“IT MAY NOT HAVE ALL THE GLAMOUR OF SOME OF THE OTHER DOGS IN YOUR RING, BUT SHOULD BE THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE IF ALL OTHER THINGS ARE EQUAL.”
by CAROLYN STRUNGE Caros Chinese Cresteds Y our first impression of the Crested in either variety should be that of a fine boned, elegant and graceful toy dog. One trip around the ring will let you know if the dogs you are judging meet these basic characteristics of the breed. Th ese characteristics work together to produce the toy dog you are looking for. A heavy boned dog will not move with the elegance and grace of a fine boned dog with proper structure. You have seen them go around now what to look for on the table. Stand back and look at the dog on the table—look for proportion and size. Pro- portion is RECTANGULAR—measured from the withers to base of tail is slightly longer than the height at the withers. Look under the dog –you should see a rectangle if the dog is properly proportioned. Hands on—use a gentle approach and touch. If your hands are cold expect the hairless to react to your cold touch. HEAD Cup the head in your hand and look for the distinguishing features: Almond eye: Set wide apart, can be lighter in lighter colored dogs, expression is alert and intense. Eye rims match the color of the dog, i.e.: a spotted dog may have spotted eye rims and a split face may have no color on the eye rim on the light side—this is correct. Ears : Large and erect, base level with outside corner of eye. Depending on the width of the back skull you can have ears that appear to stands straight up and ones that appear to be on an extreme angle— both may be level with the outside corner of the eye. So on to overall head. Head is wedge shaped: Viewed from above and from the side. A clean wedge will have cheeks that taper cleanly and lips that are tight and clean. Stop will be slight but distinct and nose is dark in dark col- ored dogs; maybe lighter in light colored dogs—pigment is solid. Check the bite: Th e Hairless are not to be faulted for missing teeth—do not spend
your time checking for teeth—lift the lip and check for level or scissor bite and move on. Th e Pu ff s are to be faulted for missing teeth so check for those incisors. No DQs —so don’t get carried away. Th is is still a toy dog and will not react well if you are cranking the mouth open to count teeth. BODY Th e bone structure of the Crested is very similar to many breeds: Neck clean : Arched, carried high. Topline level to slightly sloping croup: Th is slope contributes to the proper tail carriage for the breed—watch for it. Brisket to the elbow Breast bone not prominent: Th e points across the forechest are on the same plane. Ribs well developed Tuck up at fl ank: If the dog has the proper proportion and length of loin you should see a nice tuck up with a lightness in the loin area—which will allow for the freedom of movement expected. Tail: Check the tail—it has very spe- cific shape, length and carriage. Th is is a breed characteristic: 1. Slender and tapers to a curve 2. Long enough to reach the hock 3. In motion, carried gaily and may- be slightly forward. Th e tail should not lay on the back or hang down the side of the dog—remember out or slightly forward. Th e dog running around with its tail straight out is correct the one with its tail curled over its back should be faulted. 4. At rest the tail is down with a slight curve upward. Forequarters and Hindquarters: Typical 45 degree layback (about as common as in most breeds). Legs are long slender and straight: Pasterns upright. Sti fl e is moderate: hock perpendicular. Feet: Hare foot—check it—it is a char- acteristic of the breed. HAIRLESS COAT Provides the variety and the eye candy for the observer of the breed. Hairless: Hair only on its head, tail and feet.
Judges seem to be concerned with the grooming procedure in the breed—don’t be. If it is poorly groomed with skin dam- aged by shave marks or chemical burns or patches of hair where they don’t belong— treat it the same way you would treat any other poorly-groomed dog and don’t reward it. Make sure you understand the proper hair placement for Hairless—it may not have all the glamour of some of the other dogs in your ring, but should be the apple of your eye if all other things are equal. Th e coat placement and texture on the Hairless is very specific in the standard: • Th e texture is soft and silky: Overall type is more important than placement • Head Crest: Begins at the stop and tapers o ff between the base of skull and back of neck • Hair on the feet: From toes to front pasterns and rear toes to hock joints • Tail in the Hairless: Two-thirds of the end of tail are covered by long, flowing, feathering hair • Skin is soft and smooth —If it is not, don’t reward it POWDERPUFF COAT Completely covered with a double soft and silky coat with long thin guard hairs over the coat. Th e Powderpu ff ’s tail is com- pletely covered with hair. Don’t look through the coat for the undercoat—it is soft and silky and not a shorter, protective undercoat. The guard hairs are usually visible—but there are not a lot of them just a few usually over the shoulders or hips and often a different color. Coat is straight of moderate density and length. Excessive, heavy, kinky or curly coat is to be penalized. GROOMING IS MINIMAL Grooming practices include shaving the face and ears on both varieties—you may be presented with some that are full faced or do not have the ears shaved—any combination is an accepted practice in the breed. Th is is a fun little breed—enjoy all the variety it will bring to your ring!
S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , M ARCH 2015 • 115
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