Page 27 - ShowSight Presents The Chinese Crested

also disqualified blue eyes. Later, the palo- mino colors, which are self-colored dogs, were permitted to have a lighter (amber) eye, and a liver nose. Chocolates are a varia- tion of palomino with a medium brown eye and a brown nose. All other colors of hair- less and powderpuffs must have black noses, with corresponding dark eyes. In addition, early standard also provided that the hair- less had no extra hair to hide any imperfec- tions, and glamour was not a deciding fac- tor in selecting a winner. Having a hairless with excessive hair was considered a fault. Less hair and more skin, with good move- ment was the trait that was selected for.
This early standard also addressed grooming. For example, a modified trim was introduced to the powderpuffs in America and was reflected in the standard. Addition- ally, the original standard was changed to fit the style of the time by permitting the option of trimming faces and/or ears only in either variety, should the exhibitors desire. But, the standard did not prefer one groom- ing style as compared to another style. Thus, a powderpuff would not be rewarded if its coat were trimmed into a V shape on its neck or if trimming extended past the dog’s Adam’s Apple. This was not and is still not considered acceptable as the trimming is not confined to the face and ears as indi- cated by the standard. AKC officially rec- ognized the Chinese Crested breed and the American Chinese Crested Club (ACCC) in April 1991. The first official AKC show for Chinese Cresteds was Monday, April 1st (April Fool’s Day) and the top dogs in the breed showed up to vie for the first set of AKC points for the breed. Questions and intrigue filled the crowd, as the first AKC
breed with a hairless variety competed for the first time. Since there were only a few Cresteds in the USA as compared to other breeds, the spectators lined the ring four layers thick, with all eyes on the first dogs to be exhibited. There were oohs and aahs heard when the hairless variety entered the ring, and even more shock when the world was introduced to the powderpuff.
For people unfamiliar with the breed, it was difficult to understand how these differ- ent looking dogs could be one breed. Shirley Thomas was the first judge for the breed. She put up a hairless, Razzmatazzmanian Strip- per, for Best of Breed, and a powderpuff Gin- gerys Maple Syrup for the Best of Opposite. Both dogs were lovely examples of the breed, were representative of the standard, and went on to be the top two dogs for the breed.
The following months of showing proved that the hairless variety was what most people believed that a Crested should be like, while powderpuffs were virtually ignored. Although the standard provided that both varieties were to be given equal consideration, it was clear in those early days that powderpuffs were viewed as second-class citizens.
There was also controversy surrounding what constituted an appropriate look for the powderpuff variety. Some puffs were as natu- ral as can be, with full faces and ears, while others were trimmed, with their ears, faces, necks, tails, feet, and even the body was scis- sored. Judges education programs were still in their adolescent stages and many people just did what they wanted, or what they thought would win.
There was also talk of separating the hairless and puff varieties again, but from
a breeder’s point of view, this would be undesirable for the breed. The two varieties are genetically connected, and the powder- puffs are normal with regard to dentition and coat type. The hairless variety is the result of a dominant genetic mutation for which there is a lethal combination that can result in hairless to hairless crosses. No one in the breed wanted this to occur. Because Powderpuffs are one third of the gene pool in the breed, they are a necessary element to keeping the breed alive.
It was ultimately two powderpuffs that demonstrated the sound and fine quality of puff. First, ACCC champion, 12-time Best In Specialty Show winner, and 2-time National specialty winner, Ch. Gingery’s Maple Syrup, came out to play in the AKC world. This dog was a well-balanced and sound toy dog that was shown natural, and untrimmed. He not only was a great win- ner in the AKC, being the first AKC all breed best in show winning puff, but also he had the temperament that enabled him to perform well in agility, obedience and therapy work. Barbara Beissel was hired to campaign this dog on the national level to get the powderpuff variety known. And on the east coat, Victor Helu, handled Maple Syrup’s Best in Show winning daughter, Ch. Gingery’s Cheesecake to many acco- lades. Maple Syrup made history early the next year by being the first multiple Best of Breed Westminster winner, as he went on to win the first two Chinese Crested Best Of Breeds in Westminster.
Both of these puffs paved the way for the powderpuff variety to get recognition as an equal partner to the hairless variety of the Chinese Crested.
“Dancer”, Group 1, c. 1995.
“Krimson”, Best in Show, c. 1998.
“Basil”, Best in Specialty Show, c. 2000.
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2015 • 119