The Chinese Crested Dog is a smaller (10–13 lbs) hairless breed of dog. Like most hairless dog breeds, the Chinese Crested comes in two varieties, both with and without fur, which are born in the same litter: the Hairless and the Powderpuff.

Description

At first glance, the “Hairless” and “Powderpuff” varieties of Chinese Crested Dogs appear to be two different breeds, but hairlessness is an incomplete dominant trait within a single breed. 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 an incomplete dominant gene, the “hairless” gene has a prenatal lethal effect when homozygous. Zygotes affected with double hairless genes (1 in 4) never develop into puppies, and are reabsorbed in the womb. All hairless Cresteds are therefore heterozygous.

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 with hairless parts on the body, while the Powderpuff has a thick double coat. The skin of the Hairless comes in a variety of colours, ranging from a pale flesh to black. Hairless Cresteds often lack a full set of premolar teeth, but this is not considered a fault.

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.

The amount of body hair on the hairless variety varies quite extensively, from the true hairless which has very little or no body hair and furnishings, to what is called a ‘hairy hairless’, which if left ungroomed often grows a near-full coat of hair. These hairy hairless are not a mix between powderpuffs and hairless Chinese Cresteds, but are merely a result of a weaker expression of the variable Hairless gene. The mutation responsible for the hairless trait was identified in 2008.

One famous Chinese Crested dog was the hairless purebred named Sam, was the winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest from 2003 to 2005. He died before he could compete in 2006. Other Chinese Cresteds have finished high in the event as well.

Care

Both varieties require certain amounts of grooming. The Puffs have a very soft and fine double coat that requires frequent brushing to avoid matting. Although a Puff’s coat does not continuously grow like that of some other breeds, it can grow to be quite long at full length. This breed has little to no shedding.

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. Hypoallergenic or oil-free moisturising 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 is often performed to remove stubble growth.

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.

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The Chihuahua (Spanish: Chihuahueño) is the smallest breed of dog and is named after the state of Chihuahua in Mexico.

Description and standards

Breed standards for this dog do not generally specify a height, only a weight and a description of their overall proportions. As a result, height varies more than within many other breeds. Generally, the height ranges between six and ten inches. However, some dogs grow as tall as 12 to 15 inches (30 to 38 cm). Both British and American breed standards state that a Chihuahua must not weigh more than six pounds for conformation. However, the British standard also states that a weight of two to four pounds is preferred and that if two dogs are equally good in type, the more diminutive or smaller is preferred. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) standard calls for dogs ideally between 1.5 and 3.0 kg (3.3 to 6.6 lbs.), although smaller ones are acceptable in the show ring. Pet-quality Chihuahuas (that is, those bred or purchased as companions rather than show dogs) often range above these weights, even above ten pounds if they have large bone structures or are allowed to become overweight. This does not mean that they are not purebred Chihuahuas; they do not meet the requirements to enter a conformation show. Oversize Chihuahuas are seen in some of the best, and worst, bloodlines. Typically the breed standard for both the long and short coat chihuahua will be identical except for the description of the coat.

Chihuahua breeders often use terms like miniature, teacup, tiny toy, apple headed, or deer headed, to describe puppies. These terms are not recognised by the breed standards and may be misleading.

Coat

The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom and the American Kennel Club in the United States only recognise two varieties of Chihuahua: the long-coat, the smooth-coat, also referred to as short-haired. They are genetically the same breed. The term smooth-coat does not mean that the hair is necessarily smooth, as the hair can range from having a velvet touch to a whiskery feeling. Long-haired Chihuahuas are actually smoother to the touch, having soft, fine guard hairs and a downy undercoat, which gives them their fluffy appearance. Unlike many long-haired breeds, long-haired Chihuahuas require no trimming and minimal grooming. Contrary to popular belief, the long-haired breed also typically sheds less than their short-haired counterparts. It may take up to two or more years before a full long-haired coat develops.

Temperament

Being naturally territorial and protective, Chihuahuas can be easily provoked to attack, and are therefore generally unsuitable for homes with small children. A Chihuahua who is pack leader of their humans may snap at children. This breed is generally not recommended for children, not because they are not good with them, but because most people treat the Chihuahua differently than they would a large dog, causing them to become untrustworthy. The AKC describes the breed as, “A graceful, alert, swift-moving little dog with saucy expression, compact, and with terrier-like qualities of temperament.” The breed tends to be fiercely loyal to one particular owner, but may be attached to more. They do not always get along with other breeds, and tend to have a “clannish” nature, often preferring the companionship of other Chihuahuas over other dogs. These traits generally make them unsuitable for households with children that are not patient and calm.

Chihuahuas crave attention, affection, exercise and being petted. They can be hyper, but eager to please. They have a reputation as a “yappy” dog, which can be resolved with proper training. Chihuahuas with proper breeding are not “yappy”; the AKC standard calls for “a terrier-like attitude.”

