VARIETIES
There are two recognized varieties: hairless and powderpuff. There are varying degrees of coats in both varieties; however, one should know what they are born are what they will remain throughout life. They do not change from a puff to a hairless or a hairless to a puff. There is a lot of controversies about this but the truth remains what they were born is what they are. Consequently, as the puppy ages, a puff puppy may have an unacceptable coat and will thin out as well as lacking full dentition. You can have bad dentition and coat in a powderpuff. If there are any questions, before you buy, ask for 1 to 3 day old pictures of the puppy. If the breeder cannot produce that, then you should go elsewhere.
The varying degrees of hairless are true hairless, moderate hairless, and hairy hairless. A true hairless has sparse to no body hair and extremely smooth skin without a lot of grooming. Consequently as breeding gets better, more of the true hairless will have better furnishings; however, most true hairless have sparse furnishings which holds them back in the show ring even though the standard states any length. The moderate hairless will usually have hair down the back or down the legs. However, the hair that grows in these areas never reach the length of the crest, plume, or socks. The dog will require moderate grooming of an electric razor. A hairy hairless will have body hair throughout the body but will be lacking in one area which is usually the chest and/or rib area. The hair will usually be a thick coating of a single layer of hair. The hairy hairless seem to be the most preferred in the show ring; however, many will tell you the grooming requirement of a hairy hairless does not always seem worth it because of the time required to make sure that the hair growth is minimized before walking into the ring. Many new pet owners who purchase a hairy hairless are not happy because they cannot keep the dog in a hairless look.
The puff can have a veil coat or a super dense coat; however, either way the coat must be a double coat. The veil coat is the hardest to keep growing due to the shortness/thinness of the undercoat. The super dense coat is lovely to look at but the most likely to hold a wave because of too much hair. A puff's coat should be straight. If you are purchasing a puff for showing, ask to see the coat in a natural state right after blow drying without any grooming aids like a flat iron, gel, extra conditioners. There are puffs out there with a beautiful flat coat after blow drying.
TEETH
There is an ongoing discussion about teeth in the hairless. Since the standard states that the hairless are allowed missing teeth, is it extreme for a one year old to already be missing 6 or more teeth? Should the breeders at least attempt to keep majority of the hairless teeth by trying to breed for better dentition? I have noticed that the lines that have more puffs bred in have a higher chance of having more adult teeth and a fuller set of teeth. I have also noticed that the bite is also better. Consequently, I have also noticed that there is a difference between the puff being from a majority of hairless descendants versus a puff descendant from puff and hairless breedings. Hairless to hairless breedings are okay as long as there is a parent or a grandparent that is a puff. If you have 5 generations of breedings with only 2 to 3 puffs, the odds are that the dentition in the hairless are not going to be full adult teeth or lacking a lot of teeth by the time the dog is 2 years of age. As you research pedigrees, keep this factor in mind.
BLUE EYES
In accordance with the Chinese crested standard, a dark dog should have dark eyes while a lighter colored dog should have lighter eyes. However, it should be noted that the Chinese Crested dog is not a breed that is known to carry a blue eyed gene, unlike the Husky. It should also be noted that many of the dogs are presenting a merle like eye in which only a part of the eye possesses a blue patterning or a total lack of pigmentation. Because of this, can we be introducing a possibility of deafness or blindness into the breed like the dachshunds, cocker spaniels, great danes, etc? It is something to think about especially since, as a breeder, we are ethically supposed to be preserving the breed and making the breed better--not making a creation of our own personal preference.
General Appearance
A toy dog, fine-boned, elegant and graceful. The distinct varieties are born in the same litter. The Hairless with hair only on the head, tail and feet and the Powderpuff, completely covered with hair. The breed serves as a loving companion, playful and entertaining.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size - Ideally 11 to 13 inches. However, dogs that are slightly larger or smaller may be given full consideration. Proportion – rectangular-proportioned to allow for freedom of movement. Body length from withers to base of tail is slightly longer than the height at the withers. Substance – Fine-boned and slender but not so refined as to appear breakable or alternatively, not a robust, heavy structure.
Head
Expression - Alert and intense. Eyes - Almond-shaped, set wide apart. Dark-colored dogs have dark-colored eyes, and lighter-colored dogs may have lighter-colored eyes. Eye rims match the coloring of the dog. Ears - Uncropped large and erect, placed so that the base of the ear is level with the outside corner of the eye. Skull - The skull is arched gently over the occiput from ear to ear. Distance from occiput to stop equal to distance from stop to tip of nose. The head is wedge-shaped viewed from above and the side. Stop - Slight but distinct. Muzzle - Cheeks taper cleanly into the muzzle. Nose - Dark in dark-colored dogs; may be lighter in lighter-colored dogs. Pigment is solid. Lips - Lips are clean and tight. Bite - Scissors or level in both varieties. Missing teeth in the Powderpuff are to be faulted. The Hairless variety is not to be penalized for absence of full dentition.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck - Neck is lean and clean, slightly arched from the withers to the base of the skull and carried high. Topline - Level to slightly sloping croup. Body - Brisket extends to the elbow. Breastbone is not prominent. Ribs are well developed. The depth of the chest tapers to a moderate tuck-up at the flanks. Light in loin. Tail - Tail is slender and tapers to a curve. It is long enough to reach the hock. When dog is in motion, the tail is carried gaily and may be carried slightly forward over the back. At rest the tail is down with a slight curve upward at the end resembling a sickle. In the Hairless variety, two-thirds of the end of the tail is covered by long, flowing feathering referred to as a plume. The Powderpuff variety's tail is completely covered with hair.
Forequarters
Angulation - Layback of shoulders is 45 degrees to point of shoulder allowing for good reach. Shoulders - Clean and narrow. Elbows - Close to body. Legs - Long, slender and straight. Pasterns - Upright, fine and strong. Dewclaws may be removed. Feet - Hare foot, narrow with elongated toes. Nails are trimmed to moderate length.
Hindquarters
Angulation - Stifle moderately angulated. From hock joint to ground perpendicular. Dewclaws may be removed. Feet - Same as forequarters.
Coat
The Hairless variety has hair on certain portions of the body: the head (called a crest), the tail (called a plume) and the feet from the toes to the front pasterns and rear hock joints (called socks). The texture of all hair is soft and silky, flowing to any length. Placement of hair is not as important as overall type. Areas that have hair usually taper off slightly. Wherever the body is hairless, the skin is soft and smooth. Head Crest begins at the stop and tapers off between the base of the skull and the back of the neck. Hair on the ears and face is permitted on the Hairless and may be trimmed for neatness in both varieties. Tail Plume is described under Tail. The Powderpuff variety is completely covered with a double soft and silky coat. Close examination reveals long thin guard hairs over the short silky undercoat. The coat is straight, of moderate density and length. Excessively heavy, kinky or curly coat is to be penalized. Grooming is minimal-consisting of presenting a clean and neat appearance.
Color
Any color or combination of colors.
Gait
Lively, agile and smooth without being stilted or hackneyed. Comes and goes at a trot moving in a straight line.
Temperament
Gay and alert.
Approved June 12, 1990
Effective April 1, 1991