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The Full Shar Pei Description

While very loving toward his family, the Shar-Pei has an independent nature. He may seem uninterested in other people around him and cautious with other animals. Because he is able to think for himself, obedience training requires a strong and patient person. This is a serious and dignified dog.

Did you know?

The name "Shar-Pei" literally means "sand-skin".
The Chinese Shar-Pei is an ancient and unique breed, thought to have been in existence since the Han dynasty in China around 200 B.C.
The short, harsh coat, the loose skin covering the head and body, the small ears, the "hippopotamus" muzzle shape and the high set tail give the Shar-Pei a unique look all of its' own.
The now famous appeal by Matgo Law of Down-Homes Kennels, Hong Kong, appeared in Dogs Magazine in April 1973. In this article, Law begged the canine fancy in the United States to help save the Chinese Shar-Pei who, listed as the "rarest dog in the world" by The Guinness Book of Records, would otherwise become extinct.

So you want to own a Chinese Shar-Pei?

The Chinese Shar-Pei is regal, alert, intelligent, and dignified. He may appear independent, snobbish, and standoffish with strangers. But is extremely devoted to his family.
The Chinese Shar-Pei has been described as "people dogs," preferring the companionship of humans to that of other dogs.

Indicative Breed Standard

General Appearance

Alert, active, compact, short-coupled, squarely built. Dogs larger and more powerful than bitches.

Characteristics

Loose skin, frowning expression, harsh bristly coat.

Temperament

Calm, independent, very affectionate, and devoted to people.

Head and Skull

Rather large in proportion to body, skull flat, broad, moderate stop. Length from nose to stop approximately equal to length from stop to occiput. Fine wrinkles on forehead and cheeks continuing to form dewlaps. Muzzle distinctive feature of breed. Broad and full with no suggestion of tapering. The lips and top of muzzle padded, causing a slight bulge at the base of nose. When viewed from front, bottom jaw appears wider than top due to padding of lips. Nose large, wide, preferably black but any colour conforming to general coat colour permissible.

Eyes

Dark, medium size, almond-shaped with frowning expression. Amber and lighter colours permissible in paler shades. Function of eyeball or lid in no way disturbed by surrounding skin, folds or hair. Any sign of irritation of eyeball, conjunctiva or eyelids highly undesirable. Free from entropion.

Ears

Very small, rather thick, equilaterally triangular in shape, slightly rounded at tip, and set high on the skull with tips pointing towards eyes, set well forward over eyes, wide apart and close to skull. Pricked ears highly undesirable.

Mouth

Tongue, roof of mouth, gums and flews: solid bluish-black is preferred. Solid pink tongue undesirable. Dogs with self-coloured pigment and amber or light brown eyes would be expected to have a lavender tongue. Teeth strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Padding of lower lip should not be so excessive so as to interfere with the bite.

Neck

Medium length, strong, full; set well on shoulders, with loose skin under neck.

Forequarters

Shoulders muscular, well laid and sloping. Elbows close to the body. Forelegs straight, moderate length, good bone; pasterns slightly sloping, strong and flexible.

Body

Height at withers approximately equal to the length from point of shoulders to point of buttock. Depth of brisket approximately half of height at withers. Chest broad and deep, underline rising slightly under loin; back short, strong. Topline dips slightly behind withers then rises over short, broad loin. Adult dogs should display moderate wrinkling over shoulders and base of tail. Excessive skin on body when mature highly undesirable.

Hindquarters

Muscular, strong; moderately angulated; hocks well let down without excessive wrinkling or thickening.

Feet

Moderate size, compact, toes well knuckled. Fore and hind dewclaws may be removed.

Tail

Rounded, narrowing to fine point, base set very high. May be carried high and curved, carried in tight curl, or curved over. Lack of, or incomplete, tail highly undesirable.

Gait/Movement

Free, vigorous and balanced, rear single tracking is normal at a fast trot, stilted gait undesirable.

Coat

Extremely harsh coat straight and off-standing on the body but flatter on the limbs. No undercoat. Length varies from short and bristly, under half an inch (1.25cm) or longer and thicker, between half an inch (1.25cm) and one inch (2.5cm), but still off-standing and harsh to the touch. N.B: no particular coat length within the accepted length should be preferred above the other. Never trimmed.

Colour

All Solid colours except white are acceptable. Frequently shaded on tail and back of thighs with lighter colour.

Size

Height: 46-51 cms (18-20 ins) at withers.