Making your home safe for your puppy or adult dog.

Puppies and adult dogs are curious and will get into anything and everything! Safeguard your new dog as you would a toddler.  Block off access to all stairs, balconies and decks from which a dog could fall. Swimming pools should be fenced. For the first year, don’t let your Crested dog climb stairs or jump off sofas, beds, etc.  Puppy joints are still forming and may become injured.  Keep anything toxic such as household cleaner, detergents, etc away from your puppy. In a garage area, clean up any gasoline spills and be especially careful of spilled antifreeze, which can kill.  Dogs seem to love its smell and taste.  Keep phone cords, electrical cords and outlets away from your puppy and block access to spaces behind TV’s, refrigerators, etc.  Remove sharp objects and things that could fall on your dog.  Don’t allow access to poisonous plants such as azaleas, poison ivy, mistletoe, holly, and philodendron, among others.  The phone number of your local poison control should be handy!  Never leave objects such as laundry, panty hose or children’s toys, which a puppy could swallow, lying on the floor.  A dog will pick up almost anything up in its mouth. Even a coin which falls to the floor can be potentially harmful if your dog swallows it.  Eliminate the possibility of your dog getting its head caught in any type of tight spot which could lead to strangulation.  These could be things like railings, trellises or fences.  Don’t chain your dog outside unattended.  Eliminate exposure to toxic fumes; lead based paints and rat poisons.  Be sure all doors in your house close securely and that visitors are aware of the importance of closing doors.  Many a dog has been killed by a car when someone forgot to close a door securely.

The Chinese Crested Shopping List for your new puppy or adult dog.

  • One dog crate to fit an adult Chinese Crested. A size 100 or 200 or any crate approaching the dimensions of 24”L x 18”W x 21” H is good.
  • Bedding for the crate.  This can be a blanket or soft towel. (No wool)
  • A 1 quart stainless steel bowl for food.
  • A heavy ceramic bowl for water. 2 quart size.
  • A high quality puppy food. Your breeder may recommend a particular brand.
  • A 6 foot walking leash. A 10” nylon adjustable collar. Don’t use a choke collar on a puppy.  It can injure his throat.
  • Nail clippers or nail grinder.
  • Kwik-Stop (stops the bleeding if you cut your puppy’s nails to short.
  • An ear cleaner.
  • Bathing supplies for the type of Crested you acquire.
  • Brush and comb for the type of Crested you acquire.
  • Nutritious treats or biscuits.
  • Toys which are safe for puppies or adult dogs.

Things to take when you pick up your puppy or adult dog.

When the big day arrives for you to pick up your Chinese Crested puppy or adult dog you will need to take the following items with you in the car: a collar and leash,  a crate with a towel or blanket inside, extra towels, a container of water and a bowl, paper towels, a spray cleaner, several trash bags in case towels get soiled , a toy.

Bringing your puppy or adult dog home.

Following are a few tips to ensure that you give your new Crested puppy or adult dog all the help it needs in learning to adjust to its new home.  Don’t have unrealistic expectations.  Don’t expect your puppy or adult dog to “know” what to do once you get it home.  Remember, your puppy or adult dog  will be lonely the first few days and nights  or that it is separated from its litter mates and familiar routine.  Like children, puppies and adult dogs need to be taught what is expected of them.  Decide ahead of time who will be responsible for caring for your puppy or adult dog.  If you have children it is best to divide the duties among them.  Crate training should begin as soon as you bring your new puppy or adult dog home. It is important to understand that crating a puppy or adult dog is not cruel since all dogs have a nesting instinct and the desire to find a protected spot of their own.  The crate becomes your puppy’s or adult dog's special “room” where he can feel protected and sleep or relax.  Crating will help your puppy or adult dog adjust to its new home, keep it safe when you are away for short periods and help in the housebreaking process, since dogs, by nature, do not like to eliminate in their dens.  Teach your puppy or adult dog  to sleep in its crate the first night you bring him home.  As hard as it may be, don’t give in to his crying or barking.  It may take him a couple of days to stop missing his littermates or familiar routine.  Feeding your puppy or adult dog in his crate and crating him in the car (the safest form of travel for your pet) will also help him adjust to his new quarters.  By outfitting a crate with clean, soft comfortable bedding and some special toys, all puppies and adult dogs soon learn to appreciate their special “room.”  Set up a “dog area.” Young puppies and even older dogs need their own space where they can get away from children and the hub-dub of a busy family. In addition to crate training your puppy or adult dog, you may also designate an area such as a laundry room or other room preferable with a tiled floor which can be sectioned off with a baby gate.  Puppies that are 2 to 4 months old need plenty of sleep.  Your puppy may play for 30 minutes and then need to sleep for an hour or two.  Don’t stress a new puppy if its shows signs of needing to rest.  Put him in his crate or dog area so he can sleep undisturbed.


Feeding tips.

Follow the breeder’s instruction for feeding your new dog. 

Other tips include: 
  • Don’t feed your dog table scraps.  This turns a dog into a finicky eater and can lead to obesity. Changes in food can also cause diarrhea. 
  • Don’t feed your dog chicken, pork or fish bones.  These can lodge in the throat and puncture the stomach and intestines.  
  • Stick to a feeding schedule and feed in the same place.  Feeding at the same time helps the housebreaking process. 
  • If you travel with your dog bring water from home.  Changes in water may lead to diarrhea.  
  • Don’t be concerned if your dog is “off his feed during the first couple of days in his new home.  Separation from his familiar surroundings, combined with adjusting to a new environment can sometimes affect your dog’s appetite for the first couple of days. 
  • Call your breeder if the problem persists.

Exercising your Chinese Crested.

Crested need only moderate amounts of exercise.  Puppies that have daily access to a fenced yard will usually get enough physical activity.  Care must be taken not over exercise a dog while their muscles and bones are still forming.  Until the age of 4 to 6 months, it is important that puppies be allowed to sleep after their play period of or exercise and that children understand the need for their dog to rest.  Because a Crested’s toy size does not allow it easily keep up with someone who is running, a daily walk on a leash, with frequent rest stops, is one of the best forms of exercise for you and your new friend.

Training your Chinese Crested.

Providing some basic training for your Crested will make it a safer and happier pet.  Enrolling in a local obedience class can be a rewarding and bonding experience for you and your new puppy.  Owners can check their local newspapers, request information from local pet stores or ask their veterinarians about obedience classes that may be available in their area.

Preventative health measures new Chinese Crested owners can take.

  • Buy a Chinese Crested room a reputable breeder who will stand behind the health of his/her dog.  Pet store and puppy mill Crested are always more susceptible to numerous health problems and genetic defects.
  • Don’t overfeed your Crested. Obesity is harmful to your Chinese Crested’s heart, spine and joints.
  • Religiously clean your Crested’s skin if you have a hairless, trim toenails once every two weeks as well as check for impacted anal glands.  Scale teeth every two weeks.
  • Give your Crested regular heartworm medication and check for fleas and ticks.  A Lyme disease vaccine is available for those dogs living in tick infested areas.
  • Immunize your Crested for rabies, distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, leptosirosis and Para influenza.  Do not let puppies climb long flights of stairs or jump off objects such as beds, couches or porches, especially before one year of age.
  • Never let your Crested wander loose in the neighborhood.  A Crested is safest in a secure, fenced area.
  • If there is any sign of a medical problem contact your veterinarian immediately.