Chinese Crested Colors & Coat Guide

All recognized Chinese Crested colors, coat types, genetics, and how color can impact pricing and health.

Chinese Crested Colors Overview

The Chinese Crested comes in several recognized coat colors. Hairless skin can be any color and often changes with sun exposure and seasons. The hairless gene is an incomplete dominant; breeding two hairless dogs produces some lethal homozygous embryos..

Coat color is determined by genetics, with some colors being dominant and others recessive. Understanding color genetics can help predict puppy colors and identify responsible breeding practices.

Recognized Colors

Apricot Standard

Black Standard

Chocolate Standard

Cream Standard

Slate Standard

Pink and Chocolate Standard

White Standard

Palomino Standard

Color & Price Impact

Standard colors	Normal pricing ($1000–$2000)
Rare/unusual colors	Premium pricing (+$600–$1000)

Coat Genetics

The Chinese Crested's coat color is the product of several interacting genes. Hairless skin can be any color and often changes with sun exposure and seasons. The hairless gene is an incomplete dominant; breeding two hairless dogs produces some lethal homozygous embryos..

Modern DNA testing panels can identify a dog's genotype at key color loci, allowing breeders to predict puppy colors and avoid producing colors linked to health issues (such as double merle).

Rare vs Standard Colors

Rare Chinese Crested colors can be fascinating from a genetics perspective, but proceed with caution. Hairless skin can be any color and often changes with sun exposure and seasons. The hairless gene is an incomplete dominant; breeding two hairless dogs produces some lethal homozygous embryos.. Premium pricing for unusual colors beyond the standard $1000–$2000 range does not guarantee quality breeding.

The best approach is to choose a Chinese Crested breeder who health-tests thoroughly for Dental Abnormalities and Patellar Luxation and produces well-tempered dogs, regardless of coat color.

Do Chinese Crested Colors Change with Age?

Many Chinese Crested puppies experience some degree of color change as they mature. Their hairless or powderpuff coat undergoes significant textural changes alongside color shifts. Standard colors (Apricot, Black, Chocolate, Cream, Slate, Pink and Chocolate,) typically stabilize as the puppy coat transitions to the adult coat between 4 and 12 months of age.

Controversial Colors

When shopping for a Chinese Crested, be skeptical of breeders who advertise unusual colors at prices above $2000. Non-standard colors beyond Apricot, Black, Chocolate, Cream, Slate, Pink and Chocolate, can indicate mixed breeding or genes linked to health issues. Hairless skin can be any color and often changes with sun exposure and seasons. The hairless gene is an incomplete dominant; breeding two hairless dogs produces some lethal homozygous embryos..

Frequently Asked Questions

Standard Chinese Crested colors include Apricot, Black, Chocolate, Cream. Hairless skin can be any color and often changes with sun exposure and seasons. The hairless gene is an incomplete dominant; breeding two hairless dogs produces some lethal homozygous embryos..

Among Chinese Crested colors, rarity reflects recessive genetics rather than quality. Hairless skin can be any color and often changes with sun exposure and seasons. The hairless gene is an incomplete dominant; breeding two hairless dogs produces some lethal homozygous embryos..

Yes, many Chinese Crested puppies experience color changes between 4 and 12 months as the puppy coat transitions to the adult coat. Hairless skin can be any color and often changes with sun exposure and seasons. The hairless gene is an incomplete dominant; breeding two hairless dogs produces some lethal homozygous embryos.. Standard colors like Apricot, Black, Chocolate, Cream are generally stable by 12 months.

For the Chinese Crested, standard colors have no known health associations. Some non-standard colors in certain breeds can be linked to deafness, eye problems, or skin sensitivity. Hairless skin can be any color and often changes with sun exposure and seasons. The hairless gene is an incomplete dominant; breeding two hairless dogs produces some lethal homozygous embryos..

Among Chinese Cresteds, the most commonly seen colors are Apricot, Black, Chocolate, Cream. As the breed standard recognizes 8 color variations, there is good variety to choose from. Hairless skin can be any color and often changes with sun exposure and seasons. The hairless gene is an incomplete dominant; breeding two hairless dogs produces some lethal homozygous embryos..