WHAT'S GOOD - WHAT'S BAD

If you want a dog who...

• Is small, elegant, and exotic-looking

• Comes in hairless and coated varieties, and many colors

• Doesn't shed

• Is high-spirited, animated, and agile

• Makes a keen watchdog, but is not aggressive with strangers

• Is usually good with other pets

A Chinese Crested may be right for you.

If you don't want to deal with...

• The fragility of toy breeds

• High activity level

• "Separation anxiety" (destructive, barking) when left alone too much

• Timidity or fearfulness in some lines, or when not socialized enough

• Stubbornness (a mind of his own)

• Tendencies to climb or dig to escape from confinement

• With the hairless variety, a commitment to skin care

• With the powderpuff variety, a commitment to brushing and combing

A Chinese Crested may NOT be right for you.

Major Concerns:

Fragility. Too many people acquire toy breed puppies without understanding how fragile a toy breed is. You can seriously injure or kill a Chinese Crested puppy by stepping on him or by sitting on him when he's curled under a blanket or pillow, where he frequently likes to sleep.

Chinese Crested puppies can seriously injure or kill THEMSELVES by leaping from your arms or off the back of your sofa. A larger dog can grab a Crested puppy and break his neck with one quick shake. Owning a toy breed means constant supervision and surveillance of what's going on around your small dog. Chinese Cresteds MUST always be kept indoors, in a safely fenced yard, or on-leash -- they are just too easy to injure when not under your complete control.

Separation anxiety. More than most other breeds, Chinese Cresteds need a great deal of companionship and do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. This is especially so in the Hairless variety and not so in the PowderPuff type. They become anxious, which they express by destructive chewing and barking. If you work all day or extended hours, this is not the breed for you !!

Providing enough socialization. Chinese Cresteds need extensive exposure to people, dogs of all types and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution can become shyness or suspiciousness, which are difficult to live with.

Mind of its own. Chinese Cresteds can be extremely stubborn and manipulative. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.

Housebreaking problems. The Crested can certainly be "Hard to Housebreak." Consistent crate training is mandatory. The Hairless variety is more difficult in this aspect than the PowderPuff especially in cold or damp and rainy weather conditions but also inside the home. Some owners never get their Chinese Cresteds fully housebroken. Territorial marking (unaltered males & females lifting their leg to pee in your house) is a common problem.

Fence security. Many Chinese Cresteds climb like monkeys and dig like gophers. You may need higher fences than you might imagine for their small size. You may also need to sink wire into the ground along the fence line to thwart digging.

Barking. Cresteds are often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them so they don't turn into yapping nuisances. Stay consistent or they quickly learn to outwit you.

Skin care. Hairless Chinese Cresteds have delicate skin that must be frequently washed and moisturized.

Grooming. Powderpuff Cresteds become a matted mess without frequent brushing and combing. If you can't commit to the brushing, you have to commit to frequent trimming to keep the coat short, neat, and healthy.

Not all Chinese Cresteds are alike:

• some are energetic others placid

• some are stubborn and hard-headed others sweet-natured

• some are serious while others more fun loving and goofy

• there are introverts while some love everyone

You can't be sure or guarantee what a puppy will be like as an adult, since much will rely on their experiences of surrounding life with you! Socialization and exposure to many different situations is always the best way to go.

Purchasing an adult is a way to "know" what you are getting into...as by then many characteristics of the individual will have surfaced. Adults are "what is" rather than puppies which are "a potential to be" and develop.