Shar Pei

February 15, 2024

Until a few decades ago, the Chinese Crested Dog was one of the rarest dog breeds of all. The calm and self-confident animals feel particularly comfortable in a family context. With their special appearance, the Shar-Pei are certainly absolute eye-catchers.

Content: Shar Pei

profile
Special features
Nutrition
Health and care
Origin & History
The right accessories
Conclusion

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Shar Pei - Profile

Character: Calm, independent, loyal, loving, family-friendly
Size: Medium
Height: 44-51 cm
Weight: 20-27 kg
Life expectancy: 8-12 years
Coat type: Short, rough, bristly without undercoat
Colour: All colours permitted except white
Special features: Characteristic wrinkles
FCI Group: Molosser, mastiff-type dogs

Shar Pei - Special characteristics

The Shar Pei may look grumpy, but don't be fooled! The little one is a very comfortable creature with a calm and friendly character. The intelligent dog is a headstrong animal that can assert itself when necessary. However, with consistent training, this stubbornness can quickly be brought under control. The Shar Pei likes company and cannot stand being alone. Due to its watchfulness and protective instinct, the dog is also suitable as a guard dog.

The medium-sized dogs have a single-colored coat. All colors except white are permitted. The coat can be slightly lighter on the inside of the legs. The texture of the coat is short, rough and bristly. The dog has no undercoat. There is often a dark shade on the back. The pronounced skin folds on the dog's head and back are particularly noticeable. An extreme manifestation of this characteristic is considered to be cruel breeding .

Training a Shar Pei requires a lot of patience and a loving but assertive owner. It is important to know that these sensitive, wrinkled dogs do not react to pressure. They will reward you all the more if you train them sensitively and in a relaxed tone.

Shar Pei - What should be considered regarding nutrition?

Some Shar Peis tend to be overweight . For this reason, it is important to ensure that their diet is balanced. For older dogs, a diet food can be worthwhile. Obesity is always a source of health problems for dogs. In addition, the food for the Shar Pei should not be too high in protein. This is because the body cannot excrete proteins and an excess of proteins can lead to kidney and joint problems. The right amount of food depends on the dog's age, size and weight. Of course, you can choose between wet and dry food. Wet food is often recommended because it is easier to digest. It is important that the dog enjoys eating the food and does not have any health problems.

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Shar Pei - Health and Care

The care of this dog breed is rather demanding. The coat is easy to care for, but regular brushing is not unnecessary - the Shar Pei likes to shed. The face needs special attention. Due to the shorter snout and the strong skin folds, it must be kept clean and smooth. Special care products are available for the ears. In addition, the eyes and nose should be checked regularly. A balanced diet can also prevent obesity. As a rule, too much body fat cannot be compensated for by exercise .

Due to overbreeding, Shar Peis often have problems with extreme wrinkling. This can quickly cause the skin underneath to become inflamed. This is especially true for puppies , who first have to "grow into" their skin and have very severe wrinkling. Make sure that you buy from a certified and reputable breeder and that you have proof of any health problems of the parents.

Shar Pei - Origin & History

The Shar Pei is a very old breed of dog. The dogs have probably existed in the southern Chinese region of Kwun Tung for over 2000 years. What is certain is that the dogs were mainly used as guard and hunting dogs by Chinese farmers. Even though the dogs have been on this earth for a very long time, they were one of the rarer breeds of dog throughout their lives and were not particularly widespread in China. Around 1970 there were supposedly only around 150 of these dogs. The entire current population of Shar Pei can be traced back to this gene pool. After this dramatic situation, the breed of dog spread again. In 1985 a Shar Pei Club was founded in Germany. This club still exists today and oversees the breeding of Chinese wrinkled dogs.

Shar Pei - The right accessories

A collar or harness is required to keep the wrinkled dogs. A dog coat is also recommended to protect them from wind and weather. The dog has no undercoat and therefore tends to get cold. A brush for grooming the fur and nail clippers are also important utensils for caring for the four-legged friend. Of course, there is also a dog basket and a drinking and feeding bowl.

Conclusion

The Shar Pei is a calm, independent dog with characteristic wrinkles and a friendly nature. Training requires patience and consistency. A balanced diet and regular care are important for the health of this breed. Accessories such as a collar , dog coat and grooming utensils are recommended. The Shar Pei has a long history and experienced a dramatic near-extinction before becoming widespread again.

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