We are pleased to present Autumn-Argus Farm Chinese Crested Hairless & Powder Puff Dogs. The distinct varieties are born in the same litter. The Hairless variety with hair only on the head (called a crest), tail (called a plume) and feet (called socks) and the Powder Puff variety, completely covered with a double soft and silky coat. These toy dogs are fine-boned, elegant and graceful. This playful and entertaining breed has a wonderful disposition and serves as a loving companion. Enjoy each variety and feel free to discuss them with us in detail by email, or better yet, call us.
We take pleasure in showing our dogs, by handlers or ourselves, and are loaded with a great selection for your viewing pleasure. See any available New Litters, Chinese Crested Hairless or Powder Puff offerings available to qualified homes now. We certainly believe we have a great Chinese Crested site for you!
We will be happy to make an appointment to show you our animals. Any animal we do place will be under a contract, with all shots and pedigrees in order, complete with a health guarantee. We are ready to provide you with additional information upon request.
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The Chinese Crested
History - is totally in debate, subject to much speculation, story and myth. The Chinese Crested dog has been included in written history dating back to the 13th century, in China. They probably thrived for some time before the documented record. Archaeologists are reported to have found the ten thousand-year-old remains of a Chinese hairless dog. Various accounts claim they could be the ancestor of the Mexican Hairless Dog,evolved from African hairless dogs which were reduced in size by the Chinese, or the breed was developed in America in the late 1800s. Go figure!
It is reported that for centuries Chinese sailors sailed the high seas with the breed on board, and that puppies were frequently traded with local merchants at port cities. Spanish explorers found the Chinese Crested in Mexico and other parts of Central and South America. British and French explorers also found the breed in various parts of Africa and Asia during the 1800's. By the mid-19th Century, pictures of the dog began to appear in numerous European paintings. In 1880, a New Yorker, Ida Garrett, became interested in the breed and was involved in the breeding, exhibition and writing about Chinese Crested for over sixty years. Mrs. Garrett also shared her enthusiasm for the breed with a gal from Florida, 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.
Debra Woods started a log book of all of her dogs in the 1930s, and in the 1950s, this log book was extensive enough for her to start a registration service for Chinese Crested dogs, and the establishment of the American Hairless Dog Club. Mrs. Woods maintained these books until her death in 1969. For ten years after Mrs. Woods' death, these stud books were kept up by Jo Ann Orlik of New Jersey until the American Chinese Crested Club was founded and the books became their property.
Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous American singer, dancer and entertainer, was very involved in the promotion of the Chinese Crested worldwide. Her sister, June Havoc, rescued a Chinese Crested dog from a Connecticut animal shelter, and had given it to her. Ms.Lee so loved the breed, she became an ardent breeder and helped considerably in publicizing the breed. It should be noted that most active Crested kennels in the world can trace the ancestry of their dogs to the Crest Haven (Debra Woods) and Gypsy Rose Lee lines.
The two types of Chinese Crested; Hairless and Powder Puff, may appear to be different breeds. When one becomes more familiar with the breed it is easy to see that they are almost exactly the same, except that the Powder Puff has a double coat of hair. The hairless variety do vary as to amount of body hair. A true hairless (HL) has no body hair, only a crest, some tail plume, and sparse socks. The hairy hairless (HHL) can have as little as a strip of hair down it's back to being nearly covered with a single coat of body hair, some denser than others, with the belly usually bare. Most of the hairless that you see in the show rings today with the heavy lavish crest, plume, and socks are shaved down hairy hairless and must be shaved on a regular basis to maintain this look. Breeding a Hairless to a Hairless, or a Hairless to a Powder Puff, can produce either type. However, breeding a Powder Puff to a Powder Puff will always produce the Powder Puff variety.
A unique feature of these hairless dogs is that they have sweat glands. In addition to panting to release body heat as coated dogs do, they also sweat. Properly cared for, the skin of the Hairless remains soft to the touch, yet it is thicker and tougher than that of a coated dog and it heals very quickly if scratched or cut.
On April 1, 1991 the Chinese Crested became eligible for regular classification in the Toy Group offered at all-breed shows. So much for that. We just love 'em!
