My interest in Chinese Cresteds began many years ago......
My first recollection of the breed was in the late 1980's. I remember seeing a hairless dog running around the ring....an eye catching little bitch that belonged to a woman called Ailleen Goller. The bitch was affectionately known as "Sally" and did a considerable amount of winning in the Show ring in Queensland. I remember then doing as much research about the breed as I could and came up with very little. I knew that there was a 'hairy' form of the breed but had not seen one at that stage. Several years passed before I was ready to think about getting a Crested. I had a few discussions about obtaining a puppy but held on till I was sure I found the right dog for me.
I tried finding as much literature as I could and happened upon a book from England by Brenda Jones. I read it several times and then decided that I liked the 'hairy' forms of the breed more popularly referred to as "Powder Puffs". I then considered a Powder Puff bitch as the higher in my rankings as I have always preferred the temperament of a bitch to live with. This was not to happen as I found out later on.
I recall going to the "Ekka" one year and watching the Chinese Cresteds being judged. A striking little man took my eye at that time. He is known now as
"Australian Champion Moonswift Starship Trooper"
aka "Trooper"
I suppose a year or two passed and I continued looking for a dog to show. I rang Julie Dickinson-Franks and talked to her about her dog and the breed in general. Several months later, Chumae arrived here on lease to be shown. I was very enthusiastic about the prospect and had lots of fun exhibiting this lovely young bitch.
Books that I have enjoyed reading over the years include:
- The Complete Chinese Crested by Brenda Jones
- The Hairless Dogs of the World by Sylvia Gorwill
- A Chinese Crested Dog for me by Mirrie Cardew
- Hairless Dog: The Naked Truth by Amy Fernandez and Kelly Rae
- Chinese Crested Champions 1991 -2000 by CaminoE &Book Co.
I have been asked several times about how I came upon the name for the prefix. Many years ago I held a prefix called "Elfland" with another person. After the demise of that relationship, I allowed that prefix to expire and thought nothing more of breeding. With my interest in Cresteds well and truly established, I thought it was time to get a prefix as I have decided that Cresteds would be the dog of the future.
Well, I have always had a strong interest in 'natural law' and thought that my beliefs could possibly be defined as pagan (I am not a pagan by the way!) and I have a love of novels such as the Hobbit etc that explore the land of mythical creatures. So I combined them both and got Paganelf.
It was also the fourth submission (about 24 names) of names for a prefix and I was not too concerned with what I got at that stage!