Chinese Crested Dog Dog Breed Information

The Chinese Crested is one of the more unusual breeds registered in New Zealand, and one of the few where the same breed standard covers two visibly different dogs. The hairless variety (with tufted crest on the head, socks on the feet and a feathered tail plume) and the powderpuff variety (with a full silky double coat) come from the same parents, the same litters and the same breed standard. The choice between them is a choice between two different ownership routines.

Adults stand 23 to 33 cm at the shoulder and weigh 3 to 6 kg. Lifespan runs 13 to 15 years for both varieties.

Personality and behaviour

Chinese Cresteds are affectionate, playful and unusually attentive for a Toy. The default mood is engaged: a Crested wants to be near its people, watches what is happening, and slots itself into household routine. Most Cresteds attach intensely to one or two people but accept the rest of the household happily. They are not as Velcro as a Maltese but more demonstrative than a Japanese Chin.

The breed is sociable but selective with strangers. Most Cresteds will alert at the door, observe a visitor briefly and warm up over a few minutes. With other dogs the default is friendly. The bark is moderate (less constant than a Maltese, more selective than a Cavalier).

The trait that surprises new owners is the trainability. People expect a quirky-looking, decorative dog and find a smart, food-motivated, agility-capable Toy. Many NZ Cresteds compete in agility, rally and trick training; the breed is one of the more trainable Toys in any registry.

The other surprise is the climbing. Cresteds use their forepaws unusually well for a dog, and many learn to climb onto the back of sofas, balance on chair backs and reach surprisingly high places. Owners report finding their Crested on the kitchen counter, on top of the fridge in one famous case, and reliably on the highest available perch in the room.

Around children, the breed is patient with calm, considerate older kids. Toddlers are a poor match: the small frame is fragile, the hairless skin is vulnerable to scratches and bumps, and the breed will protest if grabbed. Most NZ breeders prefer households with children seven or older.

Care and exercise

Plan on around 35 minutes of exercise a day, split between two walks and indoor play. The breed is moderately energetic by Toy standards: more active than a Pekingese, less driven than a Papillon. A 15-minute morning walk and a 20-minute evening walk plus a play session and some training work meets the daily need for most adult Cresteds. The hairless variety dislikes wet, cold or windy walks and will refuse to go out without a coat in winter; this is sensible self-preservation, not stubbornness.

Grooming depends entirely on coat. The hairless variety needs skin care, not coat care. Weekly bath with a gentle shampoo (the skin produces oil like human skin and benefits from regular washing), light moisturiser on any dry patches, and pet-safe sunscreen (zinc-free, PABA-free) on the back, ears and any exposed skin before extended sun exposure. NZ has the highest UV index in the developed world for parts of summer, and hairless skin burns within 20 to 30 minutes of midday Auckland or Christchurch sun. The crest, socks and tail plume need brushing twice a week. Some hairless Cresteds develop adolescent acne (similar to teenage human skin); a vet-prescribed medicated wash usually resolves it.

The powderpuff variety needs daily brushing of the long silky double coat to prevent matting at the ears, behind the legs and in the trousers. Most NZ powderpuff owners keep the coat in a “puppy cut” trimmed every six to eight weeks at NZ$70 to NZ$110 per session, which cuts daily grooming roughly in half. The powderpuff has a single soft undercoat with no heavy seasonal shed and is one of the lower-shedding long-coated Toys.

Both varieties need weekly nail trims (the hairless grows nails faster than coated breeds), a daily wipe of the eyes to clear discharge, and dental care. The hairless gene is linked to incomplete dentition; many hairless Cresteds are born with missing premolars or molars, and the teeth that are present are prone to crowding and plaque. A scale-and-polish under anaesthetic every two to three years from age five at NZ$500 to NZ$900 per visit is typical.

