SPOTLIGHT ON THE CHINESE CRESTED By Arlene Butterklee
C hinese Cresteds are a unique and old dog breed with two varieties (Hairless and Powderpuff) that dates back to the 1400’s as shown by their depiction in various paintings and drawings during that era. No one knows exactly where the first Chinese Crested dog (or the first hairless dog, for that matter) came from. Some speculate Africa, others Asia, and still others Mexico; but what is known for sure is that the hairless Crested resulted from a genetic mutation or mistake. Other genetic mutations oc- cur within populations of animals, but the hairless Chinese Crested resulted from a mutation in a long-coated breed. The Chinese Crested’s hairless trait was propagated, and eventu - ally the Chinese Crested became the dog it is today. Recent DNA evidence shows that the Chinese Crested foun- dation may have originated primar- ily from Terriers with an infusion of soft-coated dogs. By 1979 and 1980, there were a few established breeders of Chinese Cresteds: Hazel Willard (Phaedri- an), Jenny Tall (RiverCrest), Wally Swett/Ken Oberg (Mordor), Dick Dickerson (Dickerson), and Ginette Perez (GiPez). During the 1980s, an early group of fanciers under Dick Dickerson’s guidance founded a club specifically dedicated to the Chi - nese Crested breed: the American Chinese Crested Club. The goal of the club was to promote the Chinese Crested breed, educate society about
1991, the Chinese Crested achieved full purebred status and was eligible to compete in the Toy Group. With respect to breeding to the Stan - dard, the original Chinese Crested Breed Standard had a few key points that made Chinese Cresteds a special and unique breed. First and foremost, “the Hairless variety” meant that the Chinese Crested was a real hair- less dog, with hair only on the head, feet, and tail. No trimming of hair - less dogs was accepted, not even on the face. They were completely natu- ral, with soft, baby skin that felt like porcelain. They were not allowed to be hairy Hairless groomed to appear hairless. The “Powderpuff variety” was the opposite, fluffy as can be.
them, and obtain full purebred sta - tus with the American Kennel Club. In February 1986, the AKC accepted the Breed Standard that the club had submitted, and the Chinese Crested entered the Miscellaneous Class. The AKC required the breed club to mod - ify certain aspects of the Standard in order for the breed to become fully recognized. One example was that Powderpuffs had to have erect ears, as did the Hairless. There were also dif- ferent styles of Chinese Crested; the refined and delicate type, resembling a little fawn (known as the deer type), and a lower-to-the-ground, stockier body type, (known as the cobby type), which were combined into one body style that we know today. On April 1,
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