Who Are The Breed Custodians?

The often-repeated tenet “you (breeders & Breed Clubs) are the breed custodians” appears questionable. The premise is that we breed to the Standard and are judged against it by impartial trained judges. If only!! Utopia cannot exist when conversations with judges continually produce sentiments similar to those below.

 I won’t put up a Powder Puff if there is a Hairless present /I don’t like Powder Puffs.

A friend (as a trainee) told by an All Breeds judge – “just put up the pretty ones”.

Judges quoting out of date Standards.

Overheard around the ring – a Judge to exhibitor – Oh you’re “XXXX” (a Prefix) I saw your dogs on the Internet. Please remember that claims on the Internet can have all the credibility of a Politician’s promise.

Other problems include:

Was the Breed Lecturer impartial?

Were assessors impartial? (at a past field night one did not like Hairless another only liked one “line”)

Were candidates shown a cross section of type (lines)?

The net result of this is that often only the best SHOW PROSPECTS are kept instead of the BEST DOG – particularly if the best is a Powder Puff.  

We believe that unless judges judge to the current Standard all breeds will decline into flashy “show ponies” losing the breed hallmarks. 

So judges, you too are Breed Custodians, please remember that among the Hallmarks in Chinese Crested Dogs are:

A small, active and graceful dog

Hair ideally confined to the toes not extending above the pastern

Crest tapering off down the neck

Sparseness of hair is acceptable

Happy never vicious 

Long flowing elegant movement - the phrase “Prancing Pony” has apparently been drummed into the older echelon of judges. It is an anathema to breeders – originally it referred to the carriage of the neck on the move, but clearly this visual image has become imprinted as a breed description. A “prance” can not possibly relate to the “long, flowing, elegant “movement required in this breed.

Clean elongated head, with the required 1:1 ratio, large ERECT ears required in the Hairless

Powder Puffs have a double coat, Hairless have a single coat.

Hairless and Powder Puff are equal – your likes are not in the Standard.

Put differently this is the Chinese CRESTED - neither maned nor shawled - who has bobby socks that you can see the toes through, not Ugh boots and who flows elegantly around the ring.

Prepared by the Chinese Crested Dog Club of NSW

Originally published in National DOG – THE Ring LEADER Way – August 2006