Dog breed · Non-Sporting / Utility
Shar-Pei
An ancient Chinese breed best known for its deep wrinkles and blue-black tongue. Shar-Pei are quiet, dignified and deeply loyal to their own household while remaining reserved with outsiders.
Breed characteristics
- Group
- Non-Sporting / Utility
- Origin
- China
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 18–29 kg (40–65 lb)
- Height
- 44–51 cm
- Lifespan
- 8–12 years
- Coat
- Extremely short, harsh, bristly coat
- Temperament
- IndependentDevoted to familyAloof with strangersCalm
History
An old southern Chinese farm and guard dog, nearly lost during the mid-twentieth century political upheavals before being rescued from near-extinction by breeders in Hong Kong and the West in the 1970s.
Appearance
A compact, powerfully built dog covered in deep wrinkles as a puppy that loosen somewhat with age, with small folded ears and a distinctive blue-black tongue.
Exercise and activity
Moderate needs — 30–45 minutes daily of walking and low-impact play suits the breed better than high-intensity exercise.
Care and grooming
Skin folds need regular cleaning and drying to prevent infection, and the breed is prone to skin fold dermatitis and eye problems that need vigilant checking.
Health considerations
- Familial Shar-Pei fever
- Entropion (often needing surgery as a puppy)
- Skin fold dermatitis
- Cutaneous mucinosis
- Hip dysplasia