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Shar Pei Dog Breed Introduction
Shar Pei (officially known as Chinese Shar-Pei) is a dog breed from Southern China originally bred to guard livestock. In the west the breed is popular for its deep wrinkles. However, the traditional Shar Peis possess a less wrinkled form. They are maintained in Hong Kong. Shar Peis resemble many dog breeds from the mastiff family, although, it is closely related to the Spitz breeds, Chow Chow being the closest relative. Both Chow Chows and Shar Peis possess the distinctive blue-black tongues.
Shar Pei Origin
A Shar Pei is an ancient breed dating back to more than 2000 years ago during the Han Dynasty. It is believed that this breed originated from a Basal breed. Shar Peis were kept peasant dogs that had a role of hunting, herding, and guarding livestock against rustlers and predators.
Following the creation of People’s Republic of China in 1949, Shar Peis were almost wiped out. The communist regime frowned on the ownership of dogs and systematically slaughtered much of the Chinese purebred dog population. Fortunately, a few good specimens of the Shar Peis were preserved in Taiwan and Hong Kong. In 1973, Matgo Law, a Hong Kong businessman appealed to the international community, in particular AKC, to help in saving the breed.
The Guinness Book of Records named Shar Pei as the world’s rarest breed in 1978. At the time only 60 dogs were remaining. The resultant publicity led to the great demand of the breed. Therefore, the remaining purebred dogs were crossed with other breeds including Bulldog, Pug, and Bull Terrier. The offspring of the cross had a fleshier mouth than the original breed. Therefore, they were referred to as ‘meat-mouth’ Shar Peis while the original dogs are called ‘bone-mouth’ Shar Peis. AKC registered the Shar Peis in 1992.
Shar Pei Lifespan
According to the American Kennel Club, Shar Peis have a lifespan of 8 to 12 years.
Shar Pei Grooming
To set up for a positive grooming process, get your Shar Pei accustomed to touch on the paws, feet, ears, face, head, and the entire body. Grooming helps to strengthen the bond between the pet and the owner. Regular brushing of the coat helps the pet parent to check out for sores, rashes, blisters, pimples, swelling, and redness since Shar Peis are susceptible to skin conditions. Brush the coat on a weekly basis using a rubber bristle brush to remove dirt, loose hair, and promote new hair growth.
Shar Peis need a bath every 4 to 6 weeks unless they roll into something stinky. Use a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner since this breed has a sensitive skin. Before bathing the dog, always brush the coat to remove dead hair and dirt from the coat. After a bath, thoroughly rinse off the skin using lukewarm water to remove the grooming products from the coat that can cause skin irritation. Wipe the face using canine wipes or a clean damp washcloth to wipe the face folds instead of soapy water that easily irritates the eyes.
After a bath, thoroughly dry off the coat to prevent moisture accumulation between the folds which may cause fungal infection. The skin folds should be wiped clean and kept dry on a daily basis to prevent skin fold dermatitis. Clip the nails every week using a grinder or nail clipper. Overly grown nails are painful for a Shar Pei while walking and running. Brush the teeth at least twice a week if not daily using a tasty canine toothpaste and finger toothbrush.
Regular teeth cleaning helps to remove excess tartar and food particles that cause a bad breathe. Clean the ears on a weekly basis using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls instead of cotton swabs that may easily get stuck in the ear. While cleaning the ears, check out for odor, redness, and dark discharge that are sign’s of dog’s ear infection.
Shar Pei Shedding
A Shar Pei sheds all-year round at low levels. However, the shedding is more noticeable when experiencing seasonal change in the Spring and Fall.
Shar Pei Coat | Hair
A Shar Pei may either have a horse coat or a brush coat. The horse coat is extremely short while the brush coat is slightly longer but not exceeding an inch in length at the withers. Both coat types are harsh and stand off the skin.
Shar Pei Hypoallergenic
The Shar Peis are not considered a hypoallergenic breed. This is because they shed all-year round at minimal levels and heavily in spring and fall. Shedding allows the spread of dander and hair around the house which triggers allergic reactions. Shar Peis also have a tendency to drool. Apart from dander and hair, dog’s saliva, urine, and mucus also have a protein allergen that aggravates allergies.