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The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a breed of dog belonging to the Retriever, Gundog, and Sporting breed groups. Members of the breed may also be referred to as a Chessie, CBR, or Chesapeake. The breed was developed in the United States’ Chesapeake Bay area during the 1800s. Historically used by area market hunters to retrieve waterfowl, it is primarily a family pet and hunting companion. It is a medium to large sized dog, similar in appearance to the Labrador Retriever. They are aptly described as having a bright and happy disposition, courage, willingness to work, alertness, intelligence, and love of water as some of their characteristics.

Appearance

Distinctive features include eyes that are very clear, of yellowish or amber hue, hindquarters as high or a trifle higher than the shoulders, and a double coat that tends to wave on shoulders, neck, back, and loins. The waterproof coat feels slightly oily and is often associated with a slight musky odour. Three basic colours are generally seen in the breed: brown, which includes all shades from a light to a deep dark brown; sedge, which varies from a reddish yellow through a bright red to chestnut shades; and deadgrass in all its shades, varying from a faded tan to a dull straw colour. The breed standard states that white may also appear but it must be limited to the breast, belly, toes, or back of the feet. The head is round and broad with a medium stop and muzzle. The lips are thin, and the ears are small and of medium leather. The forelegs should be straight with good bone. The hindquarters are especially strong and the toes webbed since excellent swimming ability is important for the Chesapeake. This breed is also known for their large and powerful chests; used to break apart ice when diving into cold water while duck hunting.

Coat

The coat of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is given the most consideration of any trait when judging conformation. The hair on the face and legs should be very short and straight with a tendency to wave, never curl, on the shoulders, neck, back, and loins only and nowhere over 1.5 in long. Moderate feathering on the rear of hindquarters and tail is permissible although not longer than 1.75 inches long. The texture of the thick double coat is important in protecting the dog from cold water and icy conditions, The oil in the harsh outer coat and woolly undercoat resists water, keeping the dog dry and warm. Maintenance of the coat is minimal and mainly consists of brushing with a short-tooth brush once a week. It is difficult to get a Chesapeake Bay Retriever thoroughly wet, but they should be bathed every 3–4 months using a suitably mild shampoo, then dried thoroughly. Brushing or bathing more often can ruin the texture since it strips the protective oil from the coat, and may even remove the undercoat.. The colour of the coat must be similar to the working surroundings. Any colour of brown, sedge or deadgrass is acceptable and one colour is not preferred over another. The American Chesapeake Club includes a discussion on colour.

Three basic colours are generally seen in the breed: Brown which includes all shades from a light cocoa (a silvered brown) to a deep bittersweet chocolate colour; sedge which varies from a reddish yellow through a bright red to chestnut shades; deadgrass which takes in all shades of deadgrass, varying from a faded tan to a dull straw colour. Historic records show that some of the deadgrass shades can be very light, almost white in appearance, while darker deadgrass colours can include diluted shades of brown called ash, that appear as either grey or taupe. The almost white and ash/taupe/grey shades are not commonly seen, but are acceptable.

The difference between a sedge and a deadgrass is that the deadgrass shades contain no significant amount of red, while the sedge shades do have red. Coat and texture also play a factor in the perception of colour. The self-colour pattern is preferred by the standard (One colour with or without lighter and darker shadings of the same colour). You will see dogs with varying degrees of other markings such as: masking on top of the skull, striping effect of light & dark through the body and on legs, distinct & indistinct saddle markings, agouti colouring and tan points. All are acceptable, they are just not preferred.

A white spot on the breast (not extending above the sternum), belly, toes or back of the feet is permissible, but the smaller the spot the better. White beyond these areas and black anywhere on the body is not allowed in the breed standard.

Temperament

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is valued for its bright and happy disposition, intelligence, quiet good sense, and affectionate protective nature. Some of them can be quite vocal when happy, and some will ‘smile’ by baring their front teeth in a peculiar grin – this is not a threat but a sign of joy or submissiveness.

Temperament can be an inherited trait. Selecting a puppy from parents with good temperaments is advised.

Like other dogs, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers can make excellent family dogs when socialised properly. Chesapeakes can be more assertive and wilful and may be reserved with strangers while others are passive and outgoing with people. It simply depends on the personality of the dog.

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The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small breed of dog of Spaniel type, considered one of the toy dog breeds. It is one of the most popular breeds in the United Kingdom and has become more popular in the United States over the last ten years. It is a smaller breed of spaniel, and adults are often the same size as adolescent dogs of other spaniel breeds. It has a silky coat and commonly an undocked tail. Four colours (Blenheim, Tricolour [black/white/tan], Black and Tan, and Ruby) are recognised by the breed standard. It is a friendly, affectionate breed which is good with both children and other animals.

The Cavalier shares the same history as the smaller King Charles Spaniel until the 1920s, at which time breeders attempted to recreate a spaniel resembling Charles II’s King Charles Spaniel of the Restoration. The King Charles had changed drastically in the late 1600s following interbreeding with flat nosed breeds, and the Cavalier is seen as a return to the type of spaniel before that interbreeding.

