THE CHINESE SHAR-PEI
The Chinese Shar-Pei is a medium size dog with an alert and dignified stature. They are considered to be compact and square in profile. Their head is slightly larger than proportional for the body, but not excessively. They have a hippopotamus like muzzle and a very high set tail. The tail is so high set that it is said to display an up tilted anus. These features give the dog its unique appearance. The tail is one of the most characteristic features of the Shar-Pei. It should be thick and round at the base and then taper to a fine point. It should curl over to either side of the back. They are covered in loose skin which gives the appearance of wrinkles all over the body. However, the wrinkly appearance can lessen as the dog ages and then the loose skin may only appear on the head, neck, and withers.
This breed is of medium length with muscular and well set sloping shoulders. They display a broad and deep chest with the brisket extending to the elbow and then rising slightly under the loin. The hindquarters are very muscular and the hocks should be short and perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. It is important that the hind dewclaws are removed.
The gait of the Chinese Shar-Pei is characteristic of a trot. When the dog moves at a more vigorous speed, it is noticed that the feet seem to converge into a center line. The Shar-Pei has good forward reach and a strong drive from the hindquarters.
The origin of the Chinese Shar-Pei can be traced to the province of Kwun Tung (present day Guangdong)and has for centuries existed in the southern provinces of China. These dogs helped their peasant masters in various tasks such as herding cattle, guarding the home and family, and have proven themselves to be qualified hunters of wild game, usually wild pigs, and, of course they were used for generations as fighting dogs, by the Chinese nobility, although the practice became rarer after the people's Revolution when such activities were seen as the preserve of the decadent classes
The Shar-Pei is believed to have shared a common origin with the smooth-coated Chow-Chow because of the blue-black mouths and tongues, possibly the Great Pyrenees, a source of the double dew claws, and the Tibetan Mastiff.It was believed in ancient times that the dark mouth of the Chow-Chow, exposed when barking, helped to ward off evil spirits. The Shar-Pei when translated means "sand-skin" or "shark skin." This uniquely rough, loose, prickly coat enabled the Shar-Pei to wriggle out of its opponents grasp while fighting in the dog pits. The coat when stroked against the grain may be abrasive, producing a burning, itching sensation. Their tail is carried over their backs on either side exposing the anus. The first tail set is a tightly curled tail, a "coin" tail. The second tail set is the loose curl, and third is carried in an arch over the back. The Shar-Pei with his tail sticking out straight or between his legs was thought to be cowardly. The tail should denote bravery
While viewing the body head on, if the toes were slightly turned out this was thought to help the dog with balance according to old-time dog-fighting fanciers. The Chinese crawling dragon with his feet pointed east and west was considered a sign of strength. Because of these poor breeding practices many of the Shar-Pei have bad fronts. A dog with straight forelegs is correct.
Incidentally, Western breeders maintain that any dog in China that protects property is called a fighting dog, whereas in Canada and the United States they are referred to as guard dogs. This is still a moot point. Up until the introduction of Breed Specific Legislation, designed to target breeds alleged to be "more likely" to attack and largely aimed at criminalizing the American Pit Bull Terrier.Shar-Pei were regarded as a breed designed, bred and selected for dog-fighting, after the introduction of various BS legislation, many breeders started to deny the fighting ancestry and concocted fanciful tales of a hunting heritage. It is worth mentioning that the Chinese and Taiwanese still regard the Shar-Pei as a dog-fighting breed, although the prohibitive cost of the breed has done much to discourage such abuse.
Over 100,000 Shar-Pei exist in the United States and Canada. This unique breed is also recognized by the FCI, HKKC, and the CSPCGB. The CSPCGB operates independently receiving no input or influence from the UK Kennel Club. The FCIrecognizes the HKKC standard which is a standard based on the traditional type and not the AKC'swestern modified type at this time, as per its general policy of using the standard from the country of the breed's origin
The Following the establishment of the Peoples' Republic of China as a communist nation, the dog population was virtually wiped out. If not for the efforts of Matgo Law of Hong Kong, the Shar-Pei would not be here today. Due to his dedication to the breed, a small number of Shar-Pei were brought to the United States in the 1960s and early '70s. In 1974 American and Canadian fanciers answered Matgo's appeal for help and in 1976 the first Shar-Pei was registered. The foundation stock brought over from Hong Kong were of poorer quality than the Shar-Pei we see today. In August 1991 the Shar-Pei officially completed the requirements for recognition by the American Kennel club and was placed in the Non-Sporting Group. In 1992 the Canadian Kennel Club also officially recognized and grouped the Shar-Pei in group 6, Non-Sporting n g events. Since that time several Shar-Pei are now and continuing to become CKC and AKC champions.e Shar Pei breed comes from the Guangdongprovince of China. The original Shar-pei from China looked very different from the breed now popular in the West. People in southern China, Hong Kong, and Macau differentiate the Western type and the original type by calling them respectively "meat-mouth" and "bone-mouth" Shar-pei.
