The Benefits Of Owning A Hairless Dog

I never thought that I would be the owner of a hairless dog. We originally opted to get a Pomeranian, but the one we were hoping for had been adopted out to someone else. Needless to say we were pretty devastated, but then soon afterwards we received a call from the same rescue group saying that they had an eight-month-old Chinese Crested puppy named Sookie that they thought would be perfect for us. At first, we weren't too keen on the idea of having a hairless dog, but they said that they would allow us to keep her at our home overnight (which later turned into a period of one month) to see if she was right for us. Of course after only a few days, we were completely smitten with this little dog. A month later, she was officially ours.

Now that I have had my sweet little Sookie for over six months, I have come to realize the advantages of owning a hairless dog- especially when I visit other homes with furry canines. They are as follows:

Hairless dogs don't shed (obviously).

No fur equals no shedding. Sookie, as with all hairless Chinese Cresteds, has long, straight hair on her head, as well as tufts of hair on her tail, on the bottoms of her legs, and on her paws. This means that there is no need to worry about fur getting all over your sofa, your bed, on the carpet, and on your clothing. No purchasing of lint rollers required (that is unless you're like me and you also have three very furry cats roaming around your home as well).

They are great for allergy sufferers.

There is no breed of dog that is truly hypoallergenic, as all dogs produce some type of dander. Besides from the fur, dander also can come from the skin, saliva, and urine. However, hairless dogs produce only small amounts of dander, so most people with allergies do not have reactions to them.

They don't smell.

Hairless dogs, when bathed regularly (It's usually recommended that they should be bathed at least once a week), do not have that same 'doggy smell' as many other breeds do. This means that you won't have to worry about a stinky odor lingering throughout your home.

It's like having your own personal comfy heating pad.

A hairless dog's skin is soft and smooth, as well as very warm to the touch. However, their body temperature is the same as any other dog's: between 101 and 102 degrees fahrenheit. They only feel warmer simply because there is no fur present to insulate their body heat. The softness and warmth of a hairless dog's body can feel very comforting when it is pressed up against yours, particularly on a cold winter day or when you are in bed with the cold or flu.

You will receive a lot of attention!

Because of the hairless dog's unique appearance, it is more than likely that you will have a lot of people approach you as they will want to know more about your canine companion. While you are taking your pup for a walk or bringing him or her along to the pet store, you are sure to be the center of attention!