Page 32 - ShowSight Presents The Chinese Crested
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“The two varieties are genetically connected, and the powderpuffs 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.”
powderpuff Gingerys Maple Syrup for the Best of Opposite. Both dogs were lovely examples of the breed, were rep- resentative of the standard, and went on to be the top two dogs for the breed.
The following months of show- ing proved that the hairless variety was what most people believed that a Crested should be like, while powder- puffs were virtually ignored. Although the standard provided that both vari- eties were to be given equal consid- eration, it was clear in those early days that powderpuffs were viewed as second-class citizens.
There was also controversy sur- rounding what constituted an appro- priate look for the powderpuff variety. Some puffs were as natural as can be, with full faces and ears, while others were trimmed, with their ears, faces, necks, tails, feet, and even the body was scissored. 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 vari- eties are genetically connected, and the powderpuffs are normal with regard to dentition and coat type. The hair- less 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 powder- puffs that demonstrated the sound and fine quality of puff. First, ACCC champion, 12-time Best In Specialty Show winner, and 2-time Nation- al specialty winner, Ch. Gingery’s Maple Syrup, came out to play in the
AKC world. This dog was a well-bal- anced and sound toy dog that was shown natural, and untrimmed. He not only was a great winner in the AKC, being the first AKC all breed best in show win- ning puff, but also he had the tempera- ment 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 daugh- ter, Ch. Gingery’s Cheesecake to many accolades. 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 recogni- tion 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.
