Lively, affectionate, and sweet-tempered, many Chinese Cresteds are known as "Velcro dogs," because they physically attach themselves to their owners' sides – and are difficult to remove. These toy-sized dogs are intelligent, happy, devoted animals whose personalities can be as unique as their appearance. They are extremely social (but mainly to their owners, as Cresteds can be suspicious of and standoffish to strangers), highly sensitive, and at times stubborn. Experts suggest early socialization with strangers and other animals, along with obedience training (to which they normally respond well), to teach a Crested to behave properly in assorted situations.
Cresteds also form intense bonds with their owners, and will likely suffer high separation anxiety if left alone for extended periods, which can lead to destructive behavior. And though its tiny size probably won't scare off a burglar, this breed makes an excellent watchdog, and will "alert bark" when unknown people, animals, or objects come near. That said, Cresteds are not frequent "barkers"; they normally don't bark without good reason. They're more likely to howl – fortunately, this happens most frequently when they're happy. Cresteds are also notorious "Houdini hounds," in that they can escape from an amazing array of places. They are known to climb tall fences (or just dig under them), and are extremely difficult to catch once they're free.
In addition, Cresteds are notoriously difficult to housetrain. Males in particular, especially non-neutered ones, will urinate in random places to "mark their territory."