There are a few health issues that affect this particular breed, most notably mitral valve disease which leads to heart failure. This will appear in most Cavaliers at some point in their life and is the most common cause of death. Syringomyelia is also present which is a malformation of the skull, reducing the space available for the brain. They are also affected by ear problems which are common among spaniels of various types as well as issues such as hip dysplasia which are common across many types of dog breeds.

Colour

The breed has four recognised colours. Cavaliers which have rich chestnut markings on a pearly white background are known as Blenheim in honour of Blenheim Palace, where John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, raised the predecessors to the Cavalier breed in this particular colour. Black and Tan are dogs with black bodies with tan highlights, particularly eyebrows, cheeks, legs and beneath the tail. Black and Tan is referred to as “King Charles” in the King Charles/Toy Spaniel. Ruby Cavaliers should be entirely chestnut all over, although some can have some white in their coats. The fourth colour is known as Tricolour, which is black and white with tan markings on cheeks, inside ears, on eyebrows, inside legs, and on underside of tail. This colour is referred to as “Prince Charles” in the King Charles/Toy Spaniel.

Popularity

According to statistics released by The Kennel Club, Cavaliers were the 6th most popular dog in the United Kingdom in 2007 with 11,422 registrations in a single year. Labrador Retrievers were the most popular with 45,079 registrations in that year. Their popularity is on the rise in America; in 1998 they were the 56th most popular breed but in both 2007 and 2008 they were the 25th most popular. They ranked higher in some individual US cities in the 2008 statistics, being eighth in both Nashville and Minneapolis-St.Paul, seventh in Boston, Atlanta and Washington D.C., and sixth in both New York City and San Francisco.

In 2008, the Cavalier was the fourth most popular breed in Australia with 3,113 registrations behind only Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs and Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

In addition, there are also national breed clubs in Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa and Sweden.

Temperament

The breed is highly affectionate, they are playful, extremely patient and eager to please. As such, dogs of the breed are good with children and other dogs. Cavaliers are not shy about socialising with much larger dogs. Cavaliers will adapt quickly to almost any environment, family, and location. Their ability to bond with larger and smaller dogs make them ideal in houses with more than one breed of dog as long as the other dog is trained. Cavaliers are great with people of all ages, from children to seniors, making them a very versatile dog. They rank 44th in Stanley Coren’s The Intelligence of Dogs, being of average working/obedience intelligence. Cavaliers are naturally curious and playful, but also enjoy simply cuddling up on a cushion or lap.

Cavaliers are active and sporting. They have an instinct to chase most things that move including while on busy streets, and so most Cavaliers will never become “street-wise”. As Cavaliers tend to regard all strangers as friends, they will also never make a good guard dog. Being a spaniel they have a strong hunting instinct, and therefore should be watched around birds and small animals. However, owners have reported that through training their Cavaliers live happily with various hamsters, gerbils and so on.

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The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is one of two separate dog breeds known as Welsh Corgis that originated in Wales, the other being the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. It is one of the oldest herding breeds.

Appearance

The Cardigan is a long, low dog with upright ears and a fox-like appearance. The old American Kennel Club standard called it an “Alsatian on short legs”. Unlike the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, whose tail is naturally short almost appearing docked the Cardigan’s tail is long. Cardigans can be any shade of red, sable, or brindle; they can also be black with or without tan brindle or blue merle with or without tan or brindle points. They usually have white on the neck, chest, legs, muzzle, underneath, tip of the tail, and as a blaze on the head. Other markings include ticking on the legs and muzzle, smutty muzzles, monk’s hoods, and others. A few other unofficial colours can occur, such as red merle. An average Cardigan is around 10.5 to 12.5 inches (260 to 315 mm) tall at the withers and weighs from 30 to 38 lb. (13.6 to 17.2 kg) for the male and 25 to 34 lb. (11.3 to 15.4 kg) for the female.

Temperament

Originally bred for herding sheep and cattle, they have proven themselves as excellent companion animals and are also competitive in sheepdog trials and dog agility. Cardigan Welsh Corgis were bred long and low to make sure that any kicks by cattle would travel safely over the dogs’ heads without touching them. Like most herding breeds, Cardigans are highly intelligent, active, athletic dogs. Affectionately known as “a big dog in a small package,” Cardigans are affectionate, devoted companions that can also be alert and responsible guardians. Cardigan Corgis are typically a ‘one-man dog’. They tend to be wary of strangers and to reserve their affection for a select few with whom they are familiar. If socialised at a young age, they can be nice with other dogs and housepets.

Cardigans are typically excellent watchdogs, as they are highly alert to the approach of strangers to their territory, and will be very vocal until they and/or their owner are assured that the stranger poses no threat.

Cardigans are also known for using their judgement, even to the point where even a well-trained Cardigan will deliberately disobey a command if the dog feels that his own assessment of a situation calls for a different action than the command.

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