There are many varieties of dog breeds to choose from. All breeds have their own particular traits, but there is one in particular that stands out; the Chinese Crested. The Chinese Crested has caused a greater division of opinion than any other breed. Few are indifferent to it, but it is generally either loved or hated. (Fogle, 1995, p.539) The Crested has often been considered inadequate due to its physical appearance, but over the years it has managed to survive and gain popularity. The origin of the Chinese Crested is unknown, but it is believed to have started in Africa and evolved from the African Hairless Terrier. During the time of the Chinese epidemics, it is believed that Chinese trading ships stopped along the African coasts on their way and took these dogs aboard their ships to hunt vermin. ("www.akc.org") From there, dogs spread all over the world. The Crested is believed to have traveled to North America in the early 1800s. ("web-dvm.net")The crested is known by several different names depending on where it was found. In China, it was known as the Chinese Hairless Dog, Chinese Edible Dog, Chinese Boat Dog, and Chinese Royal Hairless Dog. In Egypt it was called Pyramid, or Hairless Giza, and in Turkey it was called Hairless Turks. (American Kennel Club, 2006, p.462) They were also known as the “Fever Dog” because it was believed that simply touching their skin would cure the fever. (Fogle, 1995, p.539) Today the breed is known as the Chinese Crested. The Chinese Crested is not always hairless. In fact, this breed can be of two types; hairless and powder-puffed. The bald should only have hair on his head, tail and feet and the powderpuff has hair all over his body. Their coats can be different colors; solid, mixed or spotted throughout. Seeing them together, at first, the hairless, powdery tussocks look like different breeds. But after becoming familiar with the breed, it's easy to see that they are almost exactly the same, except for their hair. (American Kennel Club, 2006, p.463)Due to its small size, the Chinese Crested is classified as a toy breed. They are usually between 11 and 13 inches tall. They typically weigh between 10 and 13 pounds. And their life expectancy is generally between 10 and 12 years..