Shar Pei Training
A Shar Pei is an intelligent, alert, and independent dog. Therefore, it needs a firm and gentle hand when training. Shar Peis excel where a pecking order has been established. This is where the pet parent has identified him or herself as the pack leader. Creating a peck order also helps the dog to have respect towards the owner which eases training. In order to create a pecking order, pet parents should eat and get through the door first before the dog. This makes the dog to understand that the parent is the owner of all the valuable resources including treats, toys, and food.
This breed was developed as a guard dog. Therefore, it is somewhat wary with strangers. Early socialization is recommended to ensure the dog doesn’t exhibit aggressive traits towards strangers such as barking and growling if they are not a threat. Socialization training starts from the early age of 3 weeks when the pup is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after the pet has settled in the new home. Parents normally take their dogs home from the age of 8 weeks. However, socialization training may continue after the age of 16 weeks to ensure the dog matures to have an all-rounded temperament and personality.
To socialize a Shar Pei, expose it to different people, places, surfaces, sights, smell, situations, and sounds such as baby crying sounds, lawn mowers, sirens, vacuum cleaners, whistles, and washing machines. Enrolling Shar Peis in a puppy class also serve as a form of socialization. These classes provide a controlled environment where dogs get to interact. Puppy classes not only enable pet parents to identify and correct bad habits but also have access to training information and assistance.
Remember to use positive reinforcements methods such as use of treats, toys, petting, and play time to encourage positive behaviors. However, avoid yelling and use of other harsh correction methods. Keep the training sessions short and fun for a period of about 5 to 10 minutes especially for puppies to avoid boredom. However, the training session span may increase to a period of at least 15 minutes distributed throughout the day as the dog matures. Obedience training starts immediately the pup comes home from the age of 8 weeks. Start teaching basic commands words like come, sit, stay, down, heel, leave it, etc. that are potentially life saving.
Start teaching one basic command word at a time until the dog understands before proceeding to the next command word. Never issue a command word while too excited or frustrated since it won’t sound the same for your pet. To effectively house break Shar Peis, creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training is key. Using a crate when potty training is an added advantage since dogs naturally avoid soiling where they sleep. This device also empowers the owner to monitor the dog for signs that it wants to eliminate such as circling, restlessness, whining, squatting, sniffing, and trying to lift a leg against the crate wall.
To get positive outcomes during potty training, take the pup to the designated toilet area immediately it wakes up, 20 minutes after meals and drinks, every 2 to 3 hours, after naptime, following an exciting activity such as playtime and car ride, and before bed time. After the age of 8 months, the potty breaks span increases to every 6 to 8 hours. This is because the bladder and bowel muscles of Shar Peis strengthen as the dog matures.
Shar Pei Temperament | Traits
- Alert.
- Dignified.
- Intelligent.
- Independent.
- Protective.
- Devoted.
- Calm.
- Loving.
- Affectionate.
- Loyal.
- Wary of strangers.
- Regal.
- Strong.
Shar Pei Exercise
The exercise needs of a Shar Pei vary by individual dog. This is because they are very adaptable dogs. Shar Peis can be physically and mentally stimulated by participating in agility, obedience, rally, tracking, and other canine activities that can be enjoyed by the owner. A Shar Pei will do well in an apartment with few short walks or daily walks with an active owner.
Shar Pei Barking
Shar Peis are not popular as vocal breeds. However, due to their guard instinct they will bark at intruders to notify the parent.
Shar Pei Height
Both mature male and female Shar Peis have a height of 18 to 20 inches ( approx. 46 to 51 cm ).
Shar Pei Weight
A Shar Pei has a weight range of 45 to 6o pounds ( approx. 20 to 27 kg ).
Shar Pei Size
A Shar Pei is a medium-sized dog with a height of 18 to 20 inches ( approx. 46 to 51 cm ) and a weight of 45 to 6o pounds ( approx. 20 to 27 kg ).
Shar Pei Aggressive
Shar Peis are calm dogs. However, they will meet a perceived threat with vigor and tenacity. Early training and socialization is a must for this breed. This breed is also aloof with strangers. A poorly socialized Shar Pei is likely to be aggressive with strangers and other dogs even if there is no threat perceived.
Shar Pei Bite Force
Reportedly, Shar Peis have a bite force of more than 200 PSI.
