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The Shar Pei is a member of the utility group. They were originally used for pit fighting by the Chinese farming community as entertainment at night and for hunting, herding and protecting during the day. And also as a delicacy! Today they are used as family pets for companions and also popular in the showring.
A Quality food should be used, although the protein levels should not be high. From 6 months of age, they should be fed adult food.
They have a lifespan of 9-15 yrs , however are expected to live for approx 8-10 yrs.
Shar Pei are easily recognisable by the loose folds of skin on their bodies and their frowning expressions. They are squarely built and short-coupled and look powerful with good bone. They are balanced dogs who should move freely and vigorously. Their coat is also a distinctive feature of the breed.there is no undercoat and is short, bristly and harsh to the touch. Whilst it is straight and stand-offish on the body, it is flatter on the limbs.
It is important that prospective owners choose their pup-pei carefully from reputable breeders. Conformational defects as in upstanding ears and excessive skin and wrinkles can occur. Bowed legs, joint luxations, are also known. Excessive skin around the eyes can cause entropion. Kidney disease, amyloidosis and hypothyroidism have also been reported. Whilst skin diseases were a problem in the past these have been near eliminated due to careful breeding.
The Shar Pei is centuries old and is a cross of the mastiff and Nordic breeds. The blue tongue is a characteristic it shares with the Chow Chow and this breed too is also responsible for its make-up. The Shar Pei was originally considered a delicacy in China and the outlawing of them in 1949 by the then communist leader Mao Tse Tung as pets on the mainland forced the breed into near extinction. Thankfully a concerned breeder was able to inspire interest in the Western world and the breed was saved. When Shar Pei first in America in the early 1970's they were classified as the rarest breed in the world. In 1981 the breed came to the UK and was acknowledged and accepted by the Kennel Club in 1999.
Pup-pei's are renowned for being quick to house tran.Whilst highly intelligent, this breed does need consistent training and a confident handler. It will reverse roles if you are too soft, too uncertain or too inconsistent.
The head should be rather large in comparison to the body. The skull should be flat and broad with a moderate stop. There should be fine wrinkles on the forehead and cheeks and these wrinkles should continue down to form dewlaps. The lips and top of the muzzle should be well-padded causing a slight bulge at the base of the nose. The nose is large and wide and preferably black but any colour conforming to coat colour is permissible. The almond-shaped eyes should be medium-sized and dark with a frowning expression. A lighter colour is acceptable in cream and light fawn dogs. The ears should be very small and rather thick, equilaterally triangular in shape, with tips pointing towards the eyes. The teeth should be strong with a complete scissor bite. The padding of the lower lip should not be so excessive to interfere with the bite. A bluish-black tongue is preferred. The neck should be short and strong with loose skin underneath. The forelegs should be straight and of a moderate length with good bone and the hindquarters muscular and strong. The shoulders should be muscular, well-laid back and sloping. The chest should be broad and deep with a short, strong back and the topline should dip slightly behind the withers and then rise over short, broad loins. Excessive skin on the body is highly undesirable when the dog is mature. The feet should be of a moderate size and compact with well-knuckled toes. The tail should be rounded and narrowing to a fine point, the base being set very high. The tail can be carried high and curved, in a tight curl or curved over.
Whilst an active breed Shar Pei will take as much or as little exercise as offered as long as they have access to free play. Care must be taken when they are off the lead and a well enclosed area/garden is recommended.
Well-socialised Shar Pei make superb family dogs who are devoted to their owners and children.It has a low level of aggression and does not have a tendency to bark. It is happy with its own company and as such can be left alone for periods of time.They are loyal, playful and active but can also be stubborn and territorial if not trained properly when young. They are naturally suspicious of strangers. They will be fine with cats if they have been introduced to them when pup-pei's but there can be problems mixing with other dogs if not socialized at a young age. They love being indoors and due to having no under coat hate the cold.Due to their herding/farming background they carry a high risk of sheep worrying and as such care should be taked whilst exercising where they may come across livestock.
Grooming is required with the Shar Pei especially when still a puppy. Some lines have very close set tails and these must be inspected and cleaned to prevent infection. Shampoos must be chosen with care and, as the nails grow very quickly, must be trimmed regularly. The eyes as well should be inspected daily for any sign of entropian. The coat itself just needs a going over with a soft brush.
Shar Pei are acceptable in any solid colours, most common being chocolate, black, red, light or dark shades or fawn and cream. Shading along the back, tail and back of the thighs is acceptable.
Height: Fully mature dogs should be between 18"-20" measured from the withers.
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