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Crowned Chinese Cresteds, Venice, FL (2026)

08/30/2026

Breeders: Sometimes “Wait and Watch” IS Part of the Job

If you have raised enough litters, you know that young puppies can do things that make your heart stop for a minute. One vomits. One coughs. One sounds a little congested. One isn’t quite as enthusiastic about eating as usual.

And no, most experienced breeders do not immediately scoop up an entire litter and head for the veterinary clinic every single time something seems a little off.

We watch. We assess. We know these puppies from the moment they are born, and we know what is normal for each one. We also have cabinets full of thermometers, syringes, probiotics, electrolytes, nebulizers, heating pads, supplements, lotions, potions and enough breeder remedies and old wives’ tales to make most new puppy owners wonder what on earth is going on in our houses.

That does not mean breeders are veterinarians, and it certainly does not mean serious symptoms should be ignored. Young puppies can deteriorate very quickly, and knowing when home care ends and veterinary care needs to begin is part of being an experienced breeder.

But there is a difference between monitoring a puppy and neglecting one.
I recently saw a discussion where a breeder mentioned that, years later, after hearing about PRAA, she wondered whether several puppies she had lost might possibly have had it. They were never diagnosed with PRAA, so nobody knows. PRAA commonly causes regurgitation around weaning because the abnormal vessel arrangement can constrict the esophagus, but regurgitation and vomiting can have many other causes too.

What bothered me was how quickly people jumped from “I wonder if that’s what happened” to “Why didn’t you take those puppies to the vet?”

Because hindsight is a wonderful diagnostician.

Once someone names a condition, it is easy to look backward and connect dots that may or may not have actually belonged together. At the time, that breeder did not have puppies walking around with little signs saying “PRAA.” She had young puppies showing symptoms that could have had several different explanations.

That is the reality breeders deal with.

We are usually the first people to notice when something changes, and often the first line of care. We watch patterns, weight, appetite, stools, breathing, energy and behavior. We try the things experience has taught us are reasonable to try, and when the picture changes or our gut says, “Nope, I don’t like this,” that is when the veterinarian becomes part of the equation.

Good breeders respect veterinary medicine. But breeder experience deserves a little respect too.

There is a big difference between ignoring a sick puppy and using years of experience to decide when something needs medical intervention.

And criticizing somebody years later, armed with a possible diagnosis that was never actually made, is a whole lot easier than standing in the whelping room making that decision in real time.

08/29/2026

Is “Pick of the Litter” Mostly Marketing Nonsense?

“Pick of the litter” is one of those phrases that sounds very official until you stop and ask what it actually means.

Pick according to whom?

When I hear “pick of the litter,” I picture some formal evaluation process where the puppies are lined up, scorecards come out, everybody votes, and one puppy is handed a tiny crown. In reality, the phrase can mean very different things depending on who is using it.

To a show breeder, “pick” may mean the puppy they believe has the best combination of structure, movement, breed type, temperament, and future potential. Another breeder may choose a completely different puppy from that same litter because they are trying to improve something different in their own program.

Then there are ads where “pick of the litter” seems to mean the smallest puppy, the biggest puppy, the one with the flashiest markings, or simply the one the seller wants you to get excited about.

That is where I think the phrase starts becoming more marketing than meaningful.
There may not even be one universally “best” puppy in a litter. I might look at one puppy and love the front, movement, and balance because those are things I need in my program. Another breeder may choose its littermate because that puppy has a head, temperament, or pedigree combination they particularly want to preserve.
Neither one of us necessarily picked the wrong puppy. We were simply picking for different reasons.

And if the puppy is going to a pet home, the so-called “pick” may not be the best choice at all. The bold, outgoing, beautiful little puppy that screams show prospect could be way too much dog for someone who really wants a laid-back companion. Meanwhile, the puppy that did not win the imaginary litter beauty pageant may have exactly the personality that family needs.

So when someone tells me a puppy is “pick of the litter,” especially if they are charging more because of it, I want to know what makes it the pick.

