This Chinese dog is not that easily found among the Indian households. Its availability in the country also ranges from mediocre to subpar depending upon region to region. And, the reason for their low demand in India might be their poor tolerance to heat and humidity. These dogs do have a tough time thriving in a place where temperatures can go very high and they need to be carefully protected especially from the direct heat of the sun as the chances of them getting a heatstroke when exposed to excessively high temperatures are pretty high. Also, it might not be quite easy on the pockets of many people in the country to bring a Chinese Shar-Pei home as they can go fairly high in price (close to a Lakh).
The Chinese Shar-pei is a medium-sized dog with a head that is slightly larger compared to the rest of the body. This pooch has a fair number of distinctive features but its “hippopotamus†muzzle shape quite easily the most noticeable of the bunch. Official standards for the Shar-Pei are given as follows:
The average weight of a Chinese Shar-Pei is around 20-28 kilograms and its height is somewhere between 18-20 inches (at the shoulders). There is not a lot of difference in the stature and mass of a male and a female Shar-Pei.
|
GENDER |
WEIGHT |
HEIGHT |
|
MALE |
20-28 kg |
18-20 inch |
|
FEMALE |
20-28 kg |
18-20 inch |
These dogs possess an extremely harsh coat which is again a unique feature of this breed. The coat on the main trunk is completely straight and projected outwards. Also, the length of the coat is generally on the shorter side and does not exceed more than 1 inch.
They have a sturdy body with a compact overall built. Their neck is full, medium in length and sits well into the shoulders. The chest is quite deep and broad and the back is close-coupled and short. Their tail is round and thick at the root and is set fairly high on the back. The forequarters and hindquarters are fairly strong, muscular and provide a good amount of sturdiness to the rest of the body.
The head is a bit large in size and is covered with profuse folds of skin or wrinkles which starts from their forehead and continues down to the side of the face. They have small almond shaped eyes which are mostly present in a darker color tone. The ears are triangular in shape, extremely small in size and are rather thick with slightly rounded tips. And, their nose is quite large and wide and is darkly pigmented.
They have a powerful jaw region with strong teeth meeting in a scissors bite. The muzzle is, as mentioned, a distinctive feature which is quite full and broad with no signs of snippiness.
The Shar-Pei was bred as a guard dog and hence they have a tendency to remain a bit reserved around the strangers. They do not trust the ones who are unknown to them very easily and are known to be a little suspicious of any type of outsider whether it be a human or some other dog. These dogs are quite friendly and devoted to their family members and can become accustomed to strangers if given a proper introduction at a young age. They are somewhat independent by nature and thus are a bit hard to train as they can act stubborn while getting trained. For this, early obedience training is very necessary for this Chinese fighting dog. General temperamental traits of a Shar-Pei are listed below:
The Shar-Pei is large headed medium sized dog hailing from China. These dogs are widely and easily recognized because of the large number of wrinkles present on their face and also because of their distinguishing muzzle which is very broad and resembles a hippopotamus’ snout.
This breed is also known as the Cantonese Shar-Pei because they first came into existence in the Chinese city known as Canton (now called Guangzhou). These dogs are known for their quiet and reserved personality and like to remain in an environment which is not boisterous.
They are not highly recommended to novice dog owners because they do require a good amount of handling and training and that too from an early age. Also, they are not very comfortable with small children and thus they are not a very suitable option for families with very young kids.
The Shar-Pei adjusts well to apartment living and is comfortable with whatever space he’s been given. Its harsh and rough coat doesn’t require a lot of grooming but it does shed quite profusely on a seasonal basis. Also, a Shar-Pei under the guidance of a skilled owner/trainer can become an excellent guard dog as it does possess a decent watchdog ability.
In the end, like any other breed, the Shar-Pei does have a fair number of pros and cons as a breed, but with a proper, dedicated and passionate owner, these Chinese fighting dogs can easily be refined and become a better version of themselves.
The Shar-Pei is sometimes divided on the basis of the slight variation in its coat that is commonly found. These types are:
Also, the Shar-Pei is available in quite a few different colors, some of which are listed below:
|
Adaptability |
*** |
Sensitivity Level |
** |
|
Affection Level |
**** |
Potential for mouthiness |
**** |
|
Apartment-Friendly |
**** |
Drooling Potential |
** |
|
Barking Tendencies |
** |
Energy Level |
** |
|
Friendly towards dogs |
** |
Health Issues |
**** |
|
Friendly towards other animals |
*** |
Intelligence |
*** |
|
Child Friendly |
** |
Playfulness |
** |
|
Exercise Needs |
*** |
Shedding Level |
*** |
|
Grooming Needs |
** |
Social Needs |
*** |
|
Good for novice owners |
** |
Stranger Friendly |
** |
|
Trainability |
*** |
Watchdog Ability |
*** |
|
Tolerates Heat |
* |
Tolerates Cold |
** |
These dogs do well on a nutritious diet which can be given as per the advice of a veterinarian. It is important to note that they should not be given a feeding material that contains high-fat content. Also, the food given to them should be appropriate to their age.
The Shar-Pei is quite an adaptable dog in terms of its exercise needs. Whether the owner is very active and wants their dog to be well-exercised on regular basis or he/she believes short walks and a brief playtime can help in maintaining his/her pooch in a fine state, in both the conditions, the Shar-Pei does well. But, in general, these dogs do require a decent amount of exercise which is beneficial for their overall health.
The Shar-Pei needs to be trained from an early age so that it turns out to be a well-mannered and obedient dog when fully grown up. They can be stubborn and independent under a wrong trainer but, if the trainer is experienced and teaches this dog with love and dedication, then this breed can be a joy to train. They are decently smart and can learn and understand what is being taught to them fairly quickly.
The Shar-Pei has minimal grooming requirements and occasional brushing of their harsh coat and sporadic baths can keep them looking neat. But, their ears need to be cleaned on a weekly basis preferably with a good quality ear-cleaning solution. Also, these dogs do shed quite a lot but only seasonally.
There are various health-related issues that a Shar-Pei suffers from and it should be properly cared for and protected against them. Some of the common health problems found in them are:
The Shar-Pei should be regularly taken to a vet’s clinic for health check-ups and general consultations.
The Shar-Pei is quite an ancient breed and it is believed to have been in existence since 200 B.C. The rough and standing coat of this breed has always been a remarkable and unique feature and it is also the inspiration behind its name, as Shar-Pei literally translates to ‘sand-skin’.
The Shar-Pei and the Chow Chow are considered to be the result of common ancestors. This breed was heavily used for fighting, hunting and guarding initially, but after some time they started to be seen as companions because of their devoted and quiet personality.
After the Communist revolution, because of the efforts of various breeders, the Shar-Pei breed continued to survive and was brought back from near extinction and they were moved to the United States. There, they gradually became quite popular and after many years, in the year 1992, the Shar-Pei was finally registered as an official breed by the AKC.
