Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Overview
The Chinese Crested Dog is an ancient breed of mysterious origin. It is believed that its ancestors came from Africa or Mexico, where hairless dogs existed and were later brought to China by sailors. In China, the breed was refined and bred as a decorative and companion dog, symbolizing elegance and social status. It was introduced to Europe in the 19th century, where it quickly gained popularity for its unusual appearance and affectionate temperament. Today, there are two recognized varieties — the Hairless and the Powder Puff — both noted for their grace, devotion, and expressive nature.
General Appearance
The Chinese Crested Dog is a miniature, elegant, and harmoniously built breed, combining refinement with strength. The body is slightly elongated, light, and well-balanced, with a deep chest and straight back. The head is graceful with an elongated muzzle and expressive eyes. The breed’s hallmark is its long, silky hair forming crests on the head, tail, and legs, while the skin remains smooth, soft, and warm to the touch. The tail is long, set high, and elegantly curved. The overall impression is one of fragility combined with liveliness, grace, and confidence, reflecting its aristocratic and decorative nature.
Important Proportions
The Chinese Crested Dog has a slightly rectangular outline, with the body length exceeding the height at the withers. The head is in proportion to the body, the muzzle about equal in length to the skull, with a smooth but distinct stop. The chest is deep, reaching the elbows, with moderately curved ribs. Limbs are long, fine-boned yet strong, ensuring light and free movement. The tail is high-set, carried gracefully in motion. All proportions should emphasize refinement, lightness, and elegance without coarseness or excessive delicacy.
Behavior and Temperament
The Chinese Crested Dog has a gentle, friendly, and well-balanced temperament. It is active, curious, and emotionally sensitive, forming a deep attachment to its owner and seeking constant contact. Affectionate and sociable, it easily senses human emotions. Despite its delicate nature, it is lively, playful, intelligent, and eager to please. Toward strangers, it is alert but never aggressive. This breed is an ideal companion — intelligent, affectionate, and graceful.
Head
The head is elegant and proportionate to the body, with smooth, flowing lines. The skull is slightly rounded and elongated, the stop gentle yet defined. The muzzle tapers toward the nose without being pointed, and the nose bridge is straight. The nose is dark, matching the skin and coat color. Lips are thin, dry, and tight. Jaws are strong with a scissor bite. A long, silky crest starts at the forehead and flows backward. The head expresses grace, liveliness, and refinement.
Eyes
The eyes are medium-sized, almond-shaped, and widely set, giving a soft and expressive look. The expression is lively, intelligent, and slightly alert, reflecting the breed’s sensitivity. The iris is dark — the darker, the better — though harmonized with the skin tone. The whites are not visible when looking straight ahead. Eyelids are tight and fully pigmented. The eyes convey warmth, affection, and attentiveness, forming one of the breed’s most distinctive features.
Ears
The ears are large, thin, and triangular, set low at eye level. In the Hairless variety, they are erect and covered with long, silky fringes. In the Powder Puff variety, dropped ears are permitted and harmonize with the coat type. Ears should enhance the breed’s graceful head and refined expression. Oversized, coarse, or incorrectly set ears are faults. Correct carriage contributes to the elegant and aristocratic outline of the Chinese Crested Dog.
Neck
The neck is long, slender, and slightly arched, widening smoothly toward the shoulders. Set high and carried proudly, it accentuates the dog’s elegance. Musculature is moderate and smooth, with tight skin and no wrinkles or dewlap. The neck’s length allows free movement and balance, giving the dog a noble, dignified appearance.
Body
The body is light, elegant, and well-proportioned. The topline is straight, smoothly blending into a slightly rounded croup. The chest is deep but not broad, reaching the elbows, with moderately sprung ribs. The back is short and firm, the loin slightly arched, and the belly moderately tucked. The croup is rounded, with a high-set tail. All body lines should be smooth and refined, free of heaviness. The correct body conveys grace, poise, and harmony of movement.
