Shar Pei Breed Standard: Are They Supposed To Look Like That?

Article Title: Shar Pei Breed Standard: Are They Supposed To
Look Like That?
Author: Melissa A Coleman

Shar Peis, also called Chinese Shar Peis, are more wrinkled as
puppies than as adults. Because of the wrinkles about the mouth,
the Shar Pei drools a lot. There are many ways Shar Peis can be
disqualified from an AKC show. The Shar Pei's tongue or coat
might be the wrong color, or their hair might be too long. Shar
Peis were bred to fight and guard livestock, which makes their
temperament often ugly. A Shar Pei is a bad choice for the first
time dog owner.

When someone sees a Shar Pei for the first time, they commonly
react, "My goodness – what is wrong with that dog?" Shar Peis
have a distinctive look that you either love or hate. The
puppies are deeply wrinkled all over their bodies, but lose most
of the body wrinkles as they age. They keep almost all of the
deep folds and wrinkles around the face. Their eyes are almost
invisible, their ears are incredibly tiny and they usually drool
most of the time. The breed standard prefers a head that looks
too large for the body.

These grow into massive dogs with solid muscle, making them
look like a canine wrinkly-faced equivalent of Mike Tyson. They
need plenty of exercise, especially if they are to live in an
apartment. Their skin is usually so loose it looks as if you can
fit another dog in it. If you come across a purebred Shar Pei
with tight skin, it is still a purebred Shar Pei – just not one
that can't be shown.

The breed standard for Shar Peis (also called Chinese Shar
Peis) described the ideal Shar Pei as standoffish. They should
act superior, as if they know they are worth a lot more money
than you are. This is not a breed that eagerly greets strangers
or easily wags his tail. However, they can be affectionate and
playful with their people, usually preferring one family member
above the rest. Puppies need to be introduced to other dogs and
other people very early in life in order for them not to be
aggressive.

The Shar Pei is thought to be descended from the Chow Chow,
and, like the Chow Cow, has a blue-black colored tongue (the
only breeds of dog to have this quirk). They are incredibly
wrinkly when born (as puppies are kind of wrinkly anyway) and
they tend to loose most of their body wrinkles as they mature.
They usually retain a lot of wrinkles around the head. Their
skin is usually loose.

The Shar Pei temperament is perhaps the most surprising,
considering the breed is considered so cute in North America.
They were bred to be fighting dogs. The loose skin and wrinkles
give not only a scowling appearance, but less of a solid hold
for an opponent to sink his teeth into. Chinese Shar Peis are a
lot like Japanese Sumo wrestlers. They were also bred to fight
off human and animal predators from livestock.

As a consequence, these are not very friendly dogs, on the
whole. They usually do well with children, but become aggressive
to other dogs and to adults. They often bond closest to one
member of the family. They make great watchdogs and need a lot
of exercise in order to burn up their energy. They are fearless
dogs that feel superior to the rest of the world that need few
excuses to ignore you. These are not the dogs for first time dog
owners.

About The Author: Melissa Coleman has interviewed numerous
owners, vets and trainers about Shar Pei history. The Shar Pei
usually gets along with kids and other pets except other dogs.
Shar Pei information is easy to find if your search the web or
go to the library. http://www.sharpeiguide.com

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