There is a lot of available information regarding the Chinese Crested that is useful, but commonplace, or even banal. The following will provide some of the more fascinating minor details for a more thorough understanding of the breed and where the breed stands in today's dog lover community. Of course, there are no promises that all of this information is all that relevant, but it should at least prove amusing.
For obvious reasons, the Chinese Crested have been a popular dog in film and television. Their appearance is instantly recognizable and they are perhaps the most visually distinctive of all toy breeds. Chinese Crested dogs who've made appearances in film include:
Halston, from the ABC sitcom Ugly Betty.
Peek, in the children's adventure/comedy Cats & Dogs, about cats and dogs warring for control of the planet Earth.
Krull,from the romantic comedy, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. This dog was named after the fantasy character from the film of the same name, however, Krull, the movie didn't feature a single Chinese Crested dog.
Fluffy, Cruella DeVille's dog from the film 102 Dalmations.
It is unfortunate that the breed has mostly been used in comedic films for the sake of cheap jokes at the expense of their appearance, but this isn't always the case.
The Hairless variety of Chinese Crested dogs are the most prominently featured in various ugly dogĀ contests. Besides the famous three time winner, Sam, he was followed in championship by Archie in 2006 and then Elwood in 2007, making for a five year straight win streak for Hairless Chinese Crested dogs.
There is some dispute as to whether or not the Chinese Crested is actually from China. Many experts and enthusiasts insist that the dog came first from Africa. It is sometimes considered to be a part of Canis africanus species, along with the Rhodesian Ridgeback.
Although not hostile or unfriendly towards other animals, the Chinese Crested are happiest around other Chinese Cresteds.
Smaller dog breeds like the Chinese Crested are becoming more popular every year. As of the most recent survey, the top ten most popular breeds include three toy breeds. Ten years ago, there wasn't a single small breed on the top ten list.
Other, unofficial, names for the breed have included the Chinese Edible Dog, the Chinese Ship Dog, the Chinese Royal Dog and the Chinese Hairless. This unusually wide variety nicknames should give a rough idea of just how many uses the breed was put to in China.
There is more to learn in the various books, magazines and publications regarding the breed. For further research, the reader is advised to take a trip to the nearest library or bookstore.
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