The dietary watch-out is moderate. Both varieties run lean naturally, so the obesity battle is less constant than for many Toys, but the breed is prone to food allergies and skin sensitivities; persistent itching, recurrent ear infections or chronic acne in the hairless variety often points to a food trigger and a vet-led food trial.

Climate fit across New Zealand

The two varieties handle NZ climate very differently.

• Auckland and Northland. Manageable for both varieties with planning. The hairless needs sunscreen and avoids midday walks December through February (UV is the bigger concern than heat). The powderpuff handles the climate fine; the silky coat does not trap heat the way a double coat does. Aircon is helpful for both varieties on humid days but not essential.
• Wellington. Excellent for both varieties. Cool summers and breezy days suit the powderpuff; the hairless needs a jumper indoors and a coat outdoors below 12 degrees, and Wellington’s winter is firmly in jumper territory. Wind is the one Wellington concern for the hairless; a windproof coat for southerly days is sensible.
• Christchurch and Canterbury. A good year-round fit for the powderpuff. The hairless needs a coat for outdoor walks in winter and sunscreen in summer (Canterbury UV is high). Frost mornings need a jumper indoors as well.
• Central Otago and Southland. A genuine challenge for the hairless variety. The cold cuts through unprotected hairless skin fast; an insulated coat for outdoor walks, a fitted jumper indoors below 18 degrees, a heated dog bed and good house heating are all sensible. Some Otago hairless owners use indoor pee pads on the worst winter days. The powderpuff handles Otago winter fine.

Where to find a Chinese Crested in New Zealand

Three paths.

1. Registered NZKC breeders. The Dogs NZ breeders directory lists the small handful of registered Chinese Crested breeders. Most are concentrated in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch. Expect a 9 to 18 month waitlist and NZ$2,500 to NZ$4,500 per puppy. A reputable breeder shows patella scores, prcd-PRA and primary lens luxation DNA results for both parents, and ideally cardiac auscultation. Ask whether the litter will include hairless and powderpuff puppies; most do.
2. Toy and small-breed rescue. Chinese Cresteds in NZ rescue are uncommon (the small population means few end up surrendered), but small-breed rescue networks occasionally take in older Cresteds when retiree owners can no longer manage. Adoption fees usually run NZ$400 to NZ$700.
3. SPCA NZ. Pure Cresteds are rare in SPCA centres. Crested-cross dogs occasionally appear and are worth considering. Standard SPCA fees apply, NZ$300 to NZ$600.

Avoid online listings without parent photos and breeders who cannot show health screening. The hairless trait is genetically lethal in homozygous form; reputable breeders pair hairless to powderpuff or hairless to hairless with full understanding of the genetics, and unregistered backyard sources sometimes do not.

Insurance and lifetime cost

Chinese Crested insurance claims in NZ cluster around three categories: skin issues (sunburn, acne, allergies, particularly in the hairless variety), dental work and patellar luxation surgery. Three things to weigh on a policy:

• Skin and dermatology cover. For the hairless variety, recurrent skin issues are the most likely lifelong claim. Read the policy wording on chronic skin conditions and food-allergy-related dermatology; some NZ insurers limit dermatology to a sub-cap.
• Hereditary condition cover. Patellar luxation, PRA-prcd and primary lens luxation are all hereditary, all known in the breed and all DNA-testable. Confirm hereditary conditions are covered if no diagnosis was made before the policy started.
• Long lifespan compounding. Cresteds regularly reach 14 or 15 years. A lifetime policy held that long compounds; check premium increases between ages 8 and 14.

For a typical NZ Chinese Crested on a mid-range lifetime policy, lifetime cost (purchase plus 13 to 15 years of food, vet, insurance, council registration, grooming, gear and other) lands around NZ$22,000 to NZ$35,000. The hairless variety adds a small ongoing line for sunscreen, moisturiser, jumpers and coats (around NZ$200 to NZ$400 a year). The powderpuff adds a professional grooming line of NZ$500 to NZ$700 a year.