Chinese crested dogs are a unique and charming toy breed. Their hairless bodies and furry manes give them a striking appearance. Chinese crested dogs come in two varieties – the Hairless and the Powderpuff. Hairless Chinese cresteds have a mostly hairless body with a mane of fur on the head, tail, and feet. Powderpuff Chinese cresteds have a thick, soft coat all over their body. Both varieties make wonderful pets known for their affectionate and playful personalities.
When choosing a Chinese crested puppy, look for one from a responsible breeder who screens their dogs for health and temperament. A good breeder will be happy to answer your questions and will have socialized their puppies. Meet the puppy's parents if possible to get an idea of the puppy's eventual size and personality. Chinese crested puppies should be lively, friendly, and eager to interact with people. Shy or fearful puppies may indicate poor socialization. Examine the puppy for signs of good health – clear eyes and nose, clean skin and ears, and no discharge.
Pick a puppy based on personality rather than appearance. Hairless and powderpuff puppies have the same wonderful traits inherent to the breed. Choose an outgoing pup who seems interested in people and toys. Avoid puppies who seem anxious or aggressive. Puppy personalities can change as they mature, but a confident start sets the stage for an adaptable, social adult dog.
Preparing Your Home
Before bringing your Chinese crested puppy home, prepare your house to be safe and comfortable. Chinese cresteds are indoor dogs who crave companionship, so plan for your puppy to be with you most of the time. Designate an area like the kitchen for your puppy's bed, crate, food and water. Crating the puppy when you are gone and at night teaches good habits and prevent accidents.
Puppy-proof your home by removing dangling electrical cords, poisonous houseplants, and small objects that could be swallowed. Keep wastebaskets out of reach. Install baby gates to keep your pup contained in dog-friendly areas and away from stairs. Ensure your home is escape-proof – any doors or fences should be secured. If you have other pets, give them space away from the new puppy at first.
Stock up on necessary puppy supplies:
- High-quality puppy food and treats
- Stainless steel food and water bowls
- Collar, leash, and ID tag with your contact info
- Dog bed and blankets
- Dog crate large enough for an adult Chinese crested
- Potty training pads or fake grass if training indoors
- Dog grooming supplies like brush, comb, nail clippers, dry shampoo
- Variety of chew toys to occupy your puppy
- Sturdy baby gates and/or exercise pen
The first few days at home can be stressful for a young puppy. Maintain a calm environment and reassure your puppy with lots of comforting attention.
House Training
House training is an essential first step in raising a Chinese crested puppy. Take your puppy outside frequently to encourage potty habits – every 30 minutes for 8-12 week old puppies, extending to 1-2 hours for puppies over 3 months old. Praise and give treats when your puppy potties outside to reinforce the behavior.
Crating prevents indoor accidents. After eating, drinking, playing, or napping, take your pup straight from the crate to the potty spot, on leash to prevent wandering. Wait until your puppy goes, then reward. Limit water 2-3 hours before bedtime to help avoid overnight accidents. If crating for extended times, give potty breaks every 4 hours for puppies under 6 months old.
Clean all indoor accidents with an enzymatic cleaner to remove odors that can attract the puppy back to the same spot. Don't punish accidents – your puppy doesn't understand. Simply interrupt when catching them in the act, then scoop them up and take them outside to finish. Patience and consistency are key during potty training.
Socializing Your Chinese Crested Puppy
Socialization is introducing your Chinese crested puppy to a wide variety of sights, sounds, people, and other animals in a positive, controlled way. Socialization prevents fearfulness and skittishness as an adult. Expose your puppy to new things gradually and give treats and praise for confident responses.
Start socialization during the prime window of 7-16 weeks old. Safely expose your puppy to:
- New environments: Car rides, pet stores, walking downtown, etc. Go slowly if your puppy seems overwhelmed.
- Other people: Invite friends over. Ask them to offer treats and pet your pup gently.
- Other pets: Arrange careful introductions to vaccinated, friendly dogs and cats.
- Handling: Touch your puppy's paws, ears, mouth, and body frequently so they become accustomed to being handled.
- Noises: Play recordings of sounds like vacuums, doorbells, sirens, children, etc. at low volumes. Reward calm behavior.
Sign up for a positive-reinforcement puppy kindergarten class after your puppy's second round of vaccines, around 12 weeks old. The socialization with other puppies and new people is invaluable. Practice good manners, like sit and down. Ongoing socialization and training classes enhance your bond throughout your Chinese crested's life.
Exercise and Play
Chinese crested puppies have lively personalities and enjoy frequent interactive playtime. Exercise stimulates your puppy's mind and body for a well-rounded dog. Dedicate at least two 20-30 minute play sessions per day to exercising your Chinese crested puppy.
