| A "Hairless" Dog? |
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| The Chinese Crested is a hairless breed of dog - sort of. The hairless gene is dominant - a dog must have that gene to be hairless. There is also a complicated genetic set-up that determines how hairless the dog will be. Hairless Chinese Cresteds vary from "primitives" - who have slight crest, plume and usually only a few hairs on their feet - to the "hairy hairless" - a genetically hairless dog that has coat pretty much all over its body (not to be confused with the powderpuff - genetically coated, with a double coat on its entire body). The hairy hairless can have a single coat all over, or portions that are double coated. Their teeth generally look like the hairless (jutting forward lower canines - "tusks", and missing premolars), but otherwise can easily be mistaken for a powderpuff. Other expressions of hairlessness include a wide strip of hair falling along the spine. In some cases extending down the sides, or there may be scattered spots or larger patches of dense hair in odd places on the body. The amount of hair is one of the determining factors separating a "pet" from a "show dog". We feel that the extra grooming necessary to maintain in show condition a dog with a great deal of body hair is unfair to dog and owner. Consequently, we will not place as a "show prospect" any dog that would require the removal of more than 25% body hair. Grooming for a pet hairless Chinese Crested can include trimming, shaving or scissoring of unwanted hair, or just enjoying the "exotic" look of the partially hairless dog. No matter the amount of hair, from "primitive" to "hairy hairless" to powderpuff, the Chinese Crested is a delightful adoring pet who wants nothing more than your love. |
| F.A.Q. Frequently Asked Questions |
| Chinese Crested dogs come in all colors - The American Kennel Club standard has no restrictions. In the Chinese Crested that lack of constraint on color comes through just a little differently than most breeds. In the more common breeds of dog, a puppy is generally born one color - ie, the spots on a Dalmatian develop after birth, and the Kerry Blue Terrier is born black and fades to blue. Chinese Cresteds, though, may change color - not just from puppy to adult - but occasionally even after adulthood. Puppies that are born white may become black as adults - and vice versa. Spotted puppies may become patched or even solid color. Solid colors generally remain solid - but they may fade in winter with a lack of sun, only to darken in the summertime with a "tan". The colors of the Chinese Crested are truely a rainbow - varying from pink to lavender to blue to black and white (as far as I can tell, green seems to have been omitted - thankfully)! Because the colored portion on the hairless Chinese Crested includes the skin as well as hair, the permutations and combinations are endless. Whatever the color or coat, however, they are all equally endlessly enchanting |
| A Chinese Crested of a Different Color |
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| What kind of special care is needed for Chinese Cresteds? Because the hairless dogs have skin, they require bathing at least every second or third day. We recommend a mild shampoo, a light conditioner for any hair, and Aveeno hypoallergenic lotion to prevent dry skin. They also need more "loving" than most breeds of dog. The Chinese Crested was created as a lap dog, but we find it more accurate to call them "velcro dogs". If they don't get enough contact and attention, they can become seriously depressed. Do they need clothes? We keep ours in pajamas at night, when the weather is cold, or when they might be inclined to scrape their skin (in an outdoor area where they may be playing roughly). Are they expensive? Actually, Chinese Crested are priced pretty much the same as any purebred dog. Those who will be shown tend to cost more, but they are not outrageously expensive. The home is more important than the price - and the dog is always the most important thing of all. What kind of health problems do they have? The biggest problem is bad skin - dogs may have genetic skin problems (similar to people who have acne), or a lack of cleanliness can lead to pimples, blackheads and other problems. There has been some PRA (progressive retinal atrophy), but it is not common. Retained puppy teeth may require removal. Legg Calve Perthes is a genetic joint condition that has occurred, as well as "dry eye" - a condition that is manageable with the use of eye drops. None of these conditions occur frequently - other than the skin problems. Are Chinese Cresteds easy to housetrain? It depends on your situation - they develop slower than other breeds, so they may be older before they have control. Generally speaking, if allowed regular trips outside as puppies, or if you have a doggie door, it's easy (but ONLY when they are sufficiently mature). Can they be yappy and nipping? Again it depends on how they are raised. Any small dog will tend to bark at unusual situations. If you remain calm, and assure them that you will handle the situation, the majority will learn to be reasonably quiet. There are some, however, for whom barking is a means of communication. Under those circumstances, you will need to teach an alternative method of getting their point across! As far as nipping, we will explain to you how to be the "top dog" in your household. This should forestall any problems - as we tell our dogs "if something needs biting, we'll do it!" Are they good with children and other dogs? They are fine with children, as long as they are not treated as playthings. They are not particularly delicate, but obviously cannot tolerate serious roughhousing. Other dogs are fine, as long as they are either of a similar size, or gentle with the Crested. (However, we find that it's generally the Crested that has to be restrained from being to rough with the bigger dog!) What is the difference between a "pet" and a "show dog"? The difference is not generally something most people can see. It may be too much body hair (we will not place as a "show prospect" any dog that requires removal of more than 25% body hair), or we may feel the puppy will either be too big or not big enough as an adult. If the teeth are not complete in a powderpuff, that may prevent it from being successful in the show ring. Also there is the "conformation" - a complicated blueprint delineating what the ideal Crested looks like. If a puppy varies too much from that ideal, we will place it as a pet. All our puppies should be beloved pets first, as showing is only about 2 years out of a dog's expected 12 year lifespan. Do you accept deposits for puppies? No, as we may not have the right dog for you. The right dog in the right home is the most important thing. A dog is a family member, and as such deserves to be placed with the utmost care. We do encourage prospective puppy homes to come visit our dogs and see how they live. |
| Bibliography |
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| A NEW OWNER'S GUIDE TO CHINESE CRESTEDS; Joseph Rachunas; TFH Publications, 1998. THE CHINESE CRESTED: HAIRLESS & POWDERPUFF; Dottie Thompson, privately published, 1996. THE COMPLETE CHINESE CRESTED; Brenda Jones; Ringpress, 1990. HAIRLESS DOGS - THE NAKED TRUTH; Amy Fernandez & Kelly Rhae; privately published, 1999. |
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