Immediately recognizable due to their unique "hippopotamus" head shape, profile and wrinkles, the Shar-Pei is an ancient breed that is usually aloof and standoffish with strangers, but devoted to his family. Their name "Shar-Pei" means sandy coat and their coat should be off standing and harsh. Any solid color and sable is acceptable and none of these is preferred over the others. Today, the Shar-Pei is exhibited in conformation, agility, obedience and tracking.
Originally a multipurpose Chinese farm dog, many of the breeds characteristics relate to that work. Their moderate sound structure allowed them to be perimeter guard dogs, working all day. They have retained vermin catching, herding and tracking skills, as their role on the farms was diverse. Physically, the Chinese believed the breeds scowl and the black pigmented mouth would scare off evil spirits and their imposing presence meant that most were never challenged.
An intelligent and often stubborn breed, Shar Pei ownership needs careful consideration. They are bright and learn quickly, but early training and socialization are important, as is daily exercise. Shar-Pei are clean dogs that require little more grooming than an occasional bath, regular ear cleaning and toe nail clipping.
General Appearance
An alert, compact dog of medium size and substance; square in profile, close coupled; the well-proportioned head slightly, but not overly large for the body. The short, harsh coat, the loose skin covering the head and body, the small ears, the "hippopotamus" muzzle shape and the high set tail impart to the Shar-Pei a unique look peculiar to him alone. The loose skin and wrinkles covering the head, neck and body are superabundant in puppies but these features may be limited to the head, neck and withers in the adult.
Size, Proportion, Substance
The height is 18 to 20 inches at the withers. The weight is 45 to 60 pounds. The dog is usually larger and more square bodied than the bitch but both appear well proportioned. The height of the Shar-Pei from the ground to the withers is approximately equal to the length from the point of breastbone to the point of rump.
Head and Skull
The head is large, slightly, but not overly, proudly carried and covered with profuse wrinkles on the forehead continuing into side wrinkles framing the face. Eyes--Dark, small, almond-shaped and sunken, displaying a scowling expression. In the dilute colored dogs the eye color may be lighter. Ears-- extremely small, rather thick, equilateral triangles in shape, slightly rounded at the tips; edges of the ear may curl. Ears lie flat against the head, are set high, wide apart and forward on the skull, pointing toward the eyes. The ears have the ability to move. A pricked ear is a disqualification. Skull--flat and broad, the stop moderately defined. Muzzle--one of the distinctive features of the breed. It is broad and full with no suggestion of snipiness. (The length from nose to stop is approximately the same as from stop to occiput.) Noselarge and wide and darkly pigmented, preferably black but any color conforming to the general coat color of the dog is acceptable. In dilute colors, the preferred nose is self-colored. Darkly pigmented cream Shar-Pei may have some light pigment either in the center of the nose or on the entire nose. The lips and top of muzzle are well-padded and may cause a slight bulge above the nose. Tongue, roof of mouth, gums and flews--solid bluish-black is preferred in all coat colors except in dilute colors, which have a solid lavender pigmentation. A spotted pink tongue is a major fault. A solid pink tongue is a disqualification. (Tongue colors may lighten due to heat stress; care must be taken not to confuse dilute pigmentation with a pink tongue.) Teeth--strong, meeting in a scissors bite. Deviation from a scissors bite is a major fault.
Neck, Top line, Body
Neck--medium length, full and set well into the shoulders. There are moderate to heavy folds of loose skin and abundant dewlap about the neck and throat. The top linedips slightly behind the withers, slightly rising over the short, broad loin. A level, roach or swayed top line/back line shall be faulted. Chest--broad and deep with the brisket extending to the elbow and rising slightly under the loin. Back-- short and close-coupled. Croup-- flat, with the base of the tail set extremely high, clearly exposing an up-tilted anus. Tail--the high set tail is a characteristic feature of the Shar-Pei. A low set tail shall be faulted. The tail is thick and round at the base, tapering to a fine point and curling over or to either side of the back. The absence of a complete tail is a disqualification.
