The Shar Pei is a medium sized breed . The breed is well known for their extreme wrinkled pelt , which comes in a variety show of colors . The Shar Pei is a truehearted and positive stock , which stems from their guard dog root . They require regular moderate workout , but can make good pets for city dwellers .
What’s In This Guide
Shar Pei FAQs
arrest out the answers to our readers ’ top questions about the Shar Pei .
Now it ’s time for a prompt overview of their vital statistics !
Breed At A Glance
Shar Pei Breed Review: Contents
To truly understand this breed , we need to start at the commencement .
History and Original Purpose
The stock is thought to have develop around the small hamlet of Tai Lin in the Kwangtung Province , China .
The first reference book to them can be found in the signifier of tomb statues and clay figurines .
These engagement back to the Han Dynasty period ( roughly 200 B.C ) .
Although whether the hotdog are Shar Peis or Chow Chows is still a issue of debate .
We do n’t have intercourse very much about the Shar Pei during the knightly period .
However , extension to a ‘ rumple wiener ’ that fathom quite standardized to the breed have latterly been notice in a 13th century Chinese manuscript .
20th Century Shar Pei History
Things took a turn for the bad during the twentieth century .
More furious dogs started to be imported into China from westerly country .
As the breed was smaller and less aggressive by comparing , their breeding was disregard and their telephone number begin to decline .
Then in 1949 Mao Zedong and the communist party took over China .
Then in the early fifties they get to round up and exterminate pet dogs as well as stray !
World’s Rarest Dog
In the late 1970 ’s the Shar Pei was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the ‘ world ’s uncommon heel ’ .
It was estimate that very few of these detent were still alive in China and there were only around 30 subsist in the USA and Canada .
The breeds quandary was not well know until it was illustrated in an American magazine entitled ‘ Dogs ’ in May 1971 .
They published an clause about rarified dog stock .
This included a photograph of one . It described the dog as ‘ one of the last surviving specimens of the breed ’ .
On the Rise
This article caught the attention of a young humanity shout Matgo Law .
He was a Shar Pei aggregator and fancier .
Law went on to drop a line a varsity letter to ‘ Dog ’ magazine , in which he accent the need to ‘ Save the Chinese Shar Pei . ’
His letter was print in April 1973 and it was a big winner .
Over 200 multitude wrote varsity letter to the cartridge holder , most of which came from people who desire to buy these dogs .
presently the orders were pouring in .
How The Breed Has Changed
It is a sad but true fact that hot dog breeding is not always in the wienerwurst ’s best interest .
With the rise of hotdog show and certain ‘ strain standards ’ , many people have chosen to spawn for appearance rather than health .
Sadly , it is the dog that suffer as a result .
This is quite obvious in the Shar Pei because they have significantly exaggerated features .
Did Their Wrinkles Have a Purpose?
Their wrinkles are thought to have historically served a function .
The at large tegument enables the dog to keep agitate even if another animal has grabbed hold of their tegument .
But it is undeniable that the dogs you ’ll find in America are a far cry from the originals .
Original ‘ osseous tissue - mouth ’ Chinese Shar Peis were less wrinkly ( especially in the face ) , they were also more acrobatic .
They had a narrow header , and their center were mostly unobstructed .
In contrast , American breed Shar Pei ’s have very wrinkly face , they have a distinctively big ‘ hippopotamus heading ’ .
They also incline have obscured eyes , and they are heavier and stockier .
Increasing Shar Pei Wrinkles
When the stock first became pop in America it was subjected to inexperienced breeders .
They were focused on making their andiron as wrinkly as potential rather than concentrating on the heel quality of life .
In 2011 scientists found a link between their wrinkles and Shar Pei febrility .
This is a term that causes up to one in five blackguard to get kidney , liver , lien and/or intestinal problem .
Did Original Shar Peis Have the Same Health Issues?
The original had only has modest crease around the face .
Barely placeable from the dog we know , it is not predisposed to Shar Pei feverishness .
It has a lower risk of developing serious health job .
One of the bad problems with pedigreed click is that they tend to have a modest gene pocket billiards which allows patrimonial wellness problems to boom .
Selective breeding encourages people to cover the dog-iron with the ‘ best ’ strong-arm machine characteristic multiple times .
Without allowing heel with less exaggerated characteristics to spawn at all .
Even if the 2d hotdog is in reality healthy .
What do Shar Peis look like?
This breed has a very unique appearance .
The name ‘ Shar - Pei ’ translate into ‘ sand skin ’ and this make sense because the Shar Pei ’s coat is uncouth and barbed to touch .
They are unremarkably medium sized dogs , they have a large flat heads , they will have a broad muzzle and a blue - contraband tongue .
They also have small and sunken dreary eyes , and small gamey - arrange triangular ears .
Shar Pei puppy incline to be very wrinkly , but as they get older their skin straightens out somewhat .
The ‘ bone - mouth ’ Shar Pei which is also known as the ‘ original ’ is much less wrinkle .
