| Description: The Chinese Shar Pei is a medium sized | | | | was as a guard dog for farm families. As such, it has |
| dog most recognizable for its wrinkles. While some of | | | | retained a fairly strong guarding instinct and will be |
| the wrinkling the puppy exhibits disappears as the dog | | | | reserved and aloof with strangers. With the family |
| ages, the head, especially, retains a considerable | | | | itself, there is no problem - the Shar Pei is a loyal and |
| amount of wrinkle in the adult dog.. At the shoulder, the | | | | devoted dog. The Shar Pei should be socialized with |
| Chinese SharPei will stand 18 to 20 inches. This dog | | | | dogs and cats while young, it was a fighting dog and |
| weighs between 40 and 55 pounds. The Chinese Shar | | | | some of this is still part of its character. The Chinese |
| Pei's coat comes in three ways, the brush-coat, the | | | | SharPei is good with children, especially older ones. |
| horse-coat, and the seldom seen bear-coat. | | | | Health Issues: Although it was undoubtedly a healthy |
| Acceptable colors for the coat are all sable colors and | | | | dog, since importation to the United States, the Shar |
| solids. The coat is rather bristly and the name | | | | Pei has developed several health problems as a result |
| translates to 'shark skin' or 'sand skin'. The Chinese | | | | of careless breeding. American breeders tended to |
| SharPei has a life expectancy of about 10 years. It is | | | | concentrate on producing more heavy wrinkling and as |
| also known as the Shar Pei. | | | | a result, many of this breed can suffer kidney failure, |
| History: The SharPei came into existence in China as a | | | | extreme skin allergies, allergy to all grains, and |
| farm dog. It was useful in catching vermin and was | | | | hypothyroidism. |
| also good for hunting. As the dog became known to | | | | Grooming: The short hair of the Chinese SharPei |
| the Chinese aristocracy, it began to be used in dog | | | | makes grooming fairly easy. A good brushing once a |
| fighting. The loose, prickly skin was an aid to dealing | | | | week and daily during the yearly shed will keep the |
| with bites from an opposing dog. The breed was | | | | coat in condition. The owner of this dog should make |
| almost eradicated after the Communist Revolution in | | | | sure to never get the dog's head wet. The ears of the |
| China, and it was only be the efforts of a Hong Kong | | | | Shar Pei have extremely tiny ear canals and if water |
| businessman that the breed was smuggled into the | | | | gets into them, a severe ear infection can result. Use a |
| United States and saved. | | | | dry shampoo on the dog's head. |
| Temperament: Part of the Shar Pei's original work | | | | |