SCRAPS Breed Profile SHAR-PEI

Stats

Country of Origin: Group: Non-Sporting Use today: Family companion, guarding, and hunting. Life Span: Up to 10 years Color: Coat colors include all solid colors and sables. Coat: There are three coat varieties: horse-coat; rough, extremely prickly & off-standing, brush-coat; has longer hair and a smoother feel and bear-coat; has an undercoat and a topcoat exceeding 1 inch.. Grooming: The Shar-Pei should be brushed regularly. Their coat is never trimmed. This breed does not have an undercoat. The "bush" coat sheds a little year round, but the "horse" coat tends to shed only during molting periods. Molting may leave the looking unkempt. Bathing about once a week and brushing the coat daily during this period will remove the old dead hair and allow the new coat to grow in. Some owners are allergic to the harsh coat. Height: 18 – 20 inches Weight: 40 – 55 pounds

Profile

In Brief: An intelligent and often stubborn breed, coat on either variety can be up to one inch in ownership needs careful consideration. length. Coat colors include all solid colors and They are bright and learn quickly, but early sables. There is also a lowered, spotted, and a training and socialization are important, as is particular colored Shar-Pei coat, which is a daily exercise. Shar-Pei are clean that disqualifying fault in the show ring according to require little more grooming than an occasional AKC standard. The small ears fall forward and bath, regular ear cleaning and toe nail clipping. the tail is carried in a curl. Like the , these dogs have a blue-black tongue. It has a square profile with a broad, full head and wide, Description: Both heavily wrinkled dogs with padded muzzle. Puppies have more wrinkles large heads and smaller headed dogs with than adults. Shar-Pei slowly lose their wrinkles tighter looking skins occur in this breed. There as they get older. are three coat varieties: horse-coat and brush- coat and a rare bear-coat, which is not recognized by the AKC. The bear-coat, does Temperament: The Shar-Pei is very loyal to his not falling within AKC standard because this handler. It is an intelligent dog that does not particular Shar-Pei has an undercoat and a always follow orders slavishly. Playful, active, topcoat exceeding 1 inch. The popular theory dominant, and brave. They bond with their about the bear-coat is that it's a "throwback" to family, but are not unfriendly toward strangers. If the chow-chow. They are actually quite popular the dog meets cats and children while it is still as pet quality Shar-Pei, albeit rare, and often young, it usually will not have a problem with confused with the chow by unknowing owners them. The Chinese Shar-Pei has a frowning as well as animal shelter workers. The unusual expression, but is surprisingly easy-going, calm, horse-coat is rough to the touch, extremely independent, and devoted. They make a prickly and off-standing. The brush-coated delightful companion and good watchdogs. The variety has longer hair and a smoother feel. The Shar-Pei needs a confident handler. If you are too uncertain, too inconstant, too soft, or too mild in the dog's eyes, it will take over as the boss. Shar-Pei need firm, but gentle and Exercise: The Chinese Shar-Pei have a extremely consistent training. They are stubborn considerable need for exercise, but keep them and bold and need firm obedience training to on a leash in public so they do not fight with establish your leadership. They may refuse other dogs. Do not over exercise them in the commands from family members who have not heat, as they are sensitive to it. established leadership over them. They need an owner who as the ability to be "Top Dog". These Origins: The ancestry of the Shar-Pei is dogs are very clean and almost housebreak uncertain. It may be a descendant of the Chow themselves. Shar-Pei generally hate water and Chow, however, the only clear link between try as hard as they can to avoid it. Puppies grow these are the purple tongue. However, pictures very quickly and must be fed accordingly. Mixing on pottery suggest the breed was present even other dogs can sometimes be a problem and in the (206bc). For many years the socialization is important. However some Shar- Shar-Pei was kept as a general-purpose farm Pei are less dominant then others and show dog in the Chinese countryside, used for lines tend to be less dog-aggressive, mixing well hunting, protecting stock, and guarding the with other dogs. Some Shar-Pei tend to slobber, home and family. During that time the Shar-Pei especially when in pain. It is important to find a was breed for intelligence, strength and scowling reputable breeder when seeking a Shar-Pei. face. Later, it was used in . The This breed was very popular in the 1980's. It loose skin and extremely prickly coat were was referred to as one of the "Yuppie Puppies", developed to aid the dog in fighting, making the meaning the breeds that were carelessly over- Shar-Pei difficult for the opponent to grab and bred. A lot of this breeds personality and health hold on to. During the Communist Revolution, depends on the lines it comes from. Good Shar- dogs were rescued by a business Pei lines will get along well with other dogs and man named Matgo Law, who appealed to will not have skin problems, which is a Americans in 1973 though a dog magazine to hereditary condition. save the breed. From those few specimens, the Shar-Pei fancy has grown tremendously over Health: Prone to hip dysplasia, thyroid both the past decades. Now the Shar-Pei is in the hypothyroid and autoimmune thyroiditis, immune Non-Sporting Group of the AKC with over diseases like VKH and Pemphigus, skin 70,000 dogs registered as foundation stock. problems like SA and eyes (PRA, Micro, When first introduced, Shar-Pei were ) patella and other problems with the astronomically expensive. Now they cost about knee. the same as any other pure bred dog.

Living Conditions: Fevers of unknown origin or swollen hocks syndrome may be the early stages of amolydosis (kidney failure). One misconception is that the Shar-Pei have skin problems due to their wrinkles. Yes some Shar- Pei have skin problems, but it is not because the dog has wrinkles, but rather a hereditary condition. Due to over popularity in the 1980's, some Shar-Pei do have hereditary skin problems. However if you buy from a reputable breeder, this conditions will not be a problem. Be sure to find a breeder who strives for healthy dogs.

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