Shar-Pei

Temperament:

Independent, Loyal, Strong-willed
Size: Medium
Height: 44-51 cm
Weight: 20-27 kg
Lifespan: 8-12 years
Coat: Shorthair
Colors: All colors except white
FCI Group: Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs

The Shar-Pei originally comes from China. This rare dog breed with the skin folds and the shell-shaped ears is now also known in the Western world. The dog breed recognized by the FCI is classified in group 2. The calm and strong-willed Shar-Pei loves to live in its own family.

Shar-Pei
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Characteristics

The Shar-Pei with a height at the withers of 44 to 51 cm belongs to the dog breeds of medium size. The body weight varies between 20 and 27 kg. The females can reach a height at the withers up to 48 cm.

The Chinese wrinkle dog has in adulthood. numerous folds in the head and back area. The overbred form with extreme skin wrinkling is not desired as a breed standard. Only the puppies must first "grow into" their skin. That means the young dogs consist mainly of skin folds.

Typical for this breed are the small eyes and shell-shaped ears. Striking is the black blue tongue, similar to the Chow-Chow.

The short and rough coat has no undercoat. Its coat color is always uniform. The Shar-Pei comes in different colors, for example in black, cream, sand, lilac or red. In addition, there are still different shades of the color brown. The color white is not allowed by the FCI.

The curled tail fits the overall appearance of the compact Shar-Pei. The Chinese wrinkle dog has a life expectancy of 8 to 12 years.

The breed of Shar-Pei is considered to belong to the category of Molossians. This "kinship" is also reflected in his calm and composed behavior.

The ancestors of today's Shar-Pei were used as guard dogs and hunting dogs. The genes of these characteristics are still present today. The "modern" Shar-Pei is no longer used in these areas.

This breed is a adaptable companion and family dog, which is characterized by Intelligence and Will to learn distinguishes. He has a strong will of his own, which sometimes goes as far as obstinacy.

Education must be carried out with consistency and empathy. Despite his strong will, he is very sensitive and does not tolerate pressure.

His behavior towards strangers is reserved and alert. But he does not have excessive barking behavior. With conspecifics he shows a dominant behavior.

He loves his own family more than anything. Unfortunately, he tends to favor one particular caregiver. He does not like to be alone and suffers from separation pain. Being alone must be trained at a young age.

The individual character of the Shar-Pei can already be seen in puppyhood. The "sportier" type likes to go jogging, walking, cycling or long hikes. The rather "more comfortable" type is happy with daily walks and small activities. Thereby sniffing around is already enough for him as an occupation.

What all Shar-Peis have in common is the Shy of the water. Only occasionally these dogs go swimming and splashing voluntarily.

The Sar-Pei tends to respiratory sinus arrhythmiathat is, his heart rate fluctuates when he breathes. When breathing in, his heart rate increases and when breathing out, it decreases again. There are also Racial Dispositions for a range of Skin diseases such as mucinosis, ear infections, atopic dermatitis, eye diseases, Shar-Pei fever, kidney and gastrointestinal diseases.

 

Coat care:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Shedding:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Energy level:

Little
Medium
High

Trainability:

Little
Medium
Good

Children suitable:

Less
With supervision
Perfect

The right food

The diet of the Shar-Pei depends on age, weight and activity. Feeding this breed of dog is not more complicated than other breeds. You need to pay attention to balanced and quality food.

The diet in puppy and young dog age should be specially adapted to the growth phase. Optimal nutrition is positive for muscle and cartilage formation and the stability of the bone structure.

For adult dogs, the diet is adjusted to size, weight and character traits. You must feed a "sporty" Shar-Pei differently than a "comfortable" representative of this breed.

The most important components of a diet are proteins. However, this energy supplier must not be given in abundance. A Shar-Pei cannot excrete excess protein. This can lead to joint and kidney disease.

The nutritional needs are different for each dog. Each high quality food has its own nutrient composition. What is good for one Shar-Pei may be bad for another. Breeders, veterinarians or expert nutritionists can advise you on the correct nutrient composition.

