*Origin and History of the Chinese Crested

Unlike most family pet or show dogs who are members of Canis Familiaris, the Chinese Crested is from a group known as Canis Africanis.

As is the case with most very old breeds, the earliest beginnings of the Crested are undocumented and have given rise to many tales. Some historians theorize that Aztec cross-breeding of the Chihuahua and Mexican Hairless created today's Crested. Though this may be part of the puzzle, there is little similarity between the Crested and these two breeds.

There is, however, pictorial evidence during the 16th century, as early as 1550, that Chinese traders obtained Cresteds either in Mexico or cities wherever Chinese ships stopped. Spanish explorers record them in both Mexico and South Africa. British settlers found them in various parts of Africa and Asia in the 19th century.

HISTORY IN THE USA
In 1885, two Chinese Cresteds were exhibited at the Westminster Kennel Club Show in New York. their eligibility to be shown in AKC shows was dropped in 1965 due to the small number of dogs being shown as well as the fact that there was no national club to support the breed and the registration books were not available.

In 1979, friends and supporters of the breed established the American Chinese Crested Club. Through the hard work and dedication of the members, Cresteds were able to compete in the Miscellaneous Class of AKC shows in 1986 and move on to full AKC recognition in 1991.

One of the early staunch supporters of the breed in this country was the famous Gypsy Rose Lee and her sister June Havoc. A rescued Crested from Connecticut became Gypsy's first Crested and is seen with her in many candid photographs of her life off stage.