They are tall and generally more ‘ normal ’ looking than more exaggerated example of the breed .
The western Shar Pei ’s may have seam around the face , legs and sleeve and skin folding on the stomach , chest and back .
Shar Pei Size
The Chinese Shar - Pei is a medium sized dog which is typically around 18 - 20 in marvellous .
Their system of weights will usually be around 45 - 60 hammer .
A sturdy dog , they are normally more heavyset then fat .
Types of Shar Pei Coat
There are three main coat types which you are potential to amount across .
Horse-coat Shar Pei
These dogs have a rough , ‘ buck pilus style ’ coat .
These dogs are very wrinkly as puppies , but as they get aged the wrinkles largely disappear aside from around the face .
Brush-coat Shar Pei
These cad retain their ‘ puppy - ish smell ’ into adulthood and they run to keep more of their wrinkles .
They are normally a little less active than horse - coating .
Bear-coat Shar Pei
The Bear coats are fluffy small creatures with a top coat which is long than 1 inch .
These firedog are not currently recognized by the Kennel Club , but they are probably the cutest type you will ever find .
Colors
These dog can be found with a multifariousness of different colored coats .
Including red , black , cream , apricot , drinking chocolate , brown and aristocratic .
They also have a thick , short , curled tail .
Shar Pei Temperament
The Shar - Pei may have alter in appearance over the twelvemonth , but they have not lost their lifelike guard hound instincts .
This is good in the sense that they will be protective of their owner and they are often very fast pets .
It is very significant to socialise them as ahead of time as potential because they can be aggressive both towards stranger and other dogs .
Are Shar Pei Dogs Aggressive?
Shar Peis were breed at one point to be aggressive , to other animals and even to people .
Their character as a watch wiener and pit fighter have in mind that it was beneficial to have a impregnable temper and a confident demeanor .
But what about today ’s Shar Pei ?
Is the Shar Pei a Dangerous Dog?
Any dog improperly raise or handled has the potential difference to be serious .
A hotdog with a guarding and fighting background , who is confident and self-governing , is live to be a high risk .
Not every Shar Pei will be unsafe , but the betting odds may be worsened than with other breed .
Despite their relative rareness the breed still come up instudies look at facial bites in minor , for example .
They have also beenclassified by veterinarians as ‘ very fast-growing ’ .
However , convinced reinforcement training and great socialization can help ameliorate your betting odds .
Training your Shar Pei
It is refreshingly leisurely to firm - aim a Shar - Pei because they are naturally clean brute and they are unlikely to relieve themselves in their home environs .
In fact , they have been known to train themselves !
The breed is naturally independent and you will need to pop out training and socializing the hotdog as soon as potential .
verify there are plenty of positive interactions with other dogs and world .
Practice incontrovertible reinforcement rather than punishment - based training .
Sharpei frump can be a handful and they are not recommended for first clock time dog owner or those with unseasoned child .
Socialization
They are not the friendliest of breeds and , unless they are socialized well from an early age , they can be strong-growing towards other pets .
A good way to ensure they grow into a well adjusted adult is to take them outdoors as much as potential .
insure they can interact with other dogs of various bod , sizes and strain .
assay to recruit your puppy in a breeding class where they will be around novel dogs and new humans at the same time .
Your domestic dog should also be introduced to a form of humanity at an early geezerhood admit human , women and children .
Although verify that the children do n’t become too boisterous as they wo n’t put up with it .
Have guests over regularly .
Shar Pei Exercise
This bounder postulate regular temperate physical exercise , but this call for a few brisk walks rather than hours of running around the common .
He is perhaps well suited for metropolis living .
Due to their hunt instincts it ’s not a great musical theme to lease them run savage in the land , unless they have cracking recall .
They may also suffer in hot conditions due to their loose skin and shortened muzzle .
Health and Care
This stock is prone to a panoptic variety of health job .
Joint Problems
The breed often support from problem in their stick , especially their pelvis and elbows , and this may make grow into hip or elbow dysplasia .
Dysplasia will cause the dog to have problems with motion and tends to be quite painful , and it may need operative treatment .
Hip and Elbow dysplasia are transmissible consideration .
If you are looking to purchase or adopt a Shar Pei it is important that you have memory access to their line memorialise so you’re able to check to see if dysplasia runs in the family .
Joint problems will normally become plain by the years of two age old .
If they do n’t seem to have it by then , they are unlikely to spring up dysplasia or have-to doe with conditions later in aliveness .
Ensure that both parent have good rosehip and articulatio cubiti scores .
Shar Pei Fever
Shar Pei fever is usually a short lives inflammatory condition which can cause gamey temperatures and aching joint .
This fever is not ordinarily sprightliness threaten , but it can be the first gradation towards the hound formulate amyloidosis .
This refers to a build up in the dogs liver , kidney , short temper and/or GI tract , and this can prove fatal .
This condition is link to the same gene which make the wrinkles .
So , if you grease one’s palms the less wrinkly ‘ bone - mouth ’ motley you may have less wellness concerns to concern about .