Many Shar-Peis tend to be overweight. Therefore, you need to pay special attention to the portions. Divide the daily ration into two meals. This way the feeling of hunger is not so great and the food is gobbled up less. When calculating the daily ration, take into account the treats given during the day. These calories must be subtracted from the daily ration.

Provide your dog with plenty of fresh water. Water supports digestion. The liquid stimulates the work of the kidneys and the toxins are eliminated.

The Shar-Pei is not more sensitive than other dog breeds. But it can still Feed allergies occur. A sensitive stomach can be caused by regular medication. The veterinarian can help and advise on such problems. The right feed helps with hypersensitivity.

Health & Care

The Shar-Pei belongs to the easy-care dog breeds. You don't have to brush the short coat often. As a rule, the change of coat also runs smoothly, because this dog breed has no undercoat. During this time you can support the renewal of the coat with brushing once a week.

Dust or dirt is easily removed with a strong cloth or brush. Regular bathing of the dog is not necessary. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, the Shar-Pei hates water and secondly, the coat cleans itself. The exception is, of course, if your dog rolls in a stinky pond or puddle. But this is unlikely, because the Shar-Pei does not like water on its body.

The skin folds of adult dogs are also not a problem. Provided that it is not an overbred edition of this breed. If the wrinkles are normal, regular control is sufficient.

More intensive inspection of the skin folds is required in puppies and young dogs. This care is necessary until adulthood. The coat of the young dog has many skin folds. These folds must be controlled and cleaned. This care prevents inflammation.

Shar-Peis with extreme wrinkling have an increased need for care. The care of the skin folds is necessary until old age.

The FCI breeding standard avoids this extreme wrinkling.

A Claw care is not necessary in principle. During regular walks on hard paths, the claws wear themselves out. However, if the dog's habitat has areas with a lot of sandy or grassy soil, you must expect regular trimming of the claws.

The ears should be checked weekly and cleaned with a special cleaner. It is best if the dog is accustomed to it from puppyhood.

Suitable accessories

A collar and/or a Dog harness as well as a leash belongs to the normal accessories for this dog breed. When buying, you should make sure that neither the collar nor the harness chafe. It is best to take your dog to the store and try the product on the spot.

Due to its short coat without undercoat, it is sensitive to various weather conditions. Rain, snow, wind and cold can be handled with a Dog coat better tolerated.

A Shar-Pei is very eager to learn. For motivation and reward, a "treat" is ideal. Please pay attention to low-calorie variations and subtract the treats from his daily ration, as this breed tends to be overweight.

Depending on the temperament and age of the Shar-Pei are Dog games well suited. In bad weather you can keep your Shar-Pei busy with exciting indoor games.

Shar-Pei history

Origin & History

The Shar-Pei is an old Chinese dog breed. This representative of the ancient breeds lived in the south of China. The occurrence of the Shar-Peis can be proven by historical findings already during the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD).

The "ancient breed" is genetically distinct from other dog breeds. In 2010, evidence was found through analysis that the Shar-Pei has mixed with Chinese wolves.

The habitat of this dog breed was in rural areas in the south of China. Its main tasks were to protect the house and yard and to drive away wild animals. His hunting instinct was used for hunting small game and rats. Other sources prove that until the 19th century the Shar-Pei was also used as a Fighting dog was used.

A photo of a Shar-Pei first appeared in an American magazine in May 1971. At that time it was claimed that this was the last dog of its kind. Research showed that there were only 140 specimens left in the world. Hong Kong breeder Matgo Law campaigned to save the dying breed of dog.

In 1997, the export of Chinese dogs was prohibited. Already in 1991, 70,000 Shar-Pei were registered in the USA. In 1992, the Shar-Pei was recognized as a dog breed. The recognition was made by the AKC (American Kennel Club). The breeding characteristics were established at the end of the 80s.

The population of the Shar-Pei is slowly recovering. However, it is still considered a rare dog breed. In the meantime, there are breeders of the "Chinese wrinkle dog" also in Europe.