Tail
The tail is long, thin, and tapering, set high and carried elegantly in a gentle arch while in motion, without touching the back. When at rest, it hangs naturally with a slight curve. The tail is adorned with long, silky hair forming a plume that begins about halfway down. In the Hairless variety, hair is limited; in the Powder Puff, the tail is fully covered. The tail emphasizes elegance, balance, and refinement.
Forequarters
The forelegs are long, fine, and straight, with slender yet firm bones. Shoulders are well-laid back and close to the body, forming correct angles with the upper arms. Elbows point directly backward, not in or out. Pasterns are slender and slightly sloping. Feet are elongated and narrow with long toes — the characteristic “hare feet” — covered with soft, silky hair (“socks”). The front legs must appear light yet strong, giving the dog elegance and confident movement.
Hindquarters
The hind legs are long, slender, and balanced with the front. Thighs are muscular but not bulky. Stifles are well bent, providing smooth, springy motion. Hocks are low and firm; metatarsi short and straight. Feet are elongated and narrow, with long toes and fine hair at the ends. Correct hindquarters provide flexibility, stability, and harmony of movement.
Gait and Movement
The gait is light, flowing, and graceful, with good reach and strong rear drive. Movement is free, smooth, and balanced, without stiffness or exaggeration. The topline remains steady and the body balanced. Each step should be precise and effortless, expressing the breed’s elegance and lively temperament.
Coat
There are two varieties: Hairless and Powder Puff. The Hairless has smooth, warm, and elastic skin, with silky hair on the head (crest), tail, and feet. The Powder Puff has a long, soft, fine coat with a silky sheen, straight or slightly wavy, and a soft undercoat. The coat must emphasize refinement and not obscure body lines. Regardless of type, it should appear healthy, clean, and well-groomed, highlighting the breed’s aristocratic appearance.
Permitted Colors
All colors and combinations are permitted. The coat and skin may appear solid, spotted, or patched, in shades such as white, black, cream, blue, lavender, chocolate, bronze, or fawn. The skin of Hairless dogs may show natural mottling or smooth pigmentation. Powder Puffs may exhibit a soft pearl or silvery hue. The main requirement is clarity and harmony of color, complementing the breed’s elegance.
Size
A miniature and fine-boned breed. Males stand 28–33 cm at the withers; females 23–30 cm. Weight is proportionate to size, not exceeding 5.5 kg. The body is slightly elongated, compact, and well-balanced. The Chinese Crested Dog should appear delicate yet strong, combining elegance with liveliness.
Faults
Faults include coarseness or excessive fragility, narrow chest, weak back, poor musculature, short or overly long muzzle, light or bulging eyes, large or low-set ears. In Hairless dogs—too much or too little hair in typical areas; in Powder Puffs—coarse or heavy coat texture. Behavioral faults include shyness or nervousness.
Disqualifications
Disqualifying faults include incorrect bite (overshot, undershot, or jaw asymmetry), missing teeth, blue or heterochromatic eyes, depigmented nose, lips, or eyelids, spinal or tail deformities, weak bone, or faulty movement. Disqualification also applies to curly or coarse coat, complete lack of crest or plume, or albinism. Aggressive or fearful behavior is unacceptable.
Important Notes
As a refined decorative breed, the Chinese Crested Dog requires careful breeding and maintenance. ICCF emphasizes preservation of health, balance, and gentle temperament. Hairless dogs must show clean skin with proper hair placement; Powder Puffs must have fine, silky coats. Over-miniaturization or loss of proportion is undesirable. Only ICCF-registered dogs with verified pedigrees and standard conformity are eligible for shows and breeding.
Conclusion
The Chinese Crested Dog embodies grace, intelligence, and affection. A symbol of elegance and charm, it combines a unique appearance with a calm, friendly nature. The Hairless variety is prized for refinement and expressiveness, the Powder Puff for softness and silky coat. Both are noble, active, and deeply devoted to their owners. Only ICCF-registered dogs with confirmed pedigrees and standard compliance may participate in exhibitions and breeding, ensuring preservation of this breed’s purity and aristocratic spirit.