Pick for show? Pick for breeding? Pick for temperament? Pick for structure? Pick because it has the cutest spot over its eye?

There should be an answer.

And let’s not forget that we are still talking about puppies. The spectacular eight-week-old baby does not come with a guarantee that it will become the spectacular adult. Sometimes it does. Sometimes the puppy you were absolutely convinced was the keeper grows in a direction you did not expect, while the one you almost overlooked quietly turns into the better dog.

Genetics has a wonderful way of reminding breeders not to get too cocky.
Now, I do not think the phrase is completely meaningless. If an experienced breeder says, “This was my pick puppy,” and can explain exactly what they saw and why that puppy best fit the goals of their program, that means something.

But “pick of the litter” by itself?

I think it has become one of those phrases that sounds much more impressive than it actually is.

Sometimes there is an obvious standout in a litter. Sometimes there are two or three puppies you would happily keep. Sometimes the one you chose makes you look brilliant a year later, and sometimes you look back and think, “Well… apparently the puppy did not read my evaluation notes.”

So I am curious what other breeders think.

When you hear “pick of the litter,” does the phrase still mean something to you, or has it become mostly a sales term?

And here is the question that may really get people going: would you ever pay more for a puppy simply because someone advertised it as “pick of the litter”?

08/28/2026

The Grooming Table Lie

There is a very specific kind of confidence that happens at a dog show when your dog is standing on the grooming table looking absolutely fabulous.

The coat is right, the crest is behaving, the feet are trimmed, the outline looks balanced, the head is up, and for one glorious moment you look at that dog and think, “Oh yes. We are READY.”

Of course, you take a picture, because this moment needs documentation.
Then you walk into the ring and apparently somebody has switched dogs on you.

The topline that looked so beautiful five minutes ago has disappeared. The tail is doing something you have never seen before. The dog that moved beautifully in the aisle has suddenly decided pacing is a perfectly acceptable life choice, one ear is off doing its own thing, and that elegant head carriage from the grooming table is nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile, you are going around the ring thinking, “Who is this, and what did you do with my dog?”

That is one of the funniest things about showing. The grooming table gives you a controlled picture. You can place every foot exactly where you want it, smooth the coat, fix the crest, stand back, adjust one little thing, and convince yourself you have created a masterpiece.

The ring is a different story.

The ring asks the dog to move, think, respond, and hold itself together while there are noises, other dogs, strangers, bait, judges, mats, and about a hundred other distractions happening at once. Sometimes the dog rises to the occasion and looks even better in motion than it did standing still.

And sometimes it looks like it was assembled during a fire drill.

Chinese Cresteds can be especially talented at reminding you that they have opinions about all of this.

You can practice the same stack at home a hundred times, then walk into the ring and suddenly your dog is fascinated by something happening three rings away. You can practice moving in a beautiful straight line, then somehow end up doing something closer to interpretive dance when it actually counts.

You spend all morning getting the crest exactly right, and one good shake later your dog has decided to restyle itself.

Naturally, you keep smiling like everything is going according to plan.
The funny thing is that sometimes the opposite happens too. You can have a dog on the grooming table that looks a little ordinary that day. Nothing is quite coming together, and you are not feeling especially confident.

Then you walk into the ring, the dog starts moving, and suddenly there it is.

The neck comes up, the topline settles, the movement opens, the attitude turns on, and you realize the dog you were hoping to see has finally arrived.

Those moments are a good reminder that a stacked picture only tells part of the story.

A pretty outline can show you a lot, but movement tells you whether all those pretty pieces actually work together. It shows balance, structure, reach, drive, coordination, and how the dog carries itself naturally.

That is why I try not to get too carried away with one great grooming-table picture or too discouraged by one ugly ring performance.

Dogs have good days and bad days just like we do.

Sometimes they are distracted. Sometimes they are tired. Sometimes they hate the surface. Sometimes the environment is too much. Sometimes they simply decide that today is not the day they are going to cooperate with whatever brilliant plan you had in mind.