Shar Pei Biting
A Shar Pei pup may be prone to biting and nipping as it explores the environment, playing, and when teething due to discomfort. Although, this breed may bite since they were bred as herders that executed they role through biting, nipping, and barking. Pet parents are urged to discourage biting before it develops into a habit through redirection and bite inhibition training.
Shar Pei Hair Loss
A Shar Pei experiences normal hair loss at low levels all-year round and heavily in Spring and Fall due to seasonal change in a process referred to as shedding. However, hair loss in patches may be due to demodex mange, allergies, hormonal changes, hypothyroidism, and atopic dermatitis.
Shar Pei Eye Problems
Some of the eye problems that Shar Peis suffers from include:
Entropion – This is an eye condition that leads to the inward rolling of the eyelid which rubs against the cornea. This results to chronic pain and corneal ulcers.
Glaucoma – This is an eye issue that puts pressure on the optic nerve due to the insufficient drainage of the aqueous fluid.
Retinal dysplasia – This is a degenerative eye disease that causes the cells located in retina to decrease.
Shar Pei Health Issues
Following rushed or inexperienced breeding of Shar Peis in North America in the 70s, it led to increased health problems. Some of the health issues that Shar Peis suffer from include allergy-induced skin infections, atopic dermatitis, demodicosis, Familial Shar Pei fever, Swollen Hock Syndrome, Amyloidosis, gastrointestinal disorders, Kidney failure, ear infections, hypothyroidism, cancer, patellar luxation, hip and elbow dysplasia, Pyoderma, Seborrhea, and eye disorders like glaucoma, retinal dysplasia, and entropion.
Shar Pei Names
A Shar Pei parent may decide to get a name for the pup before it leaves the shelter or a few days after the puppy joins them home so that they may understand the personality of the particular dog. Pet parents may get name inspirations from the Chinese origin, wrinkled-skin, coat color, personality, celebrity Shar Peis, food, music, books, historical figures, and nature.
Regardless of where a Shar Pei parent gets the inspiration, he or she should ensure the name freely rolls off the tongue and won’t make them embarrassed when uttered out loud in the public parks and malls. Shar Peis and other dog breeds better understand names that have vowels. If a pet parent settles with a long name, they should find a cute nick name for the pooch.
Avoid giving your pet a name that rhymes with the command words to avoid confusion. If a Shar Pei shares a name with any family member or guests who frequent your home, it may create a recipe for confusion.
Female Shar Pei Names
- Ellie.
- Lola.
- Bella.
- Lucy.
- Chloe.
- Sadie.
- Blu.
- Ginger.
- Coco.
- Nala.
- Lucy.
- Harley.
- Mia, etc.
Shar-Pei Colors
A Shar Pei may have any solid color except white. The most common colors are cream, fawn, red, and black. Brindle and parti-colored coats are not desirable.
Shar Pei Names Male
- Cooper.
- Charlie.
- Titus.
- Prince.
- Gus.
- Thor.
- Frank.
- Diesel.
- Bruce.
- Bruno.
- Duke.
- Sam, etc.
Shar Pei Muzzle
A well-socialized Shar Pei has a calm temperament although it is wary of strangers. This breed might need to be muzzled in a situation where the pet parent is not sure how the dog will react to a new stimulus. It is highly recommended to muzzle a dog that is in pain since it is likely to bite or nip.
AKC urges owners to create positive associations with the accessory through the use of treats and verbal praise. However, a muzzle is not used to correct behavior issues such as biting, excessive barking, and chewing.
Shar Pei Food
The amount of food that Shar Peis feed on depend on their activity level, age, metabolism, size, and body build. Shar Peis puppies tend to have a high metabolism rate as compared to adults and senior dogs. Therefore, a puppy needs to feed on 3 or 4 times a day from when it starts weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Shar Peis should feed on two meals a day for the rest of their lives with snacks and treats in between. However, owners should watch out for calorie consumption and weight level to avoid overfeeding their pooches.
This breed also has a broad and deep chest. Therefore, Shar Peis may be susceptible to gastric torsion, a life-threatening condition that results in twisting of the stomach. To prevent this condition, owners should avoid feeding Shar Pies one large meal a day, vigorously exercising the pet one hour before or after meals, and the dog should not drink large volumes of water after eating.
