Hairless Dogs - The Naked Truth: The Chinese Crested, Xoloitzcuintli & Peruvian Inca Orchid

Rating:
Summary: Great Book, and beautiful too!
Review: A friend loaned this to me, and I decided I had to have the book myself. The authors have compiled an extraordinary encyclopedia on hairless dogs -- from antiquity to the present -- with no effort spared to find every possible reference or archive photo. It's so well done, and for the breeder or the lucky owner of a Chinese Crested (or Mexican Hairless or Xoloxcuinti), this book is indispensible. Some fun facts: the Chinese apparently used to call them "healing dogs", because the were so useful as hot water bottles for arthritic or bedridden patients. And indigenous homes of South and Central American Indians often had 30 or more hairless dogs in the house. (Without hair, they were much better adapted to a hot/tropical environment with a high flea and tick population.) Oh, another interesting fact is that of the 2,000 or so dog breeds that have existed, only some 400 are extant today. Many of them have been eaten -- and in fact, the Chinese Crested has very often been served on the dinner table in times of famine. There's even a picture of a Chinese man on a bicycle, hauling a pile of dead Cresteds... A fascinating book with many illustrations, including some excellent color photos. Highly Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: For owners of bald dogs, THIS is the book to have!
Review: A friend loaned this to me, and I decided I had to have the book myself. The authors have compiled an extraordinary encyclopedia on hairless dogs -- from antiquity to the present -- with no effort spared to find every possible reference or archive photo. It's so well done, and for the breeder or the lucky owner of a Chinese Crested (or Mexican Hairless or Xoloxcuinti), this book is indispensible. Some fun facts: the Chinese apparently used to call them "healing dogs", because the were so useful as hot water bottles for arthritic or bedridden patients. And indigenous homes of South and Central American Indians often had 30 or more hairless dogs in the house. (Without hair, they were much better adapted to a hot/tropical environment with a high flea and tick population.) Oh, another interesting fact is that of the 2,000 or so dog breeds that have existed, only some 400 are extant today. Many of them have been eaten -- and in fact, the Chinese Crested has very often been served on the dinner table in times of famine. There's even a picture of a Chinese man on a bicycle, hauling a pile of dead Cresteds... A fascinating book with many illustrations, including some excellent color photos. Highly Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Best Book for Beginners to long time Breeders
Review: This book is a wealth of information for the new hairless dog owner or if you have had dogs for years. The research was thorough and complete, listing all varieties of hairless dogs along with a few other hairless animals, including the Sphynx Cat. If you are thinking of getting a hairless breed or already own one, this is the only book you'll need!

Rating:
Summary: Great Book, and beautiful too!
Review: This book is full of the most current information and research on hairless breeds. It debunks the numerous myths about the Chinese Crested and is worth reading for that alone! The information in invaluable. The two authors seem to be in a battle now about personal disagreements, but don't let their games steer you away from your personal education. It's embarassing to the breed that they're airing their laundry in public, but both of their contributions to the book are excellent, and it's worth reading! The pictures in this coffee-table size book alone are worth the steep price. I had to think a while before I coughed up the big price tag, but I'm happy to say it was worth it. Happy Reading!

Rating:
Summary: A must-read for all dog lovers!
Review: This book shows an incredible amount of scholarship, a wealth of photographs and a writing style that will appeal to anyone from the novice dog-owner to the expert breeder. The section on genetics will be of special interest to all and the photographs both illustrate the authors' points and provide amazing appeal.

Buy it! Read it! Read it again!