Breed Standard
A toy dog, fine-boned, elegant and graceful. The distinct varieties are born in the same litter. The Hairless include what many breeders call the hairy hairless (HHL) and the hairless (HL) dogs. The HHL have no hair on their belly but grow hair on the head, back, tail, and legs. They are groomed "flashy" for the show ring. The true hairless (HL) have little hair except on the head, tail and feet. The Powder Puff (PP) is completely covered with a double coat of moderate length and silky texture hair. The breed serves as a loving companion, playful and entertaining.
Size: Ideally 11 to 13 inches. However, dogs that are slightly larger or smaller may be given full consideration. Proportion: rectangular-proportioned to allow for freedom of movement. Body length from withers to base of tail is slightly longer than the height at the withers. Substance: Fine-boned and slender but not so refined as to appear breakable or alternatively, not a robust, heavy structure.
Expression: Alert and intense. Eyes: Almond-shaped, set wide apart. Dark-colored dogs have dark-colored eyes, and lighter-colored dogs may have lighter-colored eyes. Eye rims match the coloring of the dog. Ears: Uncropped large and erect, placed so that the base of the ear is level with the outside corner of the eye. Skull: The skull is arched gently over the occiput from ear to ear. Distance from occiput to stop equal to distance from stop to tip of nose. The head is wedge-shaped viewed from above and the side. Stop: Slight but distinct. Muzzle: Cheeks taper cleanly into the muzzle. Nose: Dark in dark-colored dogs; may be lighter in lighter-colored dogs. Pigment is solid. Lips: Lips are clean and tight. Bite: Scissors or level in both varieties. Missing teeth in the Powder Puff are to be faulted. The Hairless variety is not to be penalized for absence of full dentition.
Neck: Neck is lean and clean, slightly arched from the withers to the base of the skull and carried high. Topline: Level to slightly sloping croup. Body: Brisket extends to the elbow. Breastbone is not prominent. Ribs are well developed. The depth of the chest tapers to a moderate tuck-up at the flanks. Light in loin. Tail: Tail is slender and tapers to a curve. It is long enough to reach the hock. When dog is in motion, the tail is carried gaily and may be carried slightly forward over the back. At rest the tail is down with a slight curve upward at the end resembling a sickle. In the Hairless variety, two-thirds of the end of the tail is covered by long, flowing feathering referred to as a plume. The Powder Puff variety's tail is completely covered with hair.
Angulation: Layback of shoulders is 45 degrees to point of shoulder allowing for good reach. Shoulders: Clean and narrow. Elbows: Close to body. Legs: Long, slender and straight. Pasterns: Upright, fine and strong. Dewclaws may be removed. Feet: Hare foot, narrow with elongated toes. Nails are trimmed to moderate length.
Angulation: Stifle moderately angulated. From hock joint to ground perpendicular. Dewclaws may be removed. Feet: Same as forequarters.
The Hairless variety has hair on certain portions of the body: the head (called a crest), the tail (called a plume) and the feet from the toes to the front pasterns and rear hock joints (called socks). The texture of all hair is soft and silky, flowing to any length. Placement of hair is not as important as overall type. Areas that have hair usually taper off slightly. Wherever the body is hairless, the skin is soft and smooth. Head: Crest begins at the stop and tapers off between the base of the skull and the back of the neck. Hair on the ears and face is permitted on the Hairless and may be trimmed for neatness in both varieties. Tail: Plume is described under Tail. The Powder Puff variety is completely covered with a double soft and silky coat. Close examination reveals long thin guard hairs over the short silky undercoat. The coat is straight, of moderate density and length. Excessively heavy, kinky or curly coat is to be penalized. Grooming is minimal-consisting of presenting a clean and neat appearance.
Any color or combination of colors.
Lively, agile and smooth without being stilted or hackneyed. Comes and goes at a trot moving in a straight line.
"Then is what you see through this window onto the world so lovely that you have no desire whatsoever to look out through any other window?" ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
Consider us from "A Breeder's View", a perspective read.
Mrs. Woods maintained these books until her death in 1969. For ten years after Mrs. Woods' death, these stud books were kept up by Jo Ann Orlik of New Jersey until the American Chinese Crested Club was founded and the books became their property.
