The Chinese Crested Dog is a smaller (10-13 lbs) breed of dog known for its unusual appearance and entertaining personality. It is a member of the toy dog group. Two types can be born in the same litter; the Hairless and the Powderpuff. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 532 pixelsFull resolution (3008 × 2000 pixel, file size: 2. ... Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) (English, World Canine Organization), is an international Kennel Club based in Thuin, Belgium. ... © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ... The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) is the peak body in Australia responsible for promoting excellence in breeding, showing, trialling, obedience, and other canine-related activities and the ownership of temperamentally and physically sound purebred dogs by responsible individuals across Australia. ... The Canadian Kennel Club (or C.K.C.) is the primary registry body for purebred dog pedigrees in Canada. ... The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom is a club aiming to improve the relationships between dogs and their owners. ... The New Zealand Kennel Club is an organisation responsible for dog pedigree registration services in New Zealand. ... The United Kennel Club (or UKC) is the second oldest all-breed registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States and the second largest in the world. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ... The Bichon Frisé is an example of a toy dog[1] that requires considerable grooming. ...

For six consecutive years, from 2003 to 2008, the winner of the World's Ugliest Dog title has been a Chinese Crested.[1]

Description

Appearance

Chinese Crested Dog - Powderpuff

At first glance, the "Hairless" and "Powderpuff" varieties of Chinese Crested Dogs appear to be two different breeds, but hairlessness is a dominant trait within a single breed.^[1] The Hairless has soft, humanlike skin, as well as tufts of fur on its paws ("socks") and tail ("plume") and long, flowing hair on its head ("crest"). In addition to being a dominant gene, the "hairless" gene is lethal when homozygous^[2]. All living hairless Cresteds are therefore heterozygous for this trait. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 600 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (700 × 700 pixel, file size: 414 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 600 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (700 × 700 pixel, file size: 414 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A hairless dog is a dog with a genetic disposition for hairlessness. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Homozygote cells are diploid or polyploid and have the same alleles at a locus (position) on homologous chromosomes. ... Heterozygote cells are diploid or polyploid and have different alleles at a locus (position) on homologous chromosomes. ...

The Hairless variety can vary in amount of body hair. Fur on the muzzle, known as a beard, is not uncommon. A true Hairless often does not have as much furnishings (hair on the head, tail, and paws). The difference between a very hairy Hairless and a Powderpuff is that the Hairless has a single coat^[3], often with hairless parts on the body, while the Powderpuff has a thick double coat. The skin of the Hairless comes in a variety of colors, ranging from a pale flesh to black. Hairless cresteds often lack a full set of teeth, but this is not considered a fault.^[4] A dogs coat is its fur. ...

The look of the Powderpuff varies according to how it is groomed. When its fur is completely grown out on its face, it strongly resembles a terrier; however, the Powderpuff is usually shaved around the snout as a standard cut. Its fur is incredibly soft. Due to its coat type, both Powderpuff and Hairless are considered good pets for allergy sufferers.

The amount of bodyhair on the hairless variety varies quite extensively, from the true hairless which has very little or no bodyhair and furnishings, to what is called a hairy hairless, which if left ungroomed can grow a nearly full coat of hair. These hairy hairless are not a mix between powederpuffs and hairless Chinese Cresteds though, but is merely a result of the varying expression of the hairless gene, which the powderpuff does not have at all.

Perhaps the most famous of the Chinese Crested dogs was a hairless purebred named Sam, who was dubbed the "World's Ugliest Dog" in competition from 2003 to 2005. He died before he could compete in 2006. Sam's most characteristic ugly traits were his extremely wrinkled skin, deformed teeth, and cataracts. While other Chinese Crested hairless dogs have been in the competition and won, it is arguable that none have been as ugly as Sam, whose looks had literally scared people. Sam, the ugliest dog in America Sam (November 1990–November 18, 2005) was a blind pure-bred Chinese Crested hairless dog, and three time champion of the annual Sonoma-Marin Fair Worlds Ugliest Dog Contest in Northern California in 2003–2005. ...

