I found Fred some friends - Nekkid?

Question

http://gainesville.craigslist.org/pet/812219485.html

Legit Question:

This says 1 hairless and 1 powder puff. What's the difference? Anyone familiar with Chinese Crested dogs?

Answer 1

as far as i am aware, the only difference is the hairless obviously has no hair and the powder puff does

Answer 2

I see 2 Cresteds..  however what I see looks like a "true" hairless and a "hairy" hairless.

A puff has a complete double coat of hair covering its entire body... like a "normal" dog.  A puff does not carry the hairless gene at all.

A hairless varies in amount of body hair.. from having not more than a sparse mohawk..  to being "almost" entirely covered in a fine single layer of hair.  Many of the ones you see in the show ring actually have body hair that is shaved..  ussually a strip of hair going down the back, and along the legs.  Despite amount of body hair, its genetically hairless.. it carries a gene for hairless and puff.

The difference between a "hairy" and a puff is that the puff has a DOUBLE coat, while the hairless has a single coat..  even at that, the hairy is not completely covered, you will find bare spots, ussually on the chest or belly.

If you look, the fuzzier one's chest looks a little bare, which tells me that its a hairy hairless, not a puff.

Answer 3

Well, I think the powderpuff one is called that because it has more fur and looks like a powderpuff. Hairless has only fur on it's head and tail. Not the most familar with Chinese Cresteds.

Answer 4

Hairless means they don't have any hair, only on their tail and head, powderpuff means they do have hair. :)

Answer 5

I have owned these dogs, and shown them to their championships.

The hairless should have hair on its head, tail and the bottoms of its legs.  If it has hair all over, it is not a true "hairless" but rather a more scraggly powderpuff.  Unfortunately in the show rings, unscrupulous breeders will shave down a powderpuff to look like a hairless so that it has very lush plumage.

Th powderpuff will have hair all over it's body.  The powderpuff will be much like any other small dog, requiring regular grooming to keep its hair unmatted and looking good.

The hairless has its own special requirements.  These dogs do suntan -- get darker in the summer.  As a result, they also sunburn and require sunblock. They get little pimples in the "teenaged" years.  You want to moisturize their skin with a very mild lotion.  I found baby lotions the best.

My hairless was always most comfortable with a sweater or a little Tshirt on, even on the warm days.  They are no especially fragile dogs, but being naked all the time presents its own challenges. :)