The ancestry of the Shar-Pei is uncertain. It may be a descendant of the Chow Chow, however, the only clear link between these is the blue-black tongue. However, pictures on pottery suggest the breed was present even in the Han Dynasty (206bc). For many years the Shar-Pei was kept as a general-purpose farm dog in the Chinese countryside, used for hunting, protecting & herding stock and guarding the home and family. During that time the Shar-Pei was bred for intelligence, strength and scowling face.
Later, it was used for dog fighting. The loose skin and extremely prickly coat were developed originally to help the Pei fend off wild boar, as they were used to hunt. Dog Fighters used these enhanced traits to make the Shar-Pei difficult for its opponent to grab and hold on to and so that, if it did manage to hold on, the Shar-Pei would still have room to maneuver and bite back. The Shar-Pei's most intriguing feature, in this respect, is that if you grab them by any loose wrinkle they can actually twist in their skin and face in your direction. This trait was used in fighting as a means for them to fight back, they would be bitten and twist in their skin to bite back at the offender. During the Communist Revolution, when the Shar-Pei population dwindled dramatically, dogs were rescued by a Hong Kong business man named Matgo Law, who appealed to Americans in 1973 through a dog magazine to save the breed. Around 200 Shar-Pei's were smuggled into America. The current American Shar-Pei population stems mainly from these original 200.
The Chinese Shar-Pei can be traced back to the province of Kwung Tung. It has existed in the southern provinces of China for centuries. They were typically the dogs of peasants. They helped the peasants with herding cattle, guarding the family and the home, and are qualified hunters of mainly wild pigs. Shar-Pei translated actually means "sand skin" or "shark skin." This rough and prickly coat was excellent in the dog fighting pits because it allowed the dogs to wiggle out of their opponent's grasp. In China they are referred to as fighting dogs and in Canada and the United States are referred to as guard dogs. They both reflect the same idea that these dogs were used for protection.
There is a theory that the Shar-Pei shares a common origin with the Chow Chow, because of the blue black mouths and tongues, the Great Pyrenees because of the double dewclaws, and the Tibetan Mastiff. Consistent with this, it is speculated that the first Shar-Pei actually appeared as a mutation.
After the establishment of the People's Republic of China as a communist nation the dog population was virtually wiped out. Thanks to Matgo Law and his dedication to the breed, a small number of Shar-Pei's were brought over to the United States in the 1960's and 1970's.
For connoisseurs of uncommon canines, there's no dog more fascinating than the Chinese Shar-Pei. The wrinkled pups look like they are enfolded in bristly blankets, and the hippo-faced adults are unique in the canine world. Their history matches their singular appearance -- the breed was all but destroyed by the Chinese Communist regime and was saved through the Herculean efforts of a handful of breeders in Hong Kong and some Americans intrigued with the look and character of the breed.
The Shar-Pei is an ancient breed from an ancient land, perhaps related to the smooth-coated Chow Chow and the Tibetan Mastiff. The breed developed in the southern provinces of China as a working companion of farmers and peasants who needed a cattle herder, guardian, and hunting helpmate. His loose skin, nettlesome coat, and small ears protected him in battles, characteristics that unfortunately gained him favor as a fighting dog.
During the Han Dynasty some 2000 years ago, traders opened China to the West and to mastiff-type dogs that outweighed the Shar-Pei and attracted the attention of fight promoters, so the breed's fighting career was cut short. The Shar-Pei returned to his peasant roots to guard hearth and home for several centuries. After World War II, Communism took over in China, and dogs were considered a luxury that took food from the mouths of babes. Taxes on pets thinned their ranks, and by 1950, the breed was in big trouble.
Somewhere along the way, a few breeders in the British colony of Hong Kong acquired a few of these Chinese Fighting Dogs. Matgo Law was one such fancier of the wrinkled dogs, and in 1973 he and fellow breeder C.M. Chung began a campaign to save the breed with a plea for help in Dogs magazine.
Americans responded wholeheartedly and almost too well -- the Shar-Pei became a fad in the early years in the US, with pups selling for thousands of dollars and breeding's done without concern for temperament, health, or structure.
