Unlike the family pet or the show dog one usually sees who are members of Canis Familiaris, the Chinese Crested is from a group known as Canis Africanis. In addition to the hairless factor, another interesting feature is that many people believe the body temperature is higher than that of other breeds and the dogs were frequently used to warm the stomach and drive out sickness or evil. However, this is an "old wives' tale" unfounded in scientific knowledge about the dog. As is the case with most very old breeds, the early beginnings of the Crested is undocumented and gives rise to many tales, such as that of some historians who theorize they are the result of the Aztec crossbreeding the Mexican Hairless to the Chihuahua. While this may be possible, there is pictorial evidence during the 16th century as early as 1550 that Chinese traders obtained Cresteds either in Mexico or Africa and sold them throughout the world. They have been found in port 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.

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. There was no National Club to support the breed, too few dogs were being shown, 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, they were able to compete in the Miscellaneous Classes of AKC in 1986 and then gained full AKC recognition in 1991. The A.C.C.C. have members in almost every State, Canada and Europe.

One of the staunch supporters of the breed was the famous Gypsy Rose Lee and her equally famous sister, June Havoc. June rescued a Crested from an animal shelter in Connecticut and it became Gypsy's first Crested. The dog was abandoned when its owner died on a ship anchored in the harbor.

Compiled by Evelyn Koch, American Chinese Crested Club