After reading these FAQ, you may have more to ask,  by all mean please feel free to contact me.  These are the most commonly questions I have been asked...

QUESTION: 

One of my family member is allergic to dogs...Is it true that they are non-allergenic?

ANSWER:

No it is not true...Chinese Crested Dogs still have dander.  Dander is the leading reason why people are allergic to dogs and cats.  All dogs have it.  The length of the coat or the amount of shedding doesn't have anything to do with it.  Both Hairless and Powderpuff still have it.  For some allergy sufferers it may not cause a reaction but I do know that at least at 2 occasions people came to visit and reacted....For your and the dog sake try to get in contact with a breeder who invite you to their kennel and let you visit before acquiring one.  It will save you and your family a possible heartbreak if the dog has to go back. For more information please see this site: http://dogs.about.com/library/weekly/aa121200a.htm

QUESTION:

Why do some have hair and some don't?

In a nutshell the Chinese Crested has a dominant and a recessive gene...the dominant is the hairless and the recessive is the powderpuff....one interesting fact is that in all the hairless dogs (which all have a recessive gene) only the Chinese Crested produces a recessive gene that has a long coat...all others produce short coated dogs.

QUESTION:

Do you shave them that way?

ANSWER:

In some instance you do.  The degree of hairlessness varies from dog to dog.  The dogs you may have seen at the show or advertised in the magazines are mostly all glamorous with long furnishings (Crest on the head, Plume on the tail, and Socks on their feet).  Please go to the grooming section for a real eye opener on how hairy some of the Chinese Crested hairless may be.  As a rule the more furnishings they have the more body hair that comes with it.   Those who are truly hairless and practically care free do not carry much furnishings.  A friend of mine once told me it was like taking care of an extra leg...It doesn't take anything away from their wonderful  personality.  Remember that a hairy hairless is more work to keep shaved down than caring for a Powderpuff...another reason to really make your homework before buying.  If you decide that you still want the look of the hairy hairless, you may want to start learning how to use clippers...again visit my grooming page and you will see what is needed for grooming.

QUESTION:

I hear they are good apartment dogs...Is this true?

ANSWER:

Yes and no.  Chinese Crested really adapt themselves to your lifestyle, but do need to be exercised.  All dogs,  big and small need some degree of exercising.  There is nothing less attracting than a dog who is overweight...especially a hairless one.  I live in the city and I find that my dogs do fairly well in the back yard (it's fairly big) chasing each other,  but really are at their finest when we go to the off-leash area.  They become different in their temperament (happier) and develop some stunning looking muscle.  There is nothing prettier to look at a hairless dog who is all muscled up and nothing more satisfying to put your hands on a hard bodied powderpuff.  This goes to my opinion to ALL BREED of dogs.  I truly believe this will add some more wonderful years in your dogs' life as well.

QUESTION:

How big are they?

ANSWER:

There is a great deal of size difference in our breed still.  As per our breed standard they should be between 9 to 13 inches tall (in Canada) and (10 to 13 in USA).  However for some reasons sometimes there will be dogs who are born which will stay pretty small and some who will grow to be very tall...again it doesn't take away anything as far as their personality goes.  If you plan on breeding you should however stick to what our breed standard ask for.  Please don't email or call me to ask if I breed T-Cup size dogs.  To my opinion breeders who choose to do so are simply doing it for the benefit of their pocket...not for the benefit of the dog.  It is well known that smaller dogs have problem having puppies naturally, open fontanels...cute they are,  but please think before buying.  There is already enough to worry about by buying a healthy dog without adding some possible problems.

QUESTION:

What's their health like?

ANSWER:

Very good in general.  They are a lot more sturdier than they appear.  For more information on the different health problems that are somewhat common to this breed, please refer to my website at : http://www.crestars.com/heath.htm.  You can expect a Chinese Crested to live many happy years without any problems.  My oldest (Goldie) at 13. 5 years old still comes to the off-leash walks, jumps up and down for her cookies and still have all of her sweet personality.

QUESTION:

What is their personality like?...Do they bark a lot? Are they smart?

ANSWERS:

They are very devoted to their owners, very sweet, very smart (they easily learn obedience, agility and tricks).  They may be reserved with strangers but with a good socialization early in life they adapt very well to everything basically.  It is up to the new owner to shape their personality...the more places you can go, the more people you can have them meet, the more other dogs you make them meet the happier you will be with your Chinese Crested.  The less you do, the less you can expect...pretty simple.

 QUESTION:

Are they easy to housetrain?

ANSWER:

It all depends at what age you will be getting them and how much time you will be able to spend with them when they get to your home.  Puppies are like light switch...they are either off or on...when they are on they are so busy playing and discovering new places that the last thing they think of is that they have to go do their business.  When they feel it it's often too late and just do it wherever they are at the time.  Consistency is your best friend when it comes to housetrain your puppy.  Frequent outside visits will help...if you are lucky enough to have an older dog at home the puppy will most likely learn quicker as he/she will copy a lot from the older dogs.  All my puppies are 90% paper train by the time they leave at age 9 to 10 weeks.  It is of course harder to train a puppy in the winter time but Chinese Crested are really smart and will catch on very quickly.  If your puppy need to master stairs to go outside it may take a little longer but a hand from you will help.  You cannot expect any breed of puppies to be housetrain if you work a full time job.  There is NO way a puppy can hold all day.  They do need water at all time and do drink....and what comes in must go out...At first if you want them to last for the night,  you may want to take their food and water away early during the evening.  Common sense is the key...you should try to take your puppy every couple of hours outside, when your puppy get up from a nap either place him immediately on the paper or take him out...patience will be needed...some day they might be just so perfect but the next day they may act as you never taught them anything.  If you are there for your puppy you should expect your new baby to be housetrain within a month or less.

QUESTION:

What colour do they come in?

ANSWER:

They come in all colours.  I do not breed for any particular colours.  When I have happy, healthy puppies, I am satisfied with my blessings.

QUESTION:

When will the powderpuff loose its coat?

ANSWER:

Never, unless you shave it.  Chinese Crested are born either hairless or powderpuff.  All Hairless dog breeds have a coated version of themselves.  However the Chinese Crested is the only breed of the hairless dogs who will produce a "long coated version"...all others are short coated....pretty neat huh?

QUESTION:

How often do you have to bathed them?

ANSWER:

Depending on what your lifestyle is with the dog.  They should always remain clean.  My friend takes her shower with hers everyday.  Just like taking care of her own skin he gets some body lotion after getting out.  I bath mine about once a week...My puffs get bath about once every 10 - 15 days.  I brush the hairless only when i bath them as their hair never seem to mat and I brush the powderpuffs about every 4 days...more often when they loose their puppy coat.  It is an excellent time to spend some quiet time with them too.

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