Forequarters
Shoulders--muscular, well laid back and sloping. Forelegs--when viewed from the front, straight moderately spaced, with elbows close to the body. When viewed from the side, the forelegs are straight, the pasterns are strong and flexible. The bone is substantial but never heavy and is of moderate length. Removal of front dewclaws is optional. Feet--moderate in size, compact and firmly set, not splayed.
Hindquarters
Muscular, strong, and moderately angulated. The metatarsi (hocks) are short, perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. Hind dewclaws must be removed. Feet as in front.
Gait
The movement of the Shar-Pei is to be judged at a trot. The gait is free and balanced with the feet tending to converge on a center line of gravity when the dog moves at a vigorous trot. The gait combines good forward reach and strong drive in the hindquarters. Proper movement is essential.
Shar-Pei are clean dogs that require little more care than an occasional bath, regular ear cleaning and toe nail clipping.
You have just taken the first step in protecting the interests of your new puppy by registering it with the American Kennel Club (AKC).
As you begin your journey with this intelligent and loving dog, we would like to offer some suggestions to insure a long and happyrelationship with your new companion.
We encourage you to meet other Shar-Pei owners through membership in the Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America, Inc. (CSPCA), the official AKC parent club of the breed. We are one of the largest breed clubs in the U.S. with members in all 50 states and manycountries. CSPCA members promote and protect the breed through:
Dog show judges use a breed standard as a guideline of excellence to evaluate the Shar-Pei. You should use this standard to compare how your Shar-Pei measures up BEFORE considering breeding. For a copy of the Chinese Shar-Pei Standard, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the CSPCA Secretary.
CSPCA Membership Secretary
33853 SE Doyle Rd • Estacada, OR 97023
Phone: (503) 630-3422 (9-5 PST) • Fax: (928) 222-5938
The Barker, the official publication of the CSPCA, is your most important source of information about the Shar-Pei. It is a high quality, professional, bi-monthly magazine that was named Best National Club Magazine for 1993 by the Dog Writers' Association of America and is available free with your CSPCA membership. This magazine has something for every Shar-Pei owner, breeder, exhibitor or pet owner who simply loves his dog. Articles from veterinary experts about the health of the Shar-Pei are a high priority.
Breeding dogs is serious business and should not be a casual undertaking. The number one obligation of a responsible breeder is to make sure his puppies are placed with loving, responsible new owners. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope for a free copy of the Chinese Shar-Pei Standard ($2.00 for an illustrated version); and/or a list of books about the Chinese Shar-Pei. For a sample copy of The Barker at half the cover price, send $5.00 to the Membership Secretary. Each copy includes a Breeders' Directory, the Standard, a list of affiliated clubs plus much more. Find out why The Barker is the Shar-Pei fancier's favorite magazine!
Learn all you can about the Shar-Pei before you consider breeding your dog. It is irresponsible to breed an animal that may have genetic defects - something a casual breeder may not discover until it is too late. Informed breeders, on the other hand, can help improve the breed by selectively mating dogs without hereditary problems. Hipdysplasia, for instance, once menaced Shar-Pei, but responsible breeders united to help reduce the problem. The CSPCA welcomes you to become a member in our nationwide network of dedicated Shar-Pei owners, breeders and fanciers and Spayed females often live longer and are healthier. Neutered males receive The Barkerr free of charge. cannot develop testicular cancer and have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer. In addition, a neutered male often becomes less aggressive and more tolerant of other male dogs. Clearly, spaying and/or neutering shows you truly care for your pet.
However, if you are serious about becoming an educated breeder, you will find that producing and exhibiting top quality Shar-Pei is a challenging and exciting experience. The devoted fancier will find the rewards far outweigh the risks, but don't plan on making money. The costs of veterinary care, food, stud fees and related expenses caneasily outpace any revenue generated by a litter of puppies. Very few people profit from breeding dogs.
Congratulations on your new Chinese Shar-Pei Puppy.