Temperament

Chinese Cresteds tend to be affectionate, energetic and playful. They are considered great family pets, with endearing personalities. Some are known "singers" or "screechers" while others are known to "smile." They are generally happy lap-dogs with candid personalities and usually aren't the grumpy type but some males can become slightly aggressive as they age. In addition, Chinese Cresteds do not tend to be a "one-person" dog, spotting one particular member of the family as their "owner" seeing as how many of the Chinese cresteds are happy with anyone. Though most cresteds are like that sometimes they will choose to be attached to certain people. Often, this person is the one who gives the dog the most safe and secure feeling, and the dog would clearly show its affection towards him/her above others in the family.

Care

Grooming

Grooming of the Crested is work for both varieties. The Puffs have a very soft and fine double-coat that requires full brushing every other day to avoid matting. Although a Puff's coat does not continuously grow like that of some other breeds, it can be quite long at full length and some owners choose to put their Puffs into a "pony cut." This lower-maintenance option keeps the body hair and facial hair short, leaving the crest, feathers, and tail plume at full length.

Maintenance of the Hairless variety's skin is similar to maintaining human skin - and as such it can be susceptible to acne, dryness, and sunburn. A Hairless should be bathed at least once per week to avoid acne and other skin conditions(some dogs shower with their owners every day). Hypoallergenic or oil-free moisturizing cream can keep the skin from becoming too dry when applied every other day or after bathing. Burning can occur in regions that lend themselves to strong UV-rays, especially in lighter-skinned dogs. Many owners apply baby sunscreen to their pets before spending time in strong sun. Some Cresteds have skin allergies to Lanolin, so be cautious when using any products that contain it.

Unless the dog is a "True" Hairless (one with virtually no hair growth on non-extremities), trimming and/or shaving must be performed to remove stubble growth. Many owners use a clipper for the face and ears and to remove any longer growth that was allowed to occur, and then use a variety of methods to achieve complete hair removal of non-extremities. Commonly used methods include a man's razor and hypoallergenic shaving cream, waxing, and electric razors. Some people have had success with hair removal cream, although one should be sure to apply an amount to a small test area to be sure no adverse reaction occurs.

The Chinese Crested is further distinguished by its "hare foot," (having more elongated toes) as opposed to the "cat foot" common to most other dogs. Because of this the quicks of Cresteds run deeper into their nails, so care must be taken not to trim the nails too short to avoid pain and bleeding.

Health

A Chinese Crested participating in an agility competition

The crested is not affected by many of the congenital diseases found in Toy Breeds. They are, however, prone to some of the conditions below. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 527 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1350 pixel, file size: 768 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 527 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1350 pixel, file size: 768 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ...

Cresteds have what is called a "primitive mouth." This means that most of their teeth are pointy like their canines. Hairless varieties of the Cresteds can be prone to poor dentition. Poor dentition may include missing or crowded teeth and teeth prone to decay when not properly cared for. Most dogs of the Puff variety have few, if any, dental defects.

Eyes are a concern within the breed, having at least two forms of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) which can eventually lead to blindness. For one of these forms of PRA, there exists a genetic test, prcd-PRA. Since this test can only reveal the existence of affected or carrier status of this one form of PRA, breeders and owners of the breed should still have regular eye exams by veterinary ophthalmologists.^[5] Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a genetic disease of the retina that occurs bilaterally and is seen in certain breeds of dogs. ...

As with all other Toy Breeds, the Cresteds can be prone to patellar luxation. This inheritable condition is caused by shallow knee joints (stifles) and results in kneecaps that pop out of place. Its onset is often at a young age, and can cause temporary to permanent lameness based on the severity. Breeders should have their stock certified free of patellar luxation. Many countries' kennel clubs maintain a centralised registry for health results.^[6][7] Luxating patella, or trick knee, is a condition in which the patella, or kneecap, dislocates or moves out of its normal location. ...

