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The Chinese Shar-Pei is an ancient breed thought to have originated around a small village in Kwantung province, in southern China. The breed was originally used for herding, hunting, guarding and dog fighting.
The Shar-Pei is a medium-sized and powerfully built dog, square in profile with a well-proportioned but slightly large head for the body. His appearance is very distinctive with loose skin covering the head and body — puppies have very wrinkled coats covering the head, neck and body but in general, the adult dog's wrinkles are limited to the head, neck and withers — small ears, unique "hippopotamus" muzzle, and like the Chow Chow, the Shar-Pei has a blue-black tongue. (These are the only two recognized breeds with this characteristic.)
In character, the Shar-Pei is independent yet very devoted to his family. His protective instint makes him an ideal watchdog as he is intensely loyal to his home and family and somewhat aloof with strangers. He is calm, dignified, intelligent, alert, and confident. Other words used to describe his temperament include: regal, lordly, sober, and snobbish.
The Shar-Pei's coat is very harsh and straight. The coat's length may vary from extremely short, "horse coat", to no longer than one inch at the withers, "brush coat." The coat can be any solid colour and sable. The solid colour dog may have shading down the back and on the ears.
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Health Issues:
Some of the more common ailments that affect the Chinese Shar-Pei are:
- Skin problems — One of the most common complaints of Chinese Shar-pei owners. There are a variety of causes, including: Demodectic Mange, allergies (both inhalant and food), and Cutaneous mucinosis.
- Hypothyroidism — A common complaint of all breeds. The thyroid gland is unable to function and maintain adequate levels of the various hormones needed to keep the body systems functioning. The commonest reason for hypothyroidism is thought to be "auto-immune thyroiditis". This is when the dog's own immune system turns on the thyroid gland and systematically destroys it.
- Entropion — When the excess skin surrounding the eye causes the eyelids to roll in and the eyelashes scratch the surface of the cornea. This constant irritation will ulcerate the cornea and unless treated can eventually lead to blindness in the affected eye. The Chinese Shar-pei's deep-set eyes that tend to tear, is not necessarily a sign of a problem. Problem symptoms are eyes swollen shut and/or constant pawing and rubbing at the eyes. It should be noted that Shar-Peis eyes can be very sensitive to allergies and can swell shut due to environmental allergens (i.e., dust, cigarette smoke, etc.). This can give the appearance of entropion but surgery would not correct this problem.
- Cherry eye – Protrusion of the third eyelid — is another fairly common problem in the Chinese Shar-Pei. The gland for the third eyelid becomes unattached and can be seen as a round red blob in the inner corner of the eye. When large, it can actually obscure the entire eye. It does not hurt the dog or affect his vision; however, it is unsightly and can eventually cause problems if left untreated.
If you are considering the adoption of a Shar-pei puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Additional Health Resources:
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Breed Standards:
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AKC SHAR PEI VIDEO
18 Min. Video Edition, Published by the AKC
Discussion of the breed standard: good structure and movement, acceptable colors, correct head, size. Developed for breeders, exhibitors and judges.
Available from Dogwise.com
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Training Resources:
- Training — For information on training your Chinese Shar-pei, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
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Additional Information:
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