The Chinese Crested
Breed Origin
The Hairless Mutation
Dentition
Temperament
Compiled by Hélène Bélanger
In collaboration with The Canadian Chinese Crested Club of Canada
BREED ORIGINS
As with many breeds there is some dispute over the origins of the Chinese Crested Dog. However, it is almost certain that despite its name, the Chinese Crested Dog did not originate in China. Until very recently the two most popular theories had the Chinese Crested originating in either Africa or South America. On both continents there are similar primitive type dogs. In South and Central America in particular there are a couple of hairless breeds that share very similar morphology to the Chinese Crested, and it is not inconceivable that the Crested and these other hairless breeds share a similar ancestry.
Recent genetic research has isolated the mutation responsible for the hairless characteristics in all three identified hairless breeds (the Crested, the Peruvian Inca Dog, and the Xoloitzcuintli from Mexico) and the mutation is identical. This leads researchers to conclude that these breeds share a common origin. As there are artefacts in Mexico that date back 4,000 years that depict hairless dogs looking remarkably like modern Xolos it would be hard to argue that Mexico is not the wellspring for the hairless family of dogs including the Crested.
Apparently, and here is where the Chinese connection comes in, they were not uncommon on board Chinese merchant trading vessels, but were first identified in their modern form in Europe and attributed to Chinese origin in the late 18th Century - although by then specimens of the breed could be found world-wide. The ratter theory seems highly possible, as many breeders will attest that most Cresteds have a high prey drive and will chase small animals.
The first Chinese Crested dogs brought to Great Britain were exhibited as part of a zoological show. There was no breeding program put into place to continue the breed, so the Chinese Crested disappeared from England for a time. The first Chinese Crested to be registered in Great Britain was in 1881. The Kennel Club there focused its attention (through the standard) on two distinct types of Chinese Crested dogs. The "Deer" and the "Cobby". Not until 1984 did the Kennel Club agree to make provision for the third type, which is found in most litters, that of the fully coated Chinese Crested, the "Powder Puff".
The Chinese Crested's American past can be traced back over a century. In 1880 a New Yorker, Ida Garrett, became interested in the breed and was involved in breeding, exhibition and writing about the Chinese Crested for over sixty years. Mrs. Garrett also shared her enthusiasm for the breed with Debra Woods, whom she met in the 1920s. For nearly forty years these two women worked together to promote the Chinese Crested dog breed in the U.S. Another person that was very involved in the promotion of the Chinese Crested worldwide was the American singer, dancer and entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee. Her sister had rescued a Chinese Crested dog from a Connecticut animal shelter and had given it to Ms Lee. Ms Lee was so taken with the breed she became a breeder and protector of the Chinese Crested. It is to be noted that most active Crested kennels in the world can trace the ancestry of their dogs to the Crest Haven (Debra Woods) and Ms Lee.
In Canada, Mrs. Glenna Fierheller of Four Halls Kennels was instrumental in getting the Chinese Crested recognized by the Canadian Club. In 1987 while on a trip to England, Mrs. Fierheller attended a Crufts dog show and fell in love with the breed. She acquired her foundation dogs from Amy Fernandez of Razzmatazz Kennels and after dedicating her efforts to popularize the breed, in 1992 the CKC agreed to recognize the Chinese Crested in Canada.
The Chinese Crested was officially recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1987, by The Kennel Club (UK) in 1981, by the American Kennel Club in 1991, the Canadian Kennel Club in 1992 and by the Australian National Kennel Council in 1995.
THE HAIRLESS MUTATION
A team of European scientists, led by Tosso Leeb of the University of Berne in Switzerland, had been searching for years for the genetic roots of the Chinese crested’s hairlessness and its abnormal dentition.
Recent research has finally revealed that the hairless mutation results from the insertion of seven letters of genetic code, named FOXI3, into a gene on chromosome 17. This error turns a coated dog into a hairless. Analysis of DNA samples from 140 hairless dogs (Xolos, Peruvian Inca Orchids and Chinese Cresteds) and 87 coated dogs confirmed that every coated dog in the study lacked the mutation, and every hairless dog possessed one copy. Researchers were unable to find a single instance of a matched pair of genes containing this seven letter DNA duplication.
The most accurate and revealing study on the mechanics of dominant hairlessness was conducted by the famed British researcher Dr. Roy Robinson in the 1980s. Based on litter records submitted by British Chinese Crested breeders over several years Robinson concluded that the hairless trait is an autosomal semi dominant mutation. The new research confirms his findings.
The defining trait of both of these breeds is due to a major mutation, which originally provided an environmental adaptive response. Hairlessness is a common spontaneous mutation that occurs randomly in most mammalian species. When it first occurred in a canine population in Western Mexico, it must have provided an advantage. It’s unlikely that Colima Indians would have had the means or desire to artificially perpetuate a fancy or detrimental trait. This advantage could have included increased resistance to external parasites and an extremely high tolerance for heat. Contrary to popular belief, these breeds DO NOT have sweat glands in their skin. They pant to dissipate excess body heat like any other dog. They do however, have a much higher than average tolerance for heat.
