Shar Pei

General Information - Shar Pei

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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.

Shar Pei

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions and exaggerations, as well as being mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

Breed Standard - Shar Pei

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

Characteristics: 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.

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

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/movement: Free, vigorous and balanced, rear single tracking is normal at a fast trot. Stilted gait undesirable.
Colour: All solid colours except white are acceptable. Frequently shaded on tail and back of thighs with lighter colour.

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

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

Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
Copyright Dogs New Zealand
01 Mar 2006

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.