Two thousand years ago the Chinese trading ships picked up these dogs from Africa and renamed the dogs 'Chinese Crested'. The Crested dogs originated in Africa where they were called 'African Hairless Terriers' are today more often found in Central and South America.
The Chinese Crested Dog is the most popular of the hairless breed, the others are the Mexican Hairless, the Inca Hairless Dog, and the Peruvian Inca Orchid. Elegant and graceful the Chinese Crested is still very rare.