Shar Peis may feed on dry food, wet food, home made, or a raw diet depending on the budget and time of the pet parent. Regardless of the food type, a parent should ensure that the dog feeds on a balanced diet to maintain a good health eventually allowing it to develop cognitively and physically. If a Shar Pei parent decides to feed the dog the commercial dry or wet food, he or she should ensure the first three ingredients are proteins from a known source.
The commercial pooch food should neither contain preservatives, chemicals, additives, meat by-products, generic meat products, nor fillers. The same goes to the snacks. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for medium-sized puppies, adults, and senior depending on the age of your Shar Pei. Check the physique of your dog to know whether it is overweight or underweight.
If you can see the ribs, chances are the pet is underweight. Although, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, the pet has an ideal weight. If the ribs can’t be felt, the dog is overweight and should be exercised. After getting a puppy from a breeder, the owner is likely to switch to another quality food. They should gradually do this over a period of four weeks by mixing both new food and old food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until the Shar Pei is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.
Apart from Shar Peis, other breeds of dogs include:
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Shar Pei Types
There are two types of Shar Peis, Meat-mouth and Bone-mouth Shar Peis respectively. The latter has a wrinkled face and a fleshier mouth while the latter doesn’t.
Shar Pei Allergies
A Shar Pei is disposed to various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Skin allergies – Shar Peis are predisposed to skin allergies due to skin folds which may cause skin allergy dermatitis and fungal infection if moisture accumulates between the folds. Other skin condition that cause skin allergies in Shar Peis include atopic dermatitis, demodicosis, Pyoderma, and Seborrhea. Apart from skin conditions, food, contact, and environmental allergies also affect the skin making it vulnerable to allergies.
Food Allergies – Although rare, a Shar Pei may suffer from food allergies. However, food sensitivity is far more common as compared to food allergy.
Contact allergies – This allergy causes inflammation once the skin of the Shar Pei comes in contact with the allergen. Some of the contact allergens that affect Shar Peis include grooming products such as shampoo and conditioner, plastic bowls, bed linens, lawn chemicals, latex, carpet cleaning detergents, and medication. Commonly affected body parts include feet, around the muzzle, and paws. Contact allergies result in excessive scratching, licking, and biting eventually leasing to secondary skin infections.
Environmental allergies – One of the environmental allergens that affects Shar Peis include fleas. The saliva of this insect cause flea allergy dermatitis. This allergy normally affects the back legs and underneath the tail. Flea allergy dermatitis makes a Shar Pei to scratch, bite, and lick the skin around the bite area until it is raw. If left unattended, this may cause yeast and bacterial infections. Other environmental allergens that affect Shar Peis include pollen, grass, trees, ragweed, house molds, mites, and dust & dust mites. Common symptoms of environmental allergies in a Shar Pei include sneezing, nasal discharge, congestion, and itchiness on various body parts including paws, feet, around the eyes, underarms, muzzle, ears, groin, tail, belly sides, and between the toes.
Shar Pei Skin Allergies
A Shar Pei is predisposed to skin allergies due to certain skin conditions including skin fold dermatitis, demodicosis, Seborrhea, and Pyoderma. Shar Peis have facial folds and skin folds on the body which may lead to skin fold dermatitis if folds are not cleaned and kept dry frequently. This condition causes odor, red skin, swollen skin, excessive scratching of the skin, and weeping sores inside folds.
Shar Peis are also affected by Seborrhea, a skin condition that is characterized with red, greasy, scaly, or flaky skin. Pyoderma also makes Shar Pei susceptible to skin allergies. This is a bacterial skin infection that results from an underlying condition such as hypothyroidism and allergy. A Shar Pei is also susceptible to Demodicosis. This is a skin condition that is more common in puppies. It happens when Demodex Mites proliferate and cause skin infection, inflammation, and irritation.
Apart from skin conditions, Shar Peis are also affected by environmental and food allergies. Environmental allergies cause atopic dermatitis, a skin inflammation condition that results in redness, rashes, bumps, and sores. One of the environmental allergies, fleas results in secondary skin infections due to excessive scratching and biting. Food allergies cause an immune response that results in skin conditions such as dermatitis, pruritus, facial swelling, hives, crusting lesions, and sores. Signs of skin allergies in Shar Pei include hair loss, excessive biting, scratching, and itchiness on the paws, feet, ears, belly sides, underarms, etc., sores, dry flaky skin, redness, and bloodshot eyes.