Allergy and autoimmune diseases has been observed in the breed. The severity of these ailments, often leading to the premature death of the dog means this is something breeders need to take seriously, in order to avoid this becoming a problem for the breed.^[8] Allergy is an abnormal reaction to a substance foreign to the body that is acquired, predictable and rapid. ... Autoimmunity is the failure of an organism to recognize its own constituent parts (down to the sub-molecular levels) as self, which results in an immune response against its own cells and tissues. ...

The lifespan of a Chinese Crested Dog can be quite impressive. Many well-cared-for Cresteds live to see 15 years or more.

History

The Chinese Crested originated in Africa where they were called "African Hairless Terriers." It is commonly believed^[9], that the Chinese trading ships stopped along Africa on their routes, and it was there that they picked up these dogs because they were excellent ratters^{[citation needed]} for aboard their ships. Examples of these dogs eventually made their way to Europe in the 1800s, where they were displayed as curiosities.

In the 1920s, Debrorah Woods and Ida Garrett jointly created the 'Crest Haven Kennel' and began to purposefully breed and record the lineages of their Chinese Crested dogs. Their dogs are the true foundation of every Chinese Crested alive today. They founded the American Hairless Dog Club in 1959, which was eventually incorporated into the American Chinese Crested Club (ACCC) in 1978.

Recent DNA studies has shown that the dog have no correlation or genetic relation to the Mexican Hairless Dog or the Chihuahua, which was previously widely believed. The DNA test also approved that the dog is closely related to the Basenji, which is of African origin.^{[citation needed]} The Mexican Hairless Dog is a rare, hairless breed of dog whose size varies greatly. ... This article is about the breed of dog. ... The Basenji is a breed of hunting dog that originates in central Africa. ...

The Chinese Crested was officially recognised by the FCI in 1987,in the UK Kennel Club in 1981 and by the American Kennel Club in 1991. The USA parent club is the American Chinese Crested Club.^{[citation needed]}
Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) (English, World Canine Organization), is an international Kennel Club based in Thuin, Belgium. ... The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom is a club aiming to improve the relationships between dogs and their owners. ... AUGUST 25 1981 US Marine Sean Vance is Born on the 25th of August {ear nav|1981}} Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar. ...

Famous Chinese Crested dogs

• Halston on ABC's "Ugly Betty"
• Peek in the 2001 comedy film Cats & Dogs
• Krull in the 2003 film How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
• Renaldo in 2004 film New York Minute
• The Lackey from the 2003 film Good Boy!
• Fluffy, Cruella De Vil's dog from the 2000 film 102 Dalmatians
• There is a Chinese Crested in the 2007 movie "Underdog".
• There is a Chinese Crested in the 1985 movie Brazil.
• There is a Chinese Crested in the 2006 comedy film "Fido".
• There is a Chinese Crested in the 2008 movie "The Gold and the Beautiful"
• There is a Chinese Crested in the 2009 movie "Hotel for Dogs"
• There is a Chinese Crested in the movie "Superstar"
• The American burlesque entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee (1911-1970) owned a number of Chinese Cresteds, and helped create a popular awareness of the unusual breed.
• Sam, the three-time winner of the Sonoma-Marin Fair's World's Ugliest Dog Contest in Petaluma, California, became a minor Internet celebrity
• The winner of the 2008 World's Ugliest Dog Contest held at the Sonoma-Marin county fair in California was a Hairless Chinese Crested named Gus.^[10] The winner of the 2007 competition was a Hairless Chinese Crested-Chihuahua mixed breed dog named Elwood.^[11] The winner of the 2006 competition was a Chinese Crested named Archie.^[12]

