10/19/2026
A Little History Lesson: The Chinese Crested, From Ship Rats to Spoiled Brats!
Before the Chinese Crested was wearing designer sweaters, sleeping on orthopedic beds, and acting like walking through wet grass was a violation of its constitutional rights, these little naked wonders were reportedly working for a living!
And honey, we’re talking about some serious history here!
Accounts of Chinese Crested type dogs reach as far back as the 13th century. That’s roughly 800 years ago! Long before AKC registration papers, dog show politics, or somebody charging you $40 to park in a field full of cow patties.
These little dogs were reportedly sailing the high seas aboard Chinese merchant ships, earning their passage as ratters.
Yes, RATTERS!
While today’s Chinese Crested may require a heated blanket and a personal chef, their ancestors were supposedly down in the cargo holds chasing rats, protecting food supplies, and keeping unwanted critters from taking over the ship.
And apparently, they were pretty good at their jobs!
As Chinese merchants traveled from port to port, these dogs were reportedly traded, sold, and exchanged along with other goods. Imagine pulling into a foreign port with a shipload of silk, spices, porcelain, and a few naked dogs running around your ankles.
Somewhere there’s a merchant scratching his head wondering what in tarnation he’s supposed to do with a dog that looks like somebody forgot to finish putting the fur on it.
One theory suggests that Chinese sailors acquired larger hairless dogs from Africa and selectively bred them down in size. Hairless dogs were also documented in the Americas, although their exact relationship to our modern Cresteds remains uncertain.
By the 1800s, dogs resembling our modern Chinese Cresteds were being exhibited in England, and by the late 19th century, they were making appearances in American dog circles.
But here’s the kicker!
Despite all that history, the American Kennel Club didn’t officially recognize the Chinese Crested until 1991.
NINETEEN HUNDRED AND NINETY ONE!
These little suckers reportedly sailed across oceans, chased rats through cargo holds, survived centuries of international trade, and still had to wait until 1991 for somebody to hand them a registration certificate!
I reckon the paperwork got lost at sea.
What fascinates me is that these little dogs have such an extraordinary history. From their early associations with Chinese sailors and merchants to becoming the pampered companions we know today, they’ve certainly climbed the social ladder.
Now, we can’t prove every modern Crested descended directly from those shipboard ratters, but the historical accounts sure make for an interesting look into the breed’s past.
And I can’t help but laugh when I think about how far they’ve come.
Now look at the little hairless creature stretched across your couch, wearing a sweater and refusing to step outside because the grass is wet.
Somewhere in doggy heaven, there’s probably an old ship’s ratter shaking his head and saying, “I crossed the ocean, fought rats bigger than my head, and THIS is what became of my bloodline?”
We’ve come a long way, baby!
Authors Note: the image depicted is a replication of history.
© Letha Anne | EverCrest Kennels