And sometimes, yes, they are just being ridiculous.

The important part is learning the difference between a dog having an off day and a dog consistently showing you something real.

That comes with time, experience, and a whole lot of watching.

So yes, I will still admire that beautiful grooming-table picture. I will still stand back and think the dog looks amazing.

I just know better now than to assume that version of the dog is guaranteed to walk into the ring with me.

Because sometimes the dog on the table looks like a million dollars, and the dog in the ring looks like it spent the money.

08/27/2026

Should Breeders Let Buyers Visit Puppies Before Vaccinations Are Complete?

This one may ruffle a few feathers, because everybody loves the idea of visiting a litter of puppies.

And honestly, who wouldn’t? There are few things better than sitting on the floor while a bunch of little puppies crawl all over you, chew your shoelaces, p*e somewhere inconvenient, and generally make you forget every bit of common sense you arrived with.

But if those puppies are still very young and have not completed their vaccination series, I am much more cautious about letting visitors into my puppy area.

It is not because I am hiding anything. It is not because I do not want buyers involved. It is because people can unknowingly bring things with them.

Parvovirus is probably the one breeders worry about most, and for good reason. Young puppies are especially vulnerable while they are still going through their vaccine series, and infectious organisms can be carried into environments on contaminated shoes, objects, and surfaces. Veterinary guidance specifically recommends caution with young puppies in places where dogs congregate until vaccination protection is established.

And parvo is not the only thing on my mind.

There are also parasites and organisms such as coccidia and Giardia that can spread through fecally contaminated environments. Coccidia, for example, is acquired when dogs ingest infective oocysts from contaminated surroundings.

Now imagine someone comes to visit your litter after stopping at a dog park, PetSmart, a veterinary clinic, another breeder’s house, or even just walking through an area heavily traveled by dogs.

They may have absolutely no idea what is on the bottom of their shoes.

And I am supposed to look at my five-week-old puppies and think, “Sure, come on in. Make yourself comfortable”?

This is where my hospitality starts losing the battle with my breeder paranoia.

That does NOT mean puppies should be raised in a bubble with no exposure to people. Early socialization is incredibly important. Puppies need positive experiences with different people, sounds, surfaces, handling, household activity, and the world around them.

But socialization and unlimited visitor access are two completely different things.
There are plenty of ways for a breeder to socialize puppies safely without having a revolving door of strangers walking through the whelping room.

Some breeders do allow carefully controlled visits. Shoes come off. Hands are washed. Clean clothing may be requested. Visitors may be asked whether they have recently been around other dogs, kennels, shelters, dog parks, or veterinary hospitals. Puppies stay in a controlled area.

Other breeders simply say, “Not until they’re older.”

I am perfectly comfortable with either approach.

What I do not understand is when a buyer assumes that being denied an early visit is automatically a red flag.

Sometimes it is exactly the opposite.

That breeder may simply be protecting a litter they have spent weeks sleeping beside, weighing, cleaning, feeding, worrying over, and keeping healthy.

Believe me, once those puppies are old enough and properly protected, I am happy for you to meet them.

Until then, I can send you pictures.

I can send you videos.

I can FaceTime you until you are sick of looking at puppies.

But I am probably not letting you walk straight from the PetSmart parking lot into my puppy pen wearing the same shoes.

Call me overprotective. -- I can live with that.

Breeders, where do you fall on this one? Do you allow early puppy visits with precautions, or is your puppy room completely off-limits until the puppies are older?

08/26/2026

Miniature Chinese Cresteds? Sorry… That’s Not a Thing.

Every so often I see an advertisement for a “miniature Chinese Crested,” a “teacup Crested,” or even a “micro Crested,” and I always have the same reaction.
A miniature what now?

Chinese Cresteds are already a Toy breed. There are two varieties, Hairless and Powderpuff, but there is no separate miniature, teacup, micro, pocket-sized, purse-sized, or any other extra-small variety hiding somewhere in the breed standard.
Can Chinese Cresteds be small? Absolutely. Just like any breed, some dogs mature smaller than others. You can have a perfectly lovely Crested that ends up on the small side, and that does not suddenly make it a different variety of Chinese Crested.

