The Shar Pei dog breed  is originally from China and is a symbol of the Han dynasty for which it signifies or provides energy, affection and love. This dog is very affectionate, loving, independent, reserved, devoted, distrustful and was used at the beginning as a guard dog of graves, as a herding dog, hunting dog, later it became a defense dog, and is now considered a animal companion. What mainly characterizes this dog are his wrinkles.

It is believed that this breed is the result of a cross between the  Tibetan Mastiff and the Chow Chow , as they have certain morphological similarities such as the bluish-black tongue. Currently two lines of Shar Pei are known , these are the American and the traditional (Chinese), the American is distinguished because its size is smaller, its wrinkles are more marked, its muzzle is thicker and its hair is longer.

This dog is not usually aggressive, but it is important that it is educated from a puppy to avoid misbehavior when it reaches adulthood. The  Shar Pei are reserved with strangers, but very cordial and loving with people who earn their trust.

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Shar Pei Features

The Shar Pei has a very good relationship with children because it has the ability to protect them and calibrate their strength while playing with them, it also has the ability to adapt to various spaces and lifestyles.

Its character is similar to that of a cat, even in its way of playing with objects by means of “clawing.” Another aspect that makes this breed stand out is its hunting instinct, it has excellent eyesight and great patience to stalk its prey.

• Weight:  the female weighs between 18 and 25 kg, and the male between 25 and 30 kg.
• Height at the withers: 44 to 51 cm.
• Skull:  round and large at the base, but flat and broad at the forehead.
• Coat: short and rough, 1 to 2.5 cm long, should never be cut.
• Coat color:  all solid colors are accepted except white: red, black, chocolate, blue, lilac, fawn, etc.
• Body: full of folds.
• Nose:  large and broad, generally black.
• Ears:  small, triangular, slightly rounded at the tips, they should be directed forward and close to the head.
• Tail:  extremely high.
• Muzzle:  broad at the base and tapers slightly at the nose.

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Life expectancy

Shar Pei breed dogs reach approximately 10 years of age.

Health of the Shar Pei 

It is a generally healthy dog, but it can present health problems such as: swollen hock syndrome, entropion, ectropion, eye ulcers, tight lip, elongation of the soft palate, narrowing of the nostrils, optic infection, problems skin, rash, mucinosis, rectal prolapse, immunodeficiency, hip and elbow dysplasia .

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Shar Pei care 

• Some advise not to bathe Shar Pei frequently, as this causes bad odors and fungus proliferation if it does not dry well between its folds, but if your dog likes to roll in the sand, swim and get dusty, you can bathe him regularly every two months, but taking great care to ensure that its folds are well dry.
• Its coat does not require cutting.
• The Shar Pei is usually sedentary in its adulthood and that is why it is necessary to take it for a walk around 3 times a day, physical activity is important to prevent it from being overweight and all the diseases that this entails, it will also help to have a psychological balance.
• You need to receive a good diet, you can consult a veterinarian to prescribe a suitable diet for your Shar Pei .
• Do not expose your dog to the sun for too long.
• Take him periodically to the vet and keep all his vaccinations up to date .

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Curiosities of the Shar Pei breed

• The name of this dog comes from two Chinese ideograms: “sha”, which means “sand”, and “pi”, which means “skin.” That is to say “skin of sand.”
• The Shar Pei was on the verge of disappearing in the 1960s due to a communist regime in the People’s Republic of China against pets, which it considered symbols of the bourgeoisie and an unnecessary waste of food.
• The Shar Pei  have lots of wrinkles when they are puppies, but these are decreasing with the passage of time.
• This dog was recognized as the rarest dog breed in the world by Time magazine and Guinness World Records.