Ugly Betty is a Golden Globe, Peabody and Emmy Award-winning[1] American television comedy-drama series starring America Ferrera in the title role, along with Eric Mabius, Judith Light, Rebecca Romijn and Vanessa Williams. ... Comedy film is genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humor. ... Cats & Dogs is a 2001 comedy film directed by Lawrence Guterman about the relationships between cats and dogs. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is an American 2003 motion picture. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... New York Minute is a 2004 comedy teen film starring Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen and Eugene Levy. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Good Boy! movie cover Good Boy! was a moderately successful movie produced by Jim Henson Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, starring talking alien dogs. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... 102 Dalmatians is a 2000 live-action film, produced by The Walt Disney Company and starring Glenn Close as the villainous Cruella de Vil. ... Underdog Underdog was an American animated television series that debuted on October 3, 1964, on the NBC network and continued in sydnication until 1973 for a run of approximately 120 episodes over NBC, and occasionally, CBS. // In 1960, handling the General Mills account as an account executive with the Dancer... Comedy film is genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humor. ... Fido is a Canadian zombie comedy film released in 2006. ... This is about the Arabic television series. ... Gypsy Rose Lee (also known as Rose Louise Hovick and Louise Hovick) (February 9, 1911 or 1914 – April 26, 1970) was an American actress and burlesque entertainer, whose 1957 memoir, which included a scathing portrait of her domineering mother, was made into the stage musical and film Gypsy. ... Sam, the ugliest dog in America Sam (November 1990–November 18, 2005) was a blind pure-bred Chinese Crested hairless dog, and three time champion of the annual Sonoma-Marin Fair Worlds Ugliest Dog Contest in Northern California in 2003–2005. ... The Worlds Ugliest Dog Contest is an annual contest at the Sonoma-Marin county fair in Petaluma, California, U.S., to decide which of the dogs entered in the contest is the ugliest. ... Petaluma is a city located in Sonoma County, California. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... The Worlds Ugliest Dog Contest is an annual contest at the Sonoma-Marin county fair in Petaluma, California, U.S., to decide which of the dogs entered in the contest is the ugliest. ... Sonoma County is on the northwest coast of California, one of the northernmost parts of the greater San Francisco Bay Area, U.S. Its population at the 2000 census was 458,614. ... Marin County (pronounced muh-RIN) is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the breed of dog. ... Elwood is the 2007 winner of the Worlds Ugliest Dog Contest, and had came second in the contest the year before. ...

Breeding

The Hairless allele (the wild type) is a dominant (and homozygous lethal) trait, while the Powderpuff allele acts as a simple recessive trait in its presence. Embryos that receive two copies of the Hairless allele will never develop into puppies. Thus all Chinese Cresteds carry at least one copy of the Powderpuff allele. For a non-technical introduction to the topic, see Introduction to genetics. ... In biology, a wild type is one of the major genotypes of a species that occur in nature, in contrast to induced mutations or artificial cross-breeding. ... Homozygote cells are diploid or polyploid and have the same alleles at a locus (position) on homologous chromosomes. ...

The Powderpuff trait cannot be bred out because it is carried by all Chinese Cresteds (even the hairless ones). All Hairless Chinese Crested have the ability to produce Powderpuff puppies, even when they are bred to another Hairless.

It is believed in some breeder circles that it is necessary to include Puff to Hairless breedings in order to reduce the number of health problems (most notably deafness and poor dentition) that can occur from repeated Hairless to Hairless pairings down the generations.

External links

References

1. ^ Hairless dogs
2. ^ The Journal of Heredity
3. ^ What dogs have hair as opposed to fur?
4. ^ The Official AKC Standard
5. ^ prcd-PRA Test for Chinese Cresteds
6. ^ Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
7. ^ Patellar Luxation General Information - OFA
8. ^ Addisons Disease (Hypoadrenocorticism)
9. ^ Chinese Crested
10. ^ Florida Dog Wins World's Ugliest Title. KTVU, 2008-06-21, Retrieved on 2008-06-21.
11. ^ AP, "Chinese Crested-Chihuahua mix earns world's ugliest dog crown in US", International Herald Tribune, 2007-06-23, Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
12. ^ "THE WORLD’S UGLIEST DOG FOR 2006 IS NAMED", Sonoma-Marin County Fair news release (PDF), 2006-06-23, Retrieved on 2007-06-26.