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Chinese Shar-Pei breed guide
AKC calls the Chinese Shar-Pei a fascinating but challenging breed of ancient pedigree, steadfastly loyal to family but standoffish with strangers.
Its odd traits include a hippopotamus muzzle, a blue-black tongue, small sunken eyes with a scowl, tiny triangular ears and folds of loose skin, all under a harsh sandpapery coat and Shar-Pei literally means sand skin.
- Height
- 18 to 20 inches
- Weight
- 45 to 60 pounds
- AKC group
- Non-Sporting Group
Chinese Shar-Pei temperament
Strong, regal and independent guardians famous for intelligence and loyalty, Shar-Pei are suspicious of strangers. AKC quotes a breed expert: get a jump-start on basic obedience and do not let the dog be the boss.
Smart and willing, they are sometimes stubborn and a bit too smart, thinking of new ways to do things you may not like, but love and consistency work.
Chinese Shar-Pei lifespan
Shar-Pei live 8 to 12 years. AKC lists unusual and specific health concerns, led by the eyes: entropion, glaucoma, retinal dysplasia and SARDS.
Respiratory, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, immune-mediated, skin and gastrointestinal disorders and certain cancers also occur and the Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America's website has details.
Chinese Shar-Pei care
The Shar-Pei needs only minimal grooming: a bath every month or so, nails trimmed weekly and ideally ground and ears cleaned weekly with no cotton swabs and not too many products. Young dogs should get used to ear cleaning early.
Exercise needs vary from dog to dog and the breed is very adaptable: it does well with a very active owner walking every day or in an apartment with a few short walks.
Chinese Shar-Pei history
For much of its history China was a closed society and that singularity shows in its dog breeds, from the clownish Pug to the dignified Chow Chow. AKC says perhaps none is as uniquely Chinese as the Shar-Pei.
Native to the southern provinces, the breed goes back more than 2,000 years to the Han Dynasty and is believed to have been a peasant's dog.
AKC trait ratings
| Trait | AKC rating | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Level | 3 of 5 | Couch Potato to High Energy |
| Trainability Level | 3 of 5 | Self-Willed to Eager to Please |
| Shedding Level | 3 of 5 | No Shedding to Hair Everywhere |
| Barking Level | 3 of 5 | Only To Alert to Very Vocal |
| Adaptability Level | 4 of 5 | Lives For Routine to Highly Adaptable |
| Good With Young Children | 3 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Children |
| Good With Other Dogs | 3 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Other Dogs |
| Watchdog/Protective Nature | 4 of 5 | What's Mine Is Yours to Vigilant |
More Non-Sporting Group guides
Sources
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Chinese Shar-Pei by Caronna, CC BY-SA 4.0
