Chinese Crested History
The Chinese Crested originated in Africa where they were called "African Hairless Terriers." It is commonly believed, that the Chinese trading ships stopped along Africa on their routes, and it was there that they picked up these dogs because they were excellent ratters for aboard their ships. They renamed the dogs "Chinese Crested" and the name stuck.
Recent DNA studies has shown that the dog have no correlation or genetic relation to the Mexican Hairless Dog or the Chihuahua, which was previously widely believed. The DNA test also approved that the dog is closely related to the Basenji, which is of African origin.
The Chinese Crested was officially recognized by the FCI in 1987,in the UK Kennel Club in 1981 and by the American Kennel Club in 1991. The USA parent club is the American Chinese Crested Club.
The winner of the 2007 World's Ugliest Dog Contest held at the Sonoma-Marin county fair in California was a Chinese Crested-Chihuahua mixed breed dog named Elwood.The winner of the 2006 competition was a Chinese Crested named Archie.