Good exercise options include:
- Playing fetch and tug-of-war with safe toys
- Training sessions practicing commands like sit, down, stay, come, heel
- Hide and seek exercise games around the house
- Socially interactive toys that move or make noise to entice play
- Walking on leash around the neighborhood once vaccinated
Avoid overly strenuous exercise that stresses the puppy's joints and growing body, like jumping on furniture. Give your puppy ample time to rest and sleep after energetic play. When interacting with your puppy, use toys rather than hands for biting to avoid encouraging nipping habits. An exercised puppy learns faster, burns mental energy, and bonds with you through playtime.
Grooming Your Chinese Crested
Grooming routine care of your Chinese crested puppy's skin, coat, nails and teeth is essential. Start handling your puppy frequently from a very young age so grooming tasks become easier as your dog grows. Make grooming a calm, patient, and positive experience.
For powderpuff Chinese cresteds, brushing 2-3 times a week keeps their coat free of mats and tangles. Bathe with mild dog shampoo only when dirty. Hairless variety Chinese cresteds still require bathing and moisturizing their delicate, sensitive skin. Apply hypoallergenic moisturizer after bathing while skin is damp.
Trim your Chinese crested's nails every 2-3 weeks. Introduce nail trims slowly, touching and massaging paws often to desensitize them. Use pet nail clippers or grinders and reward with treats for cooperation. Pay attention not to nick the quick of the nail, which will bleed and be painful.
Brush your puppy's teeth frequently with a soft finger toothbrush and dog toothpaste to promote dental health. Inspect and gently clean inside floppy ears.chinese cresteds are prone to ear infections so check for redness or odor. Daily grooming provides ideal opportunities for health checks and strengthens your relationship.
Feeding Your Chinese Crested Puppy
Proper nutrition supports your rapidly growing Chinese crested puppy's health and development. Feed a premium puppy food designed for toy/small breed dogs. The added calories and nutrients in puppy food fuel growth and energy. Feed set meals twice daily rather than free feeding, which can lead to obesity.
Follow package instructions based on your puppy's age and projected adult weight. Weighing your puppy weekly on a pet scale helps ensure they gain weight appropriately, not too fast or slow. Supply fresh water at all times. Switch your Chinese crested to adult food around 9-12 months old.
Stick to the same brand and recipe for at least 2 months. Sudden food changes may upset your puppy's sensitive digestion. If you must switch dog foods, transition slowly by mixing a little new food in with the old to avoid diarrhea or vomiting. Probiotic supplements can also ease digestive upset.
Healthy training treats should make up no more than 10% of your puppy's daily calories. Look for natural treats with few additives. Offer treats in moderation during training sessions to avoid weight gain. People food like chocolate, grapes, onions, macadamia nuts and other unsafe human foods can seriously harm dogs. Never give table scraps.
Crate Training Your Puppy
Crate training uses your puppy's natural den instincts to help with potty training and prevents destructive chewing behaviors. A crate gives your puppy a safe place to rest and benefits house manners. Crates should be comfy, den-like spaces, not punishment. Introduce gradually and use patience and treats to create a positive association.
Place the crate in a central living area so your puppy feels included in family activities. Outfit it with a comfy bed and chew toys. Acclimate your puppy by leaving the door open so they can investigate it freely. Scatter treats inside to encourage your pup to enter. Give additional valued treats only when your puppy is inside the crate to reinforce it as a good space.
After associating the crate with rewards, practice closing the door briefly while petting and praising your puppy for calm behavior. Very gradually build from 10 seconds with the door closed to longer durations, using special chew toys to occupy your puppy. Let your dog out immediately if they whine or seem distressed. Always crate your puppy during the day for short intervals – not just overnight.
When crating overnight in your bedroom, wait until your puppy is sleeping soundly before closing the door. Take your puppy outside immediately upon letting them out in the morning. Crate training instills good habits and provides essential containment for a new puppy.
Handling Biting and Nipping
Puppy biting and nipping are normal but unwanted behaviors. Chinese crested puppies explore and play with their mouths, so they need constructive guidance not to bite people. Set rules against biting from the start by yelping "ouch!" whenever your puppy's teeth make contact with your skin. This signals the bite was too hard. Ignore your puppy briefly after yelping to teach that biting makes playtime stop.
Redirect your Chinese crested puppy to chew appropriate toys instead of hands and ankles. Say "no bite" then offer a toy and praise when they switch. This teaches what they should chew. Provide a variety of interesting chew toys to satisfy your puppy's needs.
If your puppy gets over-excited and mouthy during play, leash them for a brief calm down period. End play immediately if biting persists. Withdrawal of your attention shows that biting makes you go away. Patience and consistency are key – puppies can take weeks or more to improve mouthing habits. Avoid physical punishment or roughness that can breed fear.
Teaching bite inhibition requires time but creates a safer adult dog. Your Chinese crested puppy must learn to be gentle with human skin for everyone's wellbeing. Manage situations that trigger your puppy and reward non-biting behaviors.