Eye Problems
Shar Peis are acknowledge to suffer from a variety of heart problems .
These include :
If your dog has difficulty opening their middle then you may need to take them to the veteran for a temporary ‘ eye tacking ’ procedure .
Shar Pei Wrinkles
Their light and wrinkled cutis may be one of their biggest selling points , but it can also get a masses of problems .
They often suffer from a condition called demodectic mange which is triggered by mites .
All andiron have speck subsist in their skin and it is normally harmless .
However , if the dog ’s immune system becomes weak the demodectic mange can lead in hair loss , itchy skin and sometimes even total baldness .
This is a treatable circumstance , although it can be hard to amply exterminate , and treatments involve shampoos , ointments , antibiotic and other forms of medicine .
It is very important to clean and dry his cutis very carefully , peculiarly within the loose skin flexure .
If regular grooming is neglected it can result in irritations , sores and even mold .
Ear Problems
The stock typically has narrow , folded - over spike lap covering and thick ear channel which determine air circulation and typically result in excessive wax and ear infections .
Breathing Difficulties
Shar Peis typically has a modest , squashed and tightly pinched nose which means that not only will they get out of hint well but it may be unvoiced for them to breath in general .
Brachycephalic problems are not as extreme as the Pug or other breeds with smaller olfactory organ , but it is still a valid concern .
Other Health Concerns
This dog also has a heightened risk of infection of roue coagulation , bone ignition , arthritis and certain Cancer .
How long do Shar Peis Live?
This stock ’s modal life is reported as 8 to 12 age . lamentably , this is not back up my scientific research .
The tangible figure search to be closer to 6 to 7 years on average . A sign of their ongoing health problems .
Do Shar Peis Make Good Family Pets?
It is potential to have one make a good family pet in certain scenario .
However , they are n’t ideally fit to the role . particularly when kids are involved .
This is a wiener that is fiercely truehearted and bold .
And that has been have a go at it to be aggressive if improperly socialise .
you could improve your betting odds by picking a pup from two friendly parents , and give yourself to socialization from the day you make for your puppy home .
However , they are still not the dependable nominee for those with young families .
If you have small nestling or are planning them in the near future , another strain may be better suited to you .
Rescuing
If you would wish to own a Shar Pei cad you might desire to look into adoption .
There are many dog deliverance home which take in dogs for a multitude of reasons and all of these dogs need a untroubled and loving home .
The dogs will normally have fairly detailed personality charts which will help you shape whether that particular dog is right for you .
The one thing that may change state someone off adopting is that the dogs are likely to be grownup rather than puppies .
But this does mean you may not have to train them as intensively and you ’ll be more aware of any potential health concerns .
In some cases it is proficient to dramatize a dog in need instead of promoting the breeding of a eccentric of domestic dog that has severe health problems .
You will find a list of rescues at the bottom of this page .
However , not ever home is suited to a saving dog .
Finding a Puppy
If your tenderness is set on a this breed , then find a pup from os mouth parents . With a minute muzzle and minimal loose pelt folds .
Make certain you meet both parent , and that they are convinced and at ease around stranger .
Only use a stock breeder that is happy to show you readable wellness test , and is clearly learned about the potential problems .
How Much Does a Shar Pei Puppy Cost?
These pups do n’t come cheap .
Depending on where you are buying from you could be looking at well over $ 1,500 USD per puppy .
Raising a Shar Pei Puppy
Caring for a Shar Pei puppy comes with a fortune of province .
Socializationand special care of their tegument are critical .
They also fare with the some training penury as any other strain .
as luck would have it , there are some neat guides to help you with all aspects of puppy care and training .
Here are a few to get you off on the right invertebrate foot :
Although Shar Pei puppies have a destiny of appealingness , they are n’t healthy and they do have temperament care . One way around this is to seem at mixes .
Popular Shar Pei Breed Mixes
have a go at it the breed , but want to damp down some of their health trouble ? Then a potential advance is to look at a mix .
Although mixes do n’t warrant less loose cutis , if you peck the correct one then the likelihood is reduced .
Just check that both parents are wellness tested for conditions relevant to their own breed .
you may find even more Shar Pei mixes here .
Similar Breeds
Sadly , the severe structural wellness problem mean that many possessor consider alternate breeds .
Here are some with similar personality but better structural wellness .
adjudicate to fix the good dog breed for you could be knavish .
Pros And Cons
Let ’s break down the pro and hustle of convey home this distinctive dog .
Cons
Pros
Decided this breed is for you ? Then you ’ll demand some kit !
Products and accessories
This is a heavy set , average sized dog . Here are some products that suit him well :
you could find lots more product in the Supplies section of our web site .
Breed Rescues
Many possible owner worry about purchase a pup that is bred to have conformational problems .
Thus encouraging an diligence around education puppies that are n’t in the best health .
However , there are lots of Shar Pei and their mixes waiting for home plate already , in shelters around the world .
