Buddyz is pet business management software that helps grooming salons, dog daycares, boarding businesses, and multi-location pet service operators manage scheduling, check-in, pet profiles, customer communication, payments, and daily operations in one platform.

Who is Buddyz built for?

Buddyz is built for pet business owners and teams running grooming salons, dog daycares, boarding facilities, and multi-location pet service businesses. It adapts to grooming-only shops, daycare-only operations, combined services, and multi-location businesses.

Is Buddyz free to start?

Yes. Buddyz starts with a free Core Platform that includes smart scheduling, pet intelligence, and smart check-in. Add-on capabilities for grooming, daycare, boarding, operations, customer communication, payments, and reporting are available as modular add-ons.

Does Buddyz replace scheduling software like Vagaro or MindBody for pet businesses?

Buddyz goes beyond scheduling. While it includes smart scheduling and booking, it also provides live operations workflow, pet intelligence (profiles, grooming notes, vaccine tracking), customer communication, deposit and payment processing, and business reporting — all in one platform built specifically for pet service businesses.

Can Buddyz track pet vaccine records?

Yes. Buddyz tracks vaccine records, expiration dates, and compliance requirements as part of each pet's profile. This is particularly useful for daycare and boarding businesses that require up-to-date vaccination documentation before accepting pets.

How does Buddyz reduce no-shows for pet appointments?

Buddyz reduces no-shows by enabling businesses to collect deposits at booking, save cards on file, and send automated appointment reminders to customers. This combination of financial commitment and timely communication significantly reduces last-minute cancellations and no-shows.

Does Buddyz work for multi-location pet businesses?

Yes. Buddyz supports multi-location operations with shared customer and pet profiles across locations, location-level access controls, role management, team visibility, and consolidated business reporting.

What makes Buddyz different from traditional pet salon software?

Traditional pet salon software focuses on calendar booking. Buddyz is a full operating system that adds live workflow visibility, operations intelligence, pet profile management, grooming history tracking, automated customer communication, and payment processing alongside scheduling — giving pet businesses a complete platform instead of disconnected tools.

What's the difference between the Hairless and Powderpuff Chinese Crested?

The two varieties are the same breed and can even appear in one litter. The Hairless has soft, mostly bare skin with tufts of hair on the head (the crest), tail, and feet, and needs skin care and sun protection. The Powderpuff is fully coated in a soft, straight double coat that mats easily and needs frequent brushing. Both share the same affectionate, sensitive temperament, so the choice comes down to whether you'd rather do skin care or coat care.

Do Hairless Chinese Cresteds need special skin care?

The Hairless variety's bare skin needs looking after much like human skin. Apply a dog-safe sunscreen before sun exposure to prevent burning, keep the skin clean, and moisturise if it becomes dry. They also feel the cold intensely and need a warm coat or jumper outdoors in chilly weather. Some develop blackheads or spots, so watch the skin and speak to your vet if you notice persistent problems.

Are Chinese Cresteds hypoallergenic?

Both varieties shed very little — the Hairless has almost no coat, and the Powderpuff's soft coat sheds lightly — so they're often suggested for people with allergies. However, no dog is genuinely hypoallergenic, since allergens also come from saliva and skin, and Hairless dogs still produce skin dander. If allergies are a concern, spend time with the breed before committing to see how you react.

Can Chinese Cresteds be left alone?

Chinese Cresteds are devoted, people-focused dogs that form intense bonds and dislike being left alone for long. Left on their own too much, they can become anxious or distressed. If you work full-time, build up alone time gradually from puppyhood and consider a dog-walker, daycare, or a companion. They are indoor dogs that want to be near their people, so this breed suits a household where someone is usually around.

China • Toy

Chinese Crested

An affectionate, elegant oddity that comes in two coats — bare-skinned Hairless or fluffy Powderpuff.

Weight8–12 lbs

Height11–13 in

SizeToy

Overview

Small, elegant toy dog with fine-boned build that comes in two distinctive varieties: the Hairless with soft skin and tufts of hair, and the Powderpuff with a soft, straight double coat

Best for

•People who want a devoted, sensitive, low-shedding companion and don't mind a bit of extra skin or coat care. The Chinese Crested suits attentive owners, apartment dwellers, and families with gentle older children who can appreciate a quirky, cuddly, people-focused dog.

May not suit

•Owners who are out all day, want a rugged outdoor dog, or expect a no-fuss breed. The Hairless variety needs sunscreen, warmth, and skin care, both varieties bond intensely and dislike being alone, and this sensitive breed can be timid without careful socialisation.

