This book is copyright ©2009 Amy Fernandez
Designed by S Bush
Cover design ©2009 S Bush
Cover photo of Chinese Crested powderpuff by Kenneth Reed Photography.
Drop eared Chinese Crested powderpuff photo supplied by L Ball (Carragheen).
All other photos are from Dreamstime®, the collections of S Bush and Amy Fernandez.
Original artwork ©Amy Fernandez
First edition published in 2009 by Cyberworld Publishing/Puppy Care Education.
Second Edition published in 2011 by Puppy Care Education
Published by Puppy Care Education at Smashwords
All rights reserved
ISBN: E-Book 978-1-921879-17-3
Disclaimer:
No information in this book is given as, or intended to be taken as, medical advice for your puppy or dog. Only a veterinarian is qualified to give advice about the medical health care of your puppy or dog.
Reminder:
No part of this e-book may be reproduced in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review or article, without written permission from the author or publisher.
This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be resold or given away to other people.
OPERATIONS MANUAL FOR THE CHINESE CRESTED
Amy Fernandez
Continuity of Construction and Evolution of Type
Breed Origins
The Drag of the Race
The Hairless Mutation
Evaluating Skin Type
Selecting the Hairless Trait
Inheritance of Coat Type
Color Genetics
Summary of Color Genes
Genetics of Eye Color
Traits of Head Type
Skull Shape
Ear Set and Ear Carriage
Traits of Structure
Proportion and Outline
Shape of Ribcage
Angulation
Bend of Stifle
Leg Length
Hare Feet
Tail Carriage
Size and Substance
Temperament
Dentition
Common Faults
Bad Bites and Missing Teeth
Undescended Testicles
Type v Soundness
Many dedicated breeders leave this sport because of frustration and disappointment. Despite their best efforts, their puppies never exhibit uniformity. This is a common, but completely avoidable, scenario. It is possible to create a bloodline that will predictably conform to your expectations. Decisions made in a breeding program may lead to results in one generation, will very likely provide positive results in the second generation, and can become stabilized traits within three generations.
Breeders often dismiss these possibilities because the recommended methods advocate drastic measures and offer no guarantees. This is unfortunate. In reality most traits quickly respond to selective pressure. Although this may require some hard initial decisions, this is preferable to continually confronting the mediocre results of a badly planned breeding program.
Selective breeding sometimes appears more complicated for hairless breeds but in actuality, exactly the same genetic principles apply.
Type: The appearance of breed traits vs. Soundness: the ability to perform a function, is a perennially popular topic of debate. It presupposes that any breeding program must begin from a compromise position, as if type and soundness were mutually inimical concepts. Accepting this flawed line of reasoning will instantly limit the potential of your breeding program.
Form is predicated on function and working with this existing framework of continuity simplifies every decision. Every trait will enhance or impede function. The first, and most important, step in the selection process is to develop a clear understanding of the elements of type which define this breed.
Form follows function provides a logical basis to evaluate the validity of every variation of type. This will immediately clarify your breeding decisions. Form and function do not develop randomly or independently. Every breed has a built in sense of genetic direction, dictated by its unique function. The building blocks of correct type are there. It’s your responsibility to recognize them and assemble them correctly.
Continuity of Construction and Evolution of Type
Natural selection forms a species to fulfill a specific function. It is the breeder’s job to do the same through artificial selection. No matter which selective process is directing a breed’s development, exactly the same genetic laws will influence the same 39 pairs of chromosomes.
Random breeding and outcrossing may provide a temporary barrier to health disorders. But this approach will never result in control or predictability that allows you to choose or discard traits from a breeding program. In contrast, dogs that are selectively bred will be prepotent for important traits, meaning that they are capable of reliably transmitting them to future generations.
From the American Kennel Club Chinese Crested Standard
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.
The Chinese Crested is the world’s only longhaired hairless breed. Noted for its exotic appearance, the breed was created and perpetuated solely for its value as a miniature pet. To evaluate function, simply ask yourself if the dog excels in this capacity. Is it small, lightweight, and easily carried? Is it naturally endearing and aesthetically pleasing? If not, the dog is not true to type.
Evolution of Breed Type
Eisley’s hypothosis states that every breed is descended from the wolf and always maintains the genetic potential to revert to atavistic type. The Australian dingo is a true feral dog. It is only partially domesticated, and a living example of the bridge between wild and domesticated canids. Of course, it would require many generations for any purebred to devolve to a comparable state, but the drag of the race continually invites a multitude of subtle alterations that distort type and derail breeding programs.