There are so many types of dog breeds around and among the most common ones is the Chinese Crested Hairless Dog. These dogs will relatively be able to read your mind and they can lie in bed for quite a long time without moving. They are less outgoing, but they have an athletic physique that enables them to jump over a tall fence. They will bond easily and quickly within their group, but they tend to be less gregarious. They will also not accept any stranger easily, but when they are used to you, they will be fully devoted to you entirely. The standard height of this breed of dogs is around 11 – 13 inches, whether male or female, and they will weigh a maximum of 12 pounds.
• Loving: One major personality of the crested hairless dog is that they are typically happy and alert. They always love to kiss and snuggle on your lap. Once the dog loves you, you will be his best friend and by that, he will stick to you always.
• Stubborn: They are usually persistent, especially if they realize a stranger around. Since they are naturally doubtful of strangers, they will tend to be relentlessly restless. They could bark at strangers and even bite them, but a well trained dog should not bite.
• Sensitive/Protective: The dog knows his duty, which is more of guarding his master. For that, he will typically bark at strangers or if he senses a burglar around. Some will sing or howl when they notice the stranger, nevertheless, they are not extra yappy.
The Health Issues
These dogs are normally healthy, however, they are prone to a number of health conditions, but it is not a must that they all must get such a disease. Some of the most common health issues related to the dog include the following;
• Dental Problems: The genetic link in these hairless breeds will lead to a number of teeth missing. They have tiny teeth that look pegged and they might tilt towards the front, which could cause some problems. They tend to lose a lot of teeth by the time they are 2 or 3 years, which make some to need canned food, due to the lack of teeth.
• PRA – Progressive Retinal Atrophy: This is an eye disease that destroys the retina. When the disease is still developing, the dogs with the problem might experience night blindness. However, they will gradually lose their sight during the day as the disease gets more concentrated. If they are left in the same environment, they will adapt to their blindness.
• Legg-Calve Perhes Disease: This disease affects the hip joint. In such a condition, there will be a reduction in the supply of blood to the large bone of the hind leg (femur). By that, the femur head will slowly split up from the pelvis. The dog may start limping in the early stages due to the withering of the leg muscle. This will occur mostly when the puppy is between 4 and 6 months, however, the condition can be fixed by surgery.
Caring For The Breed
The dog will need less exercise as he is not such a good companion for jogging. However, he needs to have good mental stimulation. He could enjoy some toys and puzzles created for dogs, in order to keep him active.
They are also easy to train, however, they can be stubborn during the training process, which calls for your patience. The main procedure is developing positive reinforcement; you will also need to correct him sensitively in order to encourage him.
It would be best if you found a collection of small dogs in order to boost the socializing aspect of the dog. If he is left to play with larger dogs, he might be injured in the event. When feeding the dog, it is recommended to give him about ¼ to 1 cup of good, dry food daily, typically twice a day. The amount of food that he will eat will depend on his size, build, age, metabolism and level of activity. Always feed the dog with a standard measure of food twice every day in order to maintain his shape.
These Chinese Crested hairless dogs are great to keep as they tend to be very attached to you, when they finally come to love you. They will also ensure that you are guarded well by barking whenever they see a stranger, though this might be annoying sometimes, but they really are great dogs.