Chinese crested is a breed of small dog. It stands from 11 to 13 inches (28 to 33 centimeters) high at the shoulder and weighs from 5 to 10 pounds (2.3 to 4.5 kilograms). There are two varieties of Chinese cresteds, hairless and powderpuff. The hairless variety has soft, flowing hair only on the head, tail, legs, and feet. Hairless skin covers the rest of the body. The skin can be any color or combination of colors. The powderpuff variety has a soft, fluffy coat of hair over the entire body. Both varieties can be born in the same litter.
Chinese cresteds are agile and alert and make good pets. The breed probably originated in Africa during the 1000’s or 1100’s. The dogs were kept as pets by mandarins (high-ranking officials) in China. Chinese merchants carried the dogs on sailing vessels and thus introduced them to other countries throughout the world.