A handful of Shar-Pei came to the US prior to Law's effort, but the breed was neither promoted nor developed. Chung and Law received more than 2000 responses to their appeal, and they began to send puppies to selected breeders in this country. Several of these early breeders formed the Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America to form a breed standard and work together to preserve the breed.
The Chinese Shar-Pei gained entrance to the American Kennel Club miscellaneous group in 1988 and became a full-fledged member of the non-sporting group in October, 1991. The breeds numbers have increased substantially from that first cry for help; in 1994, more than 15 thousand individuals and 6600 litters were registered, placing the dog 25th in popularity of 137 breeds.
The Shar-Pei is a compact, square, muscular dog with a blocky head that brings a hippopotamus to mind, tiny ears that lie against the head, and a short, curled tail. An adult weighs 40-55 pounds and is 18-20 inches at the withers. He has a deep chest, a top-line that dips slightly behind the withers and rises slightly over the loin. His feet are compact and his pasterns strong and flexible for shock absorption when he moves.
The Shar-Pei gait is strong and balanced, with plenty of rear-end drive and forehand reach.
The Shar-Pei's coarse, bristly coat gives him his name: Shar is a gritty type of sand, and pei is Chinese for dog. The distinctive coat comes in three types -- horse, brush, and bear. The horse coat is very short and harsh; the hair is straight and stands off from the body and can cause an irritating rash in some people. The brush coat is longer than the horse coat, but is just as harsh. The hair should be no longer than one inch at the withers. The dog can increase the nettle effect of this coat by raising his hackles when alert or excited.
The bear coat is too long and can be soft or wavy. Although attractive, this coat is not correct for the breed.
The Shar-Pei's wrinkled skin is a curious trait, most likely fixed in the breed because it protects the dog from injury by human or animal attackers. A mouthful or handful of prickly folds of skin is likely to discourage pit adversary and barbarian alike.
Wrinkles vary from line to line in the breed. Puppies are more wrinkled than adults; when the dog is full-grown, the heavy folds are gathered on the head, neck, and withers. Loose, saggy skin is incorrect for adults.
The Shar-Pei must be solid-colored to show in the breed ring, but piebald (pinto) dogs are sometimes seen. Colors include fawn (from light beige to golden tan); cream, black, red, chocolate, sable (hairs of two colors, one dark, one light), apricot, a dilute shade of red, and silver, a dilute shade known as blue in other breeds. Darker shading is acceptable on light colors.
The Shar-Pei is dignified, calm, and confident, aloof with strangers, and a bit arrogant. He can also be a clown with his family.
These characteristics can make the Shar-Pei difficult to train unless he is well-socialized as a pup and taught early that the human word is law in the household. Once convinced of your superiority, the Shar-Pei will accept his place in the order and be a dependable, devoted companion and child's playmate.
Although he is considered a consummate watchdog, the Shar-Pei should never be aggressive to people or other dogs.
This is a people-oriented breed, so when looking for a pup, make sure the breeder gives her dogs plenty of human contact.
The wrinkly skin and deep-set eyes give the Shar-Pei some health problems that could discourage prospective owners. The breed is susceptible to entropion and actropion, two malformations of the eyelids. Ectropion causes the lid to turn outward, exposing the eye to irritation and injury. Entropion rolls the eyelid inward, causing irritation from lashes. Untreated, the lashes can cause ulcers on the eye. Both conditions are corrected by surgery.
Various mouth and ear problems also occur in the breed. Tiny ear canals and folded ear flaps limit air circulation in the ear and can lead to infections. Ear odor and shaking the head or pawing at the ear are indications of infection; owners should check ears frequently so that these symptoms don't get started.
Tight lip causes the lower lip to roll over the lower teeth and can lead to an overshot jaw, and an elongated soft palate can cause breathing or eating problems. Both can be corrected by surgery.
Inhalant allergies and fleas can cause dermatitis or skin irritation, which becomes infected as the dog licks, scratches, and bites at his skin. Skin infections or pyodermas are difficult to control in the folds of Shar-Pei skin. Horse-coated dogs are more susceptible to these skin conditions.
Demodectic mange is also a problem in the breed. Although most dogs normally carry a complement of demodex mites, a few breeds appear to be susceptible to severe infestations that cause hair loss and skin sores. Demodex can be difficult to treat as the infestations recur in young dogs with immature immune systems. There is some thought that susceptibility to demodex is inherited as it seems to be connected to compromised immune systems.
When looking for a Shar-Pei puppy, be sure to ask the breeder if she x-rays breeding stock for hip dysplasia, for it, too, is a problem for the breed.