Basic Training Techniques
Chinese crested puppies are bright and trainable dogs who thrive on interacting with their owner. Make training fun with short, engaging sessions that set your puppy up for success. Positive reinforcement techniques work best. Reward desired behaviors with treats, praise, playtime, and affection. Never punish or intimidate your puppy for mistakes.
Focus initial training on important behaviors like:
- Sit – Have your puppy sit before receiving food, toys, attention or going outside. This teaches impulse control.
- Come – Calling your puppy to you and rewarding teaches the all-important recall.
- Down – Get your puppy in a laying down position by luring with treats to the floor.
- Loose leash walking – Stopping or changing directions when your puppy pulls teaches not to pull on leash.
- Grooming handling – Make restraint for brushing, bathing, paw/ear/mouth handling fun with food rewards.
- Crate training – Use treats to build a positive association with the crate.
Keep lessons short, Sweet, and success-oriented for a puppy's limited attention span. End on a good note with your puppy wanting more. Practicing obedience skills throughout the day in low-distraction environments first sets up your Chinese crested puppy to understand how you want them to behave.
Preventing Separation Anxiety
Chinese cresteds form close attachments to their owners, so separation anxiety is a real concern. The keys are proper crate training, preventing excessive dependence in the first place, and building your puppy's independence. Make sure your puppy is occupied, exercised, and pottied before confining them. Give stuffed chew toys or food puzzles to pass time.
Start leaving your Chinese crested puppy alone in another room or contained area for gradually longer periods multiple times a day. Ignore minor fussing but return to comfort truly panicked reactions. Always make arrivals and departures low key – don't reward anxious behavior with excess affection. Maintain consistent daily routines of feeding, walking, training, playtime and confinement times.
Build your puppy's confidence in being alone through incremental steps. Practice commands like stay, down-stay, and go to your bed. Praise calm behavior when exiting. Puppy classes provide socialization and help avoid isolation. Take prevention steps and your Chinese crested will adjust well to alone time.
Preparing for Vet Visits
Regular veterinary checkups are a key part of raising a healthy Chinese crested puppy. Handle and inspect every part of your puppy's body frequently – look at teeth and ears, touch paws and belly, so examinations are not scary. Bring your puppy to the clinic for brief happy visits to meet staff and earn treats before needed vaccines and procedures.
Get your puppy comfortable wearing a collar or harness and walking on leash to facilitate vet handling. Use a calm, upbeat tone of voice and familiar comfort techniques like petting and feeding treats at the vet, even for minor procedures like weighing. Give lots of praise for tolerant behavior in the waiting room or exam room to alleviate stress.
Discuss vaccine schedules, preventatives like deworming, and at-home health practices with your veterinarian. Ask about signs of illness in Chinese cresteds to watch for. Keep vaccine and medical records up to date. With positive experiences and socialization, your puppy will take vet handling in stride. Find a veterinarian you trust to partner in your Chinese crested puppy's health.
Puppy-Proofing Your Home
Your curious Chinese crested puppy will get into anything within reach! Take necessary precautions to protect your possessions and your puppy's safety. Survey your home from a pup's perspective and remove, block, or enclose any dangers. Expect the unexpected – don't assume your puppy won't get somewhere or chew something.
Potential hazards include:
- Loose electrical cords, wires, small batteries (chewing risk)
- Toxic houseplants and harmful household cleaners (poisoning risk)
- Small objects like pins, buttons, coins (choking/blockage risk)
- Shoes, furniture, rugs (chewing and destruction)
- Clothing, towels, kids' toys (shredding/eating)
- Garbage cans (eating garbage)
- Loose medications, makeup (poisoning)
Use baby gates, exercise pens, and closed doors to restrict access if unable to fully puppy-proof an area. Bitter deterrent sprays can curb chewing of furniture and moldings. Provide a variety of safe chew toys. Supervise your puppy closely – don't assume they will leave something alone. Proper puppy-proofing protects your belongings and keeps your Chinese crested puppy safe as they explore their new home.
Choosing a Veterinarian
Selecting the right veterinary practice ensures your Chinese crested puppy receives top-notch preventative and medical care. Look for an AAHA accredited veterinary hospital with experience treating toy breeds. Meet the veterinarians before your puppy's first visit to make sure you have good rapport and align on care philosophies.
Ask trusted dog owners for vet recommendations. Research options online and read reviews. Find a clinic that is clean and modern, with friendly and knowledgeable staff. The vet should thoroughly explain health topics and welcome your questions without rushing. Look for a team excited to care for your Chinese crested!
Ideal veterinary services for your puppy include:
- Comprehensive physical exams and routine wellness care
- Vaccinations and deworming
- Prescription flea/tick/heartworm preventatives
- Microchipping and AKC registration
- Emergency services or after-hours options
- Dental cleanings and other specialized procedures
- Help with behavior issues if they arise
Establish your vet relationship early. Bringing your Chinese crested puppy in multiple times during the first few months for handling and treat rewards builds confidence. Find a veterinary partner you trust for the duration of your dog's life.