Chinese crested - 4leggers.com

The Chinese crested dog is a hairless breed of dog. Like most hairless dog breeds, the Chinese crested comes in two varieties, with and without fur, which are born in the same litter: the Powder Puff and the Hairless.

History

Although hairless dogs have been found in many places in the world, it is unlikely that the origins of the modern Chinese crested are in China.^[12]The breed was believed by some to have originated in Africa and was called the African Hairless Terrier in several 19th Century texts, however, there is genetic evidence that shows a shared origin with the Mexican Hairless (Xōlōitzcuintli).^[13] The current name of the breed likely comes from their use on Chinese ships as ratters. They are also believed to have been bred as a companion for invalids and as such can remain healthy with little exercise.

In the 1950s, Debora Wood created the “Crest Haven” kennel and began to purposefully breed and record the lineages of her Chinese crested dogs. The famous burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee also bred Chinese cresteds, and upon her death her dogs were incorporated into Crest Haven. These two lines are the true foundation of every Chinese crested alive today. Ms. Wood also founded the American Hairless Dog Club in 1959, which was eventually incorporated into the American Chinese Crested Club (ACCC) in 1978. The ACCC became the US parent club for the breed when the Chinese crested was recognized by the American Kennel Club thirteen years later, in 1991.

The Chinese crested was officially recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale^[14] in 1987, by The Kennel Club (UK) in 1981, by the American Kennel Club in 1991,^[15] and by the Australian National Kennel Council in 1995. (Wikipedia)

A list of all the dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club: