# Cute or Ugly? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 15, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468 "2006-03-15T16:36:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/21 "2006-03-15T20:20:46Z")
**cactus waltz** , I was afraid they’d have a yappy, neurotic personality. I’ll never be able to think of these dogs as anything but “Chinese Crusted” now. > [@Hal Briston](#): > > Geez…at least spell my name right… :: sheepish :: Sorry. Our family had some unfortunate experiences with chihuahuas when I was a kid. Is there something about small dogs that makes them overexcitable, excessively territorial, and neurotic? ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/22 "2006-03-15T20:31:39Z")
Okay, out of the three Dopers in this household, here’s how the vote breaks down: Me and **DarkButterfly** vote Scrotum Ugly. **EtherealFreakOfPinkness** votes cute. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/23 "2006-03-15T20:35:30Z")
> [@Anne Neville](#): > > It makes a difference what kind of food you feed them. Or how much. I think they are so ugly they’re cute, but I wouldn’t be able to get past the “Tinkle King” scene in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/24 "2006-03-15T20:41:13Z")
That’s not a dog. One simple rule: If I can yell loud enough to kill it, it’s not a dog. This is a dog.. For best results, click the link that says “Gazette Article”. It’s a PDF file that will show you the true glory of this animal. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/25 "2006-03-15T20:50:53Z")
> [@Phase42](#): > > That’s not a dog. One simple rule: If I can yell loud enough to kill it, it’s not a dog. > > This is a dog.. For best results, click the link that says “Gazette Article”. It’s a PDF file that will show you the true glory of this animal. Oh my god. A friend of mine actually killed his sister’s dog by yelling. I guess it wasn’t a fluke! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/26 "2006-03-15T20:51:27Z")
> [@Phase42](#): > > That’s not a dog. One simple rule: If I can yell loud enough to kill it, it’s not a dog. > > This is a dog.. For best results, click the link that says “Gazette Article”. It’s a PDF file that will show you the true glory of this animal. The family of my best friend at university had a mastiff (not a Neopolitan, though). I went to visit them at their place in Quebec, and one morning we were awakened by a crunching noise. The dog was _calmly tearing the siding off the house and chewing on it_. Oddly, he was terrified of all sorts of things. But not, evidently, houses. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/27 "2006-03-15T20:56:53Z")
> [@Phase42](#): > > That’s not a dog. One simple rule: If I can yell loud enough to kill it, it’s not a dog. > > This is a dog.. For best results, click the link that says “Gazette Article”. It’s a PDF file that will show you the true glory of this animal. The family of my best friend at university had a mastiff (not a Neopolitan, though). I went to visit them at their place in Quebec, and one morning we were awakened by a crunching noise. The dog was _calmly tearing the siding off the house and chewing on it_. Oddly, he was terrified of all sorts of things. But not, evidently, houses. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/28 "2006-03-15T20:58:07Z")
> [@Phase42](#): > > That’s not a dog. One simple rule: If I can yell loud enough to kill it, it’s not a dog. > > This is a dog.. For best results, click the link that says “Gazette Article”. It’s a PDF file that will show you the true glory of this animal. Oh my god. A friend of mine actually killed his sister’s dog by yelling. I guess it wasn’t a fluke! ---
**Author:** ![MaddyStrut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@MaddyStrut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaddyStrut)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/29 "2006-03-15T21:19:10Z")
I’ve heard that dogs of this breed are frequently missing many of their teeth. Something about the genes for hair and the genes for teeth being close. I think they’re ugly. If you want a small dog, there are cuter versions: pugs, chihuahuas, yorkies, pomeranians, etc. Most small breeds do bark a lot, but they’re easy to exercise, don’t eat a lot, and make lovely footwarmers on cold nights! ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/30 "2006-03-15T21:49:16Z")
