HAIRLESS
The hairless variety resembles little horses as they run with crest and tail flying in the breeze. The correct coat pattern permits long silky hair on the head and neck (crest), on 2/3 of the tail (plume), and on the feet up to the pasterns and hocks (socks). Some hairless dogs have varying amounts of facial hair which can be trimmed or left natural. Their skin is warm, soft and smooth to the touch. They may be any color or combination of colors and are sometimes found in very exotic shades like lavender or gold.

Another unique trait of the hairless involves their dentition. Hairless dogs have small, peg-like teeth that may slant toward the front of the mouth rather than the "normal" dog teeth of the powderpuff variety. In addition, hairless dogs often lose many of their teeth as early as two or three years of age. Some require softer meals while others will tackle a huge dog biscuit or wolf-sized rawhide bone with the same gusto as their "toothier" relatives.

Keeping a hariless dog in good condition is much like keeping our skin clean and healthy. Frequent baths, moisturizing lotion and sunscreen for the lighter colored dogs is a good habit to develop. The adolescent Crested (9 - 15 months) can go through a skin breakout stage similar to a teenager with acne. Apricot facial scrub and a little patience will usually do the trick. Many are allergic to wool and products that contain lanolin, so it is wise to avoid wool sweaters or woolen bedding materials.

Hairless Cresteds are very devoted to their families and love to be included in all activities. They will spend all day piled up in the bed covers or accompany you on any outdoor adventure you choose - from camping to snowmobiling (with a warm sweater on, of course!) They are sometimes a little more aloof with strangers than the powderpuff but are accepting of new people and circumstances once they've had a chance to give them the "once over."

POWDERPUFF
The powderpuffs are happy little fluffs of any color or combination of colors. Their coats are soft and silky, made up of a warm moderately dense undercoat covered in a layer of smooth straight guard coat covering their entire bodies, including the ears and face. Powderpuffs are groomed two ways - with all the hair left on the face and ears, or with the face and/or the ears clipped short, more closely resembling the face of the hairless variety. Either way, beneath the coated exterior is the same cheerful, energetic toy dog as it's hairless counterpart.

The powderpuff has a more stable mouth structure than the hairless and plays an important role in breeding programs by strengthening this area of hairless genetics.

Nineteenth century English breeders tried to cull the powderpuffs from their litters, raising only the more exotic hairless dogs. But, they discovered, that the hairless dogs continued to produce powderpuffs no matter how many times they bred only hairless to hairless. The powderpuff has an important role in the genetics of the breed and should be treated as an equal in every way.