Origin
The Chinese Crested Dog is probably one of the most easily recognisable looking dogs on the planet with their hairless body and tufts around their faces, ears, necks and lower legs. However, these hairless dogs are not the only type of Chinese Crested because there is the Powder Puff dog which boast having an undercoat that's covered in a super soft veil of hair that's actually quite long. Whether a hairless Crested or a dog with a coat, they are known to be active, lively and intelligent characters by nature which is why over the years they have become a firm favourite with fans of the breed both here in the UK and elsewhere in the world.
The origins of the Chinese Crested are a bit of a mystery, but there is some belief that these dogs were originally found in Africa where they were known as African Hairless Terriers with evidence of them being found in texts written during the 19th century. However, there is also some evidence of a genetic connection to the Mexican Hairless dog called the Xōlōitzcuintli. In short, although the breed bears the name Chinese Crested, they do not originally hail from that part of the world at all.
In ancient times the Chinese travelled extensively exploring different regions of the world where they began trading. Trade routes were set up and it is believed they bought these little dog back with them from their travels. The dogs kept vermin under control during the long sea voyages. The breed was renamed by their new owners which is how these little dogs came to be known as Chinese Crested.
It was not until the 1950's that the breed started to gain in popularity in the US when breeders kept records of their dog’s lineage. The first club was set up in 1979 and then in 1981, the breed was officially recognised by The Kennel Club here in the UK. With this said, to this day the Chinese Crested remains one of the "rare breeds" of the world.