Scrotum ugly. In fact, freakish mutant-scrotum ugly. Which isn’t to say you couldn’t learn to love an ugly dog. My own dog is kind of ugly, but we love him to pieces. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/31 "2006-03-15T22:03:42Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Also, does anyone know what kind of temperament they have? Not that it matters much to me. [Chinese Cresteds What’s good about 'em What’s bad about 'em](http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/chinesecresteds.html) [Chinese Crested Breed Information](http://www.nextdaypets.com/directory/breeds/1100073/) (Several sites noted that they were not barkers, although they might either howl or “sing” when distressed. This does not actually contradict **cactus waltz** ; a lot of breeders spend way too much time looking at coats and bones and too little time actually engaging the dogs. Our Boxer was a rescue from a breeder and we have to watch her because the breeder never socialized her. Our previous Boxer could be trusted to stay in our yard (with no fence or wire) and “greet” people walking the street. Our current dog must be leashed at all times.) ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/32 "2006-03-15T22:05:58Z")
Those look utterly Satanic to me. I see my impending doom in each of their faces. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/33 "2006-03-15T22:15:44Z")
The are kind of cute in a Gremlin sort of way, but I would never be able to treat one seriously as a dog. Of course I don’t really treat any full grown dog under 20 lbs as a dog. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/34 "2006-03-15T22:33:28Z")
> [@Jess](#): > > Scrotum ugly. In fact, freakish mutant-scrotum ugly. > > Which isn’t to say you couldn’t learn to love an ugly dog. My own dog is kind of ugly, but we love him to pieces. Yes, my friend is definitely the type of gal capable of loving a scrotatiously repugnant dog, but why _would_ you if you don’t _have_ to? I hope she doesn’t start carrying it in a purse. I’d cry myself to sleep wondering what brand of alien beamed her away from me. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/35 "2006-03-15T23:18:14Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Yes, my friend is definitely the type of gal capable of loving a scrotatiously repugnant dog, but why _would_ you if you don’t _have_ to? I hope she doesn’t start carrying it in a purse. I’d cry myself to sleep wondering what brand of alien beamed her away from me. In our case, our dog’s ugliness kind of crept up on us. Max is half Smooth Fox Terrier and half Rat Terrier-ish mutt. We got him as a puppy and he was, then, very cute. We met his mother (the Rat Terrierish mutt) when we got him and she was quite ugly. We commented on it at the time (“Damn! That mother dog was oog-ly!”), but assumed that our cute puppy would grow up and stay cute. He did not. He grew up up to very closely resemble his goofy looking momma. But, by then, we loved him so much we didn’t care that he’s aesthetically impaired. A person buying a Chinese Crested puppy knows very well what it’s going to look like once it’s grown. Scrotatiously repugnant. I should also say that, while I’m admitting that my dog is kind of homely, those Chinese Crested doggies make Max look like a Golden Retriever. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/36 "2006-03-15T23:47:49Z")
> [@Mr Bus Guy](#): > > Butt ugly is doing that thing a favor. Scrotum Ugly is a better description. May I have your permision to include this term in my vocabulary? ROFL! I love it. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/37 "2006-03-15T23:50:19Z")
There are two varieties of Chinese Crested. You are all assuming she will be getting the hairless version, and not the powder puff. [This](http://www.canis-minor.dk/chinese_crested.htm) link shows the hairless first and the powder puff below. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/38 "2006-03-16T00:17:28Z")
I think they’re adorable, but I guess I should qualify that by saying I’m a total slut - I never saw a dog I didn’t immediately fall madly in love with. Mr. Kat and I went to a pet expo last fall that included various AKC clubs and breed rescue organizations, and the Chinese Cresteds that were there were all very outgoing and friendly. Including one named “Bandit,” short for “The Kissing Bandit.” He just wanted to shove his tongue down everyone’s throat. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/39 "2006-03-16T00:55:03Z")
> [@Avarie537](#): > > There are two varieties of Chinese Crested. You are all assuming she will be getting the hairless version, and not the powder puff. [This](http://www.canis-minor.dk/chinese_crested.htm) link shows the hairless first and the powder puff below. It’s amazing what difference fur can make. The powder puff is actually cute, although I’m not much for small dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468/40 "2006-03-16T01:01:56Z")
Oh, my. It’s the clown sex of the dog world! Aaaaahh. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-or-ugly/348468.md?page=3)