Shar-Pei Food Allergies
A Shar Pei is susceptible to both food allergies and food intolerance or sensitivity. However, a true food allergy is rare and results in an immune response that is accompanied with a wide range of symptoms including skin conditions symptoms and gastrointestinal stress. Some of the skin conditions that a Shar Pei manifests while suffering from food allergies include sores, hives, crusting lesions, facial swelling, pruritus, and dermatitis whereas the gastrointestinal stress includes acute vomiting and diarrhea as well as as weight loss.
Parents may confuse food allergies for food sensitivity since they both cause diarrhea and vomiting. However, food sensitivity doesn’t result in an immune response but happens as a gradual response to an offending ingredient in the diet and snacks of a Shar Pei. Some of the ingredients that cause intolerance in Shar Peis include fillers, soy, corn, wheat, chemicals, preservatives, additives, lamb, beef, chicken, pork, turkey, fish, milk, eggs, etc.
Symptoms of food sensitivity in Shar Peis include poor skin and coat, vomiting, diarrhea, foot infections, and ear infections. Shar Pei owners are urged to work along with the vet in order to manage the symptoms exhibited and find the offending ingredient in the diet of the dog. Most vets introduce the elimination method where a Shar Pei feeds on one type of carbohydrate and protein for 8 weeks. However, some owners may decide to totally switch to a raw diet.
Shar-Pei Food Allergy Symptoms
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Hot spots.
- Hives.
- Crusting lesions.
- Weight loss.
- Dermatitis.
- Facial swelling.
- Pruritus.
Home Remedies For Shar-Pei Skin Problems
Most of the skin problems that a Shar Pei suffers from are triggered by grooming products, allergies, and certain ingredients in the food. Home remedies for Shar Pei skin problems includes:
Use of a hypoallergenic, sulfate-free, and organic shampoo while bathing the dog. Using aloe vera and oatmeal has also helps in improving the skin health of a Shar Pei.
Wiping the coat dry after bath especially between the folds to prevent moisture accumulation that leads to fungal infection and skin fold dermatitis.
Creating a habit of wiping the coat to remove allergens following an outdoor activity.
Use of dietary supplements such as Omega-3 fatty acids to help in boosting the immunity of Shar Peis.
Skin allergies that are triggered by food allergies or food sensitivity may be addressed by totally switching to a raw diet or using the elimination method.
Shar Pei Eyes
A Shar Pei has small, almond-shaped, and dark colored eyes. The eyes are sunken displaying a scowling expression.
Shar Pei Ears
A Shar Pei has small, thick, and equilateral triangular shaped ears that are slightly rounded at the tips.
Shar Pei Head
According to the Chinese breed standard, a Shar Pei has a melon-shaped head that is relatively large as compared to its body.
Shar Pei Tail
Shar Peis have a high set tail that is round and thick at the base tapering to a fine joint. The tail usually curls over to either side of the back.
Shar Pei Teeth
At birth, a Shar Pei pup is whelped with no teeth. However, the deciduous teeth starts growing in from the age of 2 to 3 weeks until the pup has a total of 28 milk teeth at the age of 6 to 8 weeks. The pup will start loosing its milk teeth from the age of 12 weeks as permanent teeth erupts beneath them. Between the age of 6 to 8 months, a Shar Pei should have a total of 42 adult teeth.
Shar Pei Nose
A Shar Pei has a butterfly nose that is dark, large, and wide.
Shar Pei Tongue
Just like the Chow Chow, a Shar Pei has a blue-black tongue.
Are Shar Peis Good With Other Dogs
No. Reportedly, Shar Peis have a tendency to manifest aggressive traits towards other dogs.
Are Shar Pei Hypoallergenic
No. Shar Peis shed all-year round at minimal levels and heavily when experiencing seasonal change twice a year. Shedding allows the spread of dander and hair around the house which aggravates allergies. Dog’s saliva, urine, and mucus also have a protein allergen that triggers an allergic reaction. Shar Peis also have a tendency of drooling.
Are Shar Peis Smart
Yes. Shar Peis are smart, loyal, calm, regal, and affectionate dogs.
Shar Peis Quick Facts
- They almost became extinct in the 20th century. Therefore, Shar Peis were named among the rarest breed in 1978 by The Guinness Book of Records.
- They have blue-black tongues like the Chow Chow.
- Shah Peis are susceptible to allergy-induced skin infections.
