Shar Pei
Non Sporting

Group:

Non sporting

Size:

medium

Lifespan:

8-10 years

Exercise:

medium

Grooming:

low

Trainability:

very low

Watchdog ability:

very high

Protection ability:

high

Area of Origin:

China

Date of Origin:

1200's

Other Names:

Chinese, Shar Pei, Chinese fighting dog

Original Function:

dog fighting, herding, hunting, guardian

History

Despite the fact that it may well be one of the oldest breeds in the world, until recent years the Shar Pei (which means sand-paper coat in Chinese) was also considered one of the rarest. The breed has existed in China for over 2000 years and fanciers believe the breed was originally used as a fighting dog. This rare breed almost became extinct during China's politically charged years in the 1970's. Fanciers in Hong Kong and Taiwan appealed to American dog-enthusiasts for help in saving and perpetuating the breed. Several of the dogs were exported to the States, where breeders began programs to help bring back the breed. Now the Shar Pei is extremely popular and is no longer in danger of disappearing. This unusual dog has a blue-black tongue, similar to the Chow Chow; it also has extra saggy wrinkles as a pup which he tries to fill out as he grows up. The loose skin is said to have made him less vulnerable in a dog fight. The name Shar Pei means sandy coat, referring to the gritty sandpaper texture of the coat. When rubbed backward, the prickly coat can be uncomfortable, and even cause welts on the skin of an occasional sensitive person.

Temperament

The Shar Pei is at first wary of strangers and is intensely loyal, devoted to and protective of his family. He is also smart and charming, which wins him admirers everywhere.

Upkeep

The Shar Pei needs daily mental and physical stimulation, but its needs can be met with lively games throughout the day or a good long walk. It is not generally amenable to exclusive outdoor living, but it can divide its time between house and yard. The coat needs only weekly brushing, but wrinkles need regular attention to ensure that no irritations develop within the skin folds.

Official Breed Standard

CHARACTERISTICS:
Alert, active, compact, short coupled, squarely built. Dogs larger and more powerful than bitches.

GENERAL APPEARANCE:
Loose skin, frowning expression, harsh bristly coat.

Temperament:
Calm, independent, very affectionate, and devoted to people.

Head and Skull:
Rather large in proportion to body, skull flat, broad, moderate stop. Length from nose to stop approximately equal to length from stop to occiput. Fine wrinkles on forehead and cheeks continuing to form dewlaps. Muzzle distinctive feature of breed. Broad and full with no suggestion of tapering. The lips and top of muzzle padded, causing a slight bulge at the base of nose. When viewed from front, bottom jaw appears wider than top due to padding of lips. Nose large, wide, preferably black but any colour conforming to general coat colour permissible.

Eyes:
Dark, medium size, almond shaped with frowning expression. Amber and lighter colour permissible in paler shades. Function of eyeball or lid in no way disturbed by surrounding skin, folds or hair. Any sign of irritation of eyeball, conjunctiva or eyelids highly undesirable. Free from entropion.

Ears:
Very small, rather thick, equilaterally triangular in shape, slightly rounded at tip and set high on the skull, with tips pointing towards eyes, set well forward over eyes, wide apart and close to skull. Pricked ears highly undesirable.

Mouth:
Tongue, roof of mouth, gums and flews: solid bluish-black is preferred. Solid pink tongue undesirable. Dogs with self-coloured pigment and amber to light brown eyes would be expected to have a lavender tongue. Teeth strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Padding of lower lip should not be so excessive so as to interfere with the bite.

Neck:
Medium in length, strong, full; set well on shoulders, with loose skin under neck.

Forequarters:
Shoulders muscular, well laid and sloping. Elbows close to the body. Forelegs straight, moderate length, good bone; pasterns slightly sloping, strong and flexible.

Body:
Height at withers approximately equal to the length from point of shoulders to point of buttock. Depth of brisket approximately half of height at withers. Chest broad and deep, underline rising slightly under loin. Back short, strong. Topline dips slightly behind withers then rises over short, broad loin. Adult dogs should display moderate wrinkling over shoulders and base of tail. Excessive skin on body when mature highly undesirable.

Hindquarters:
Muscular, strong; moderately angulated; hocks well let down without excessive wrinkling or thickening.

Feet:
Moderate size, compact, toes well knuckled. Fore and hind dewclaws may be removed.

Tail:
Rounded, narrowing to fine point, base set very high. May be carried high and curved; carried in tight curl; or curved over. Lack of, or incomplete, tail highly undesirable.

Gait:
Free, vigorous and balanced, rear single tracking is normal at a fast trot. Stilted gait undesirable.

Coat:
Distinctive feature of breed. Extremely short and bristly; harsh to touch. Straight and off-standing on body, generally flatter on limbs. No undercoat. Over 2.5 cms (1 ins) long undesirable. Never trimmed.

Colour:
All Solid colours except white are acceptable. Frequently shaded on tail and back of thighs with lighter colour.

Size:
46 - 51 cms ( 18 - 20 ins) at withers.

Faults:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness of the fault should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.