It just makes it a small Chinese Crested.

The problem comes when people take normal variation in size and turn it into a marketing tool. Calling a puppy “miniature” makes it sound as though the buyer is getting some special, recognized version of the breed when they are not.

And unfortunately, words like “teacup” and “micro” tend to work because people think smaller must mean rarer, cuter, or more valuable.

But smaller is not automatically better.

As preservation breeders, we should be breeding toward the breed standard, not trying to see how tiny we can make a dog because tiny puppies sell well on the internet.

There is also a difference between producing a puppy that happens to mature small and deliberately selecting generation after generation for extreme size. When the goal becomes “How small can I make them?” rather than “How sound, healthy, correct and typical of the breed can I make them?” we have lost the plot.

And no, this is not about criticizing someone because they own a tiny Crested. I have seen some adorable little Cresteds, and sometimes Mother Nature simply hands you one.

The issue is advertising that dog as though “miniature Chinese Crested” is an actual variety. -- It isn’t.

So if you see an advertisement for a “miniature,” “teacup,” or “micro” Chinese Crested, ask questions. Ask what the breeder means by that. Ask about the parents, their adult sizes, health testing, structure and temperament.

Most importantly, do not pay extra simply because somebody added a cute adjective in front of the breed name.

A tiny Chinese Crested can certainly be wonderful. But it is still a Chinese Crested.
No special edition required.

08/25/2026

The Difference Between Breeding Dogs and Producing Puppies

There is a big difference between producing puppies and actually having a breeding program.

Putting a male and female together and getting puppies is the easy part. The harder question is: Why did you breed those two dogs together?

“Because they’re both beautiful” really isn’t enough.

A thoughtful breeding starts with knowing what each dog brings to the table. Where are they strong? Where could they be better? What is behind them genetically? What are you trying to preserve, improve, or avoid?

Maybe you want to strengthen movement, improve fronts, preserve breed type, improve temperament, or bring something back into your line that you feel is being lost. Whatever the goal is, there should be a reason for the pairing beyond simply wanting a litter.

That is what makes it a breeding program. There is a direction.

It also means being honest about your own dogs. Not every beautiful dog needs to reproduce. Not every champion needs to reproduce. And certainly not every dog with reproductive organs needs to reproduce.

Sometimes you plan what looks like the perfect breeding on paper and genetics hands you a box full of lessons. That is part of it too. You evaluate what you produced, learn from it, and decide whether it moved your program forward.

For me, preservation breeding is not about simply making more Chinese Cresteds. It is about protecting breed type, health, temperament, structure, and everything that makes the breed what it is.

If the only plan is, “I have buyers waiting,” that is a sales plan, not a breeding plan.
The question should always be: What am I trying to preserve, what am I trying to improve, and why does this breeding help me get there?

Puppies are the result of breeding.

They should never be the entire reason for it.

08/24/2026

Got a New Puppy? Let’s Take It to PetSmart and Show It Off! Umm… NO.

You just brought home the cutest puppy on the planet, and naturally you want everybody to see it. I completely understand. You have waited for this puppy, taken approximately 400 pictures already, and you are pretty sure the people at PetSmart deserve the opportunity to admire your new baby too.'

So you load up the puppy, head to the pet store, walk through those automatic doors and put that adorable little thing right down on the floor.
Please don’t.

That puppy may have had one or two vaccinations, but that does not mean it is fully protected yet. The puppy vaccination series is given over several visits because maternal antibodies can interfere with how well those early vaccines work, and the AVMA specifically recommends using caution with puppies in places where dogs gather until that initial series is complete—including pet stores.

And think about that floor for a minute.

How many dogs walked across it today? How many puppies? How many had diarrhea yesterday? How many owners cleaned up a p**p but left behind microscopic organisms you cannot see?

