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.
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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
Honest challenges
Before choosing a Shar-Pei
- Treat the breed profile as a starting point, not a guarantee of temperament. Meet the individual and discuss its history, needs and behaviour with the rescue or responsible breeder.
- Check your routine can support the activity described here: Moderate needs — 30–45 minutes daily of walking and low-impact play suits the breed better than high-intensity exercise. Allow for age, weather, health and recovery rather than imposing a fixed target.
- Ask the breeder or rescue and your vet about problems reported in this breed (such as Familial Shar-Pei fever, Entropion (often needing surgery as a puppy), Skin fold dermatitis, Cutaneous mucinosis, Hip dysplasia), which of them have recognised screening tests, and the parents' results where relevant. Screening reduces some uncertainty but cannot promise a healthy lifetime.
- Plan grooming, veterinary costs and care during holidays. Children and other pets still need careful introductions and supervision whatever a breed's typical rating.
Educational reference, not an individual diagnosis or a verified professional review. Read our editorial policy.
Guidance libraries and further reading
These organisations publish relevant guidance. Their links are further reading, not evidence that they have reviewed this page.
- RSPCA — animal care and welfare advice across species
- PDSA — veterinary charity pet health advice
- Dogs Trust — dog care, behaviour and welfare advice