needed.

Young Cresteds go through an acne phase, similar to teenagers, when they are reaching adulthood, which ranges from 6-18 months of age. Just like people, some Cresteds get hit with the acne bug worse than others.

As far as I am concerned, Cresteds do not require clothing on a regular basis, providing you keep your home at a comfortable level. Provide a blanket or crate for your dog, and if he gets cold he will have some place to go and warm up. Trips outdoors usually don't need clothing, unless the weather is horrible. (I have routinely used a rain poncho for my puffs when going outdoors in the pouring rain, not to keep them warm, but to save me 3hrs of blow-drying afterwards!) Of course there are lots of cure outfits you can buy, but keep in mind that you are buying them for a DOG and not a BABY. Cresteds don't realize that they are little dogs, and do much better when they are treated as a regular dog and not as an accessory.

What health issues should I be looking out for?

There are some health issues that you should be aware of when checking out potential puppies. The breed as a whole is fairly healthy, without any wide-spread life-threatening genetic issues. However, the most cause of concern comes with the eyes. The breed unfortunately carries at least two different forms of Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), which causes blindness. This disease is not painful, but is unfortunate and should be screened for. One form of PRA is called Progressive Rod Cone Degeneration, or prcd-PRA. The gene responsible for prcd-PRA has been located, and dogs can be screened for this disease through the OptiGen Genetic Testing Lab. The other form, which hasn't been identified on a genetic level yet, can only be screened for through yearly CERF examinations. Your yearly CERF exam also checks for Lens Luxation, Dry eye, Juvenille Cataracts, Micro-opthalmia, Vitreous Degeneration, Cherry Eye, Glaucoma, and SARD. These issues are not as common as PRA, but can occur, so it is VERY important to ensure both parents are up to date on their CERF exams.

Uni-lateral deafness is becoming quite common, without most people even realizing it. When a dog is deaf in one ear, it is very hard to distinguish, and most of these dogs go on to lead very happy lives. The BAER test can determine bi-lateral or uni-lateral deafness through measuring brain activities. It's a quick and painless procedure which in my opinion should be done on all dogs prior to breeding. As with most small dogs, Patellas (knees) can cause issues, and parent's should be verified to be free of any problems prior to breeding.

As for other issues, such as hard/soft palate abnormalities, open fontanels, and umbilical hernias, these are fairly rare and assumed to be a congenital defect (present at birth), and not as a result of a genetic problem (passed down from a parent). You should be made aware of the special care required if you are considering purchasing a puppy with one of these issues.

Do they have any special dietary needs?

Most Cresteds do not have food allergies, and do well on the quality dog food that is on the market. I feed my dogs Purina Pro Plan (chicken or salmon formulas), and have for a few years now, and haven't had any allergies break out. Most common signs of allergies in dogs is dry skin, itching, rashes or scabs. Your vet will be able to run an allergy test to help narrow down the cause of the allergy. Most often, dogs build up intolerances towards corn, wheat or rice. There are many types of food available now without these ingredients, which would be a good place to start if you suspect a food allergy.

I only feed wet (canned) food when I have pregnant girls or extremely picky eaters. I find wet food takes its toll on the dogs teeth, and as a result I have to spend a lot more time brushing teeth. Kibbles are designed to help scrape the excess tartar and buildup off the teeth as the dog eats, so all my dogs get kibble in every meal.