Chinese Crested

Breed characteristics

Size: Small
Exercise: Up to 30 minutes per day
Size of home: Flat/ Apartment
Grooming: Once a week
Coat length: Short
Sheds: Yes
Lifespan: Over 12 years
Vulnerable native breed: No
Town or country: Either
Size of garden: Small/ medium garden

There is evidence that the breed goes back to the time of the Han Dynasty in China, where there were larger types of the breed used for hunting. Here is another example of the miniaturisation of a sporting breed. The name of the breed describes the coat pattern of the hairless variety – a crest of fine hair running from the head and down the neck to the withers. Socks of hair cover the toes and a fine plume adorns the end of the tail. The full coated 'Powder Puff' variety is covered entirely by a fine veil of hair.

Read the breed standard

Images for this breed

The Toy breed group

The Toy breeds are small companion or lap dogs. Many of the Toy breeds were bred for this capacity although some have been placed into this category simply due to their size. They should have friendly personalities and love attention. They do not need a large amount of exercise and some can be finicky eaters.

Colour Watch

Category 0: Breeds with no NBS colour registration options.

Read more about Colour Watch.

Breed Standard colours

Breed standard colour means that the colour is accepted within the breed standard and is a traditional and well-known colour in this breed.

Breed standard colours in this breed include:

Black
Black & White
Blue
Blue & White
Brown
Brown & White
Cream
Cream & White
Cream Sable
Fawn & White
Gold
Gold & White
Liver
Mahogany
Mahogany & Cream
Mahogany & White
Pink & Blue
Red & White
Sable
Sable & White
Tricolour
White

Other colour/s

'Other' means you consider your puppy to be a colour not currently known within the breed and one that does not appear on either the breed standard or non-breed standard list. In this instance you would be directed through our registrations process to contact a breed club and/or council to support you on identifying and correctly listing the new colour.

Non-breed-standard colours

Non-breed-standard colour means that the colour is not accepted within the breed standard and whilst some dogs within the breed may be this colour it is advised to only select a dog that fits within the breed standards for all points.

Colour is only one consideration when picking a breed or individual dog, health and temperament should always be a priority over colour.

Whether you’re thinking of buying a puppy, or breeding from your dog, it’s essential that you know what health issues may be found in your breed. To tackle these issues we advise that breeders use DNA tests, screening schemes and inbreeding coefficient calculators to help breed the healthiest dogs possible.

More about health

Important health schemes and tests

We strongly recommend that all breeders, both assured breeders (ABs) and non ABs, use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice.

DNA test – PLL - part of The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services* (see below). Find lists of tested dogs
DNA test – prcd-PRA - part of The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services* (see below). Find lists of tested dogs
Check inbreeding calculators

*The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services - simple to use and easy to organise all-in-one DNA tests

The DNA tests listed above marked with an asterisk (*) are included in our DNA Testing Services. This includes:

PLL (Primary lens luxation)
prcd-PRA (Progressive retinal atrophy)
DNA profile (SNP ISAG 2020)

Kennel Club Assured breeders and Kennel Club Accredited Instructors receive a 10% discount.

Find out more about our DNA Testing Services.

Find out about a particular dog's results

Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed Register.

You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.

Have any questions about health in your breed

Health (The Kennel Club)

Breed watch

Category 2

Particular points of concern for individual breeds may include features not specifically highlighted in the breed standard including current issues. In some breeds, features may be listed which, if exaggerated, might potentially affect the breed in the future.

There are a number of The Kennel Club's rules and regulations that may prevent a litter from being registered, find out about our general and breed specific breeding restrictions below.

More about breeding

The option to select Powder Puff is available when registering a litter online. For any paper applications, a note should be made next to the relevant puppy or in the form of an accompanying letter. If registered as such, the wording Powder Puff will appear after the breed name on the registration certificate and noted in the Breed Records Supplement.

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