The hairless variety of the Chinese Crested is genetically dominant to the Powderpuff, and because all Chinese Cresteds carry the recessive gene, it’s not possible to “breed out” the Powderpuffs.
Both “hair types” of the breed require grooming, and it all depends upon the amount of hair the dog has. There is a true hairless and a “hairy hairless” (you can read about both of them here), and even they benefit from regular grooming. Hairless Chinese Cresteds often have their faces and ears shaved for neatness, and because their skin is very similar to our own, it can be prone to blackheads and whiteheads, so proper skin care is important.
The Powderpuff has a fine double coat that requires daily brushing to prevent matting, and interestingly, the PowderPuff’s coat does not continuously grow. Once it reaches its full length (which can get quite long), it stops growing. Once it is cut, however, it resumes growing.
Curious, right?
Image: Chinese Cresteds by Tobiasz Stefaniak is available as fine art, and in lifestyle and home decor items here
I am a pet groomer who also has done some dog showing. I have been teaching coat genetics to pet groomers and use the terms “hair” or “fur” to describe the genetic growth predisposition of a dog’s coat. PDL or predetermined length is fur. It grows to a set length and stops. Hairless breeds are a fur type coat just like the smooth short coated breeds like Boxers. UDL or undetermined length is hair – it grows until it is cut or breaks off. I would like to know more about why cutting fur type coats can cause it to change to hair like growth. But I’ve seen it happen to other breeds as well- which is why we shouldn’t cut fur type dogs hair on their torso jacket areas especially.