Selective breeding has increased the number of hair follicles and some hairless Cresteds now possess an extremely dense coat, but only the Powderpuff variety should have a double coat.
Excess body hair has become more common in Cresteds because of consistent selection for coat density and longer, coarser, stronger coat texture. This can range from fully coated legs and a ridge of hair running the length of the back, to a complete coat that thins out over the abdomen. The Powderpuff has no thin or bare areas of coat and the undercoat should not be thinned or stripped out and the coat should not be scissored or sculpted.
Hairless dogs darken or tan when exposed to the sun. Slate and blue dogs will turn a deep blue/black. Pink and liver shades will become darker bronze or mahogany. However, even when dark, there will be some lighter and darker variations in the skin colour.
For 500 years, anecdotal evidence has strongly suggested a genetic link between the hairless trait and incomplete dentition even though this idea defies conventional dog breeding wisdom. A traditional view tells us that selective breeding should produce steady improvement and the eradication of perceived faults.
It is therefore easy to dismiss the continued appearance of incomplete dentition as mere sloppy, careless breeding. But experienced breeders will admit that this trait regularly appears despite the best efforts to select against it. The gene responsible for the hairless trait is now identified as FOXI3. Although its exact function is not yet completely understood, we know that the protein encoded by this mutation activates development of hair and teeth.
Breeders new to the breed might believe that breeding a Powderpuff to a hairless Chinese Crested will correct or improve dentition, this theory is proven untrue.
Most hairless are lacking premolars. Some have incomplete incisors and primitive looking canine teeth. Some hairless also possess completely normal dentition. Incomplete dentition is a variable trait. It is not a sign of breed purity.
Typical example of Hairless dentition missing premolars, incomplete incisors.
Fig A: Upper and Lower Jaw
Left: Level bite with missing incisors, teeth are uniformly placed.
Middle: Mouth is missing adult canine and incisor.
Right: Reverse scissor with all front teeth, but has retained baby canines and will never get adult ones. Most likely, if they ware well rooted, they could last the life of the dog.
Left: Bite missing some premolars and molars.
Middle: Retained baby upper canines, large adult bottom canines.
Right: Missing upper canines.
In some mouths, if the bottom canines are large they will push the teeth forward. If the top canines are only baby ones, there is nothing to move the adult incisors forward. Many of the front teeth in Cresteds point forward, not just the tusk-like canines. Then, add that the mouths continuously move in these guys. In every Crested, this may stop at 2 years, 4 years, or slowly and almost unnoticeably keep changing throughout their life.
The teeth of the Hairless variety can differ in shape from those in a normal mouth. The canines are often (but not always) conical and point forward; these are referred to as tusks. This is a characteristic which applies to both good and bad "Hairless" mouths.
The shape of the incisors can vary considerably. Some are no more than little pegs protruding from the gums. Others are almost normal. Sometimes a full complement of narrow "pegs" can look as though they have been thrown in haphazardly. The number of teeth present can also vary. In the worst example, many may be missing, having never been present at all.
Occasionally, milk teeth which showed great promise are not replaced with adult teeth; and where milk teeth have been missing, adult teeth can appear! The teeth that are present can be poorly rooted. For example, incisors may point forward like tusks, but may fall out at an early age. Pre-molars will be missing from the Hairless variety - one, two, or maybe all of them. Even a good Hairless mouth may be without first and second pre-molars, and this should be accepted as normal. Tusks and missing pre-molars are not mentioned in the Standard, but these characteristics should be acknowledged as typical of the Hairless mouth. Some Hairless retain their teeth most of their life - the hairless gene expresses itself in various degrees with dentition and coat density/placement.
Undershot, overshot and wry bites are not linked to the hairless trait. Misalignment can be more difficult to assess if several teeth are missing but it will affect the dog’s expression regardless of the presence or absence of teeth.
When judging both varieties, emphasis should be placed on expression, structure, balance and movement. Since the Powderpuff variety does not carry the hairless gene, full and normal dentition is expected. The Hairless should not be penalized for lack of dentition.
TEMPERAMENT
Chinese Cresteds are friendly, affectionate, lively, alert, intelligent, agile and inquisitive dogs. In general, this breed is motivated to please their owners therefore are highly trainable. Most Cresteds are highly food motivated and will bounce for any small morsel. Chinese Cresteds excel in Agility, Obedience, Rally and other performance canine sports. The hairless variety is not as fragile as they may appear although they cannot tolerate extreme cold weather, unlike coated breeds, they can tolerate very hot days.
Judges should be aware that cold weather will affect the ring performance of most hairless dogs.
HEALTH ISSUES:
Eye problems such as lens luxation, glaucoma and two forms of PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), luxating patellas, Legg-Perthes disease, liver shunt and skin allergies.
LIFESPAN:
Between 12 to 15 years.
Contributed by:
The Chinese Crested Club of Canada
Amy Fernandez - Razzmatazz Kennels
Marie DuBois - Rompford Kennels