Parvo is the big scary one everyone knows about, but it is not the only thing I am thinking about. Puppies can also encounter parasites such as coccidia, Giardia and hookworms through contaminated environments. Coccidia can be acquired by ingesting infective oocysts from a contaminated environment, Giardia cysts can be picked up from fecally contaminated surfaces or water, and hookworm larvae can be acquired from contaminated ground.

Your puppy does not have to lick an actual pile of p**p to be exposed to something another dog left behind.

And this is where people understandably get confused, because we breeders are also constantly telling new owners, “Socialize your puppy!”
Yes. Please socialize your puppy.

But socialization does not mean dropping an incompletely vaccinated baby onto the floor of every place that allows dogs.

Take the puppy places. Let it see people, shopping carts, cars, noises, children, hats, umbrellas and the strange things humans apparently think are normal. Carry the puppy through PetSmart. Put it in a cart on a clean blanket if the store allows it. Sit outside somewhere and let it watch the world go by. Introduce it to healthy, appropriately vaccinated dogs you know in controlled environments.

There are plenty of ways to build a confident, well-socialized puppy without letting it investigate every mystery puddle in the pet-store aisle.

And yes, eventually that puppy can walk into PetSmart like it owns the place. There will be plenty of time for strangers to tell you how cute it is and ask what breed it is.
For now, though, keep those little feet off heavily trafficked dog areas until you and your veterinarian are comfortable with the puppy’s level of protection.

You waited too long for that puppy to bring it home and immediately let it play biological roulette in aisle seven.

Show it off? -- Absolutely.

Just carry the little heathen while you do it.

08/23/2026

Breeders: Sometimes “Wait and Watch” IS Part of the Job

If you have raised enough litters, you know that young puppies can do things that make your heart stop for a minute. One vomits. One coughs. One sounds a little congested. One isn’t quite as enthusiastic about eating as usual.

And no, most experienced breeders do not immediately scoop up an entire litter and head for the veterinary clinic every single time something seems a little off.

We watch. We assess. We know these puppies from the moment they are born, and we know what is normal for each one. We also have cabinets full of thermometers, syringes, probiotics, electrolytes, nebulizers, heating pads, supplements, lotions, potions and enough breeder remedies and old wives’ tales to make most new puppy owners wonder what on earth is going on in our houses.

That does not mean breeders are veterinarians, and it certainly does not mean serious symptoms should be ignored. Young puppies can deteriorate very quickly, and knowing when home care ends and veterinary care needs to begin is part of being an experienced breeder.

But there is a difference between monitoring a puppy and neglecting one.

I recently saw a discussion where a breeder mentioned that, years later, after hearing about PRAA, she wondered whether several puppies she had lost might possibly have had it. They were never diagnosed with PRAA, so nobody knows. PRAA commonly causes regurgitation around weaning because the abnormal vessel arrangement can constrict the esophagus, but regurgitation and vomiting can have many other causes too.

What bothered me was how quickly people jumped from “I wonder if that’s what happened” to “Why didn’t you take those puppies to the vet?”

Because hindsight is a wonderful diagnostician.

Once someone names a condition, it is easy to look backward and connect dots that may or may not have actually belonged together. At the time, that breeder did not have puppies walking around with little signs saying “PRAA.” She had young puppies showing symptoms that could have had several different explanations.

That is the reality breeders deal with.

We are usually the first people to notice when something changes, and often the first line of care. We watch patterns, weight, appetite, stools, breathing, energy and behavior. We try the things experience has taught us are reasonable to try, and when the picture changes or our gut says, “Nope, I don’t like this,” that is when the veterinarian becomes part of the equation.

Good breeders respect veterinary medicine.

But breeder experience deserves a little respect too.

There is a big difference between ignoring a sick puppy and using years of experience to decide when something needs medical intervention.

And criticizing somebody years later, armed with a possible diagnosis that was never actually made, is a whole lot easier than standing in the whelping room making that decision in real time.

08/23/2026

Echo on guard

Crowned Chinese Cresteds

08/30/2026

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