History & Origins

Ancient breed believed to have descended from African or Mexican hairless dogs and refined in China. Chinese mariners kept them on ships to hunt vermin and traded them among port cities worldwide. Served as companions to Chinese nobility and were believed to possess magical healing powers

Characteristics & Traits

Apartment Living5 / 5

Families with Children3 / 5

First-Time Owners3 / 5

Other Dogs4 / 5

Alone Time Tolerance2 / 5

Shedding Level2 / 5

Grooming Needs4 / 5

Trainability4 / 5

Barking3 / 5

Prey Drive2 / 5

Energy Level3 / 5

Lifestyle

Apartment Living

5/5

Families with Children

3/5

First-Time Owners

3/5

Other Dogs

4/5

Alone Time Tolerance

2/5

Shedding Level

2/5

Grooming Needs

4/5

Behavior

Trainability

4/5

Barking

3/5

Prey Drive

2/5

Exercise

Energy Level

3/5

Exercise & Training

Aim for around 30–45 minutes of total activity per day. Light to moderate activity suits this little dog. It enjoys walks and play but is firmly an indoor companion — protect the Hairless variety from sun and cold when out.

Daily Walks by Living Situation

Apartment or Home Without a Backyard

2 walks / day

~20 min each

Two short walks plus indoor play and some training keep an apartment Chinese Crested happy. Dress the Hairless for the weather before heading out.

Home With a Backyard

2 walks / day

~20 min each

A secure garden is fine for supervised pottering, but this indoor breed shouldn't be left outside — the Hairless burns in sun and chills in cold.

Daycare or Park Time?

Sociable, well-socialised Cresteds can enjoy small-group daycare, which helps with their dislike of being alone. Choose a calm setting with gentle, size-matched playmates.

The Hairless variety has exposed skin that sunburns easily and can be damaged by strong sun. Apply a dog-safe sunscreen before time outdoors in bright weather and provide shade.

With little or no coat, the Hairless variety feels the cold badly and needs a warm coat or jumper in cool weather, plus a cosy indoor spot. It is very much an indoor dog.

This is a small, agile, fine-boned dog. Keep it on a lead near roads, supervise around larger dogs, and only allow off-lead play in secure, fenced areas.

Training

Bright, willing, and eager to please, the Chinese Crested learns readily with gentle, positive methods — just keep it kind, as this sensitive dog wilts under pressure.

Use gentle, reward-based methods — this sensitive breed loses confidence quickly if handled harshly.
Socialise early and positively, as Chinese Cresteds can be shy or timid with strangers if under-exposed.
Keep sessions short, upbeat, and fun; they're bright and enjoy learning tricks for praise and treats.
Be patient with house-training and stick to a steady routine, as small breeds can take longer.
Build up alone time gradually from puppyhood to head off separation anxiety in this clingy breed.

Reward generously and keep sessions short and fun; it enjoys learning tricks for praise.

For Pet Parents

The Chinese Crested comes in two very different coats. The Hairless has soft, exposed skin with tufts of hair on the head, tail, and feet, needing skin care and sun protection. The Powderpuff has a soft, straight double coat that mats easily and needs frequent brushing.

Difficulty: High

Grooming Commitment

Grooming a Chinese Crested depends entirely on its variety. The Hairless needs regular skin care — gentle washing, moisturising, and sun protection — much like caring for human skin. The Powderpuff needs frequent brushing of its soft double coat to prevent mats. Both need careful dental care, as tooth problems are very common in the breed.

At-Home Basics

Difficulty: High

Caring for Your Chinese Crested at Home

Care for the Hairless skin

Treat the exposed skin much like your own: keep it clean, moisturise if it gets dry, apply dog-safe sunscreen before sun exposure, and watch for spots, blackheads, or irritation.

Brush the Powderpuff coat often

The Powderpuff's soft double coat mats easily, so brush most days with a pin brush and comb, working right down to the skin behind the ears and on the legs.

Prioritise dental care

This breed, particularly the Hairless, is very prone to dental disease and missing teeth. Brush several times a week with dog toothpaste and keep up regular vet dental checks.

Dress for the weather

The Hairless feels heat and cold intensely. Use sunscreen and shade in bright weather, and a warm coat or jumper when it's chilly, and keep a cosy indoor spot ready.

Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting sunscreen and letting the Hairless variety's exposed skin burn.
Leaving the Hairless out in the cold without a coat — this breed feels the chill badly.
Neglecting the Powderpuff's coat until mats form close to the skin.
Overlooking dental care, then facing the serious tooth problems this breed is prone to.

When to Call in a Professional

Book a professional groomer every four to six weeks to help keep a Powderpuff's coat manageable or to tidy a Hairless dog's tufts of hair. See your vet for skin problems you can't manage at home, and for professional dental cleaning, as this breed is especially prone to tooth disease.

Coat & Colors

Type: Hairless or soft double coat (powderpuff)
Family: Hairless / soft coat
Undercoat: Yes
Shedding: Low
Seasonal Change: Minimal
Matting Risk: Moderate

Common Problem Areas

Behind the ears (Powderpuff)Legs (Powderpuff)Exposed skin (Hairless)Crest and tail plume

Frequently Asked Questions

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