Chinese Shar-Pei

Quick Take

• This breed was once considered one of the rarest dogs on Earth, yet a single magazine cover is what brought it back from the brink. Discover the breed's revival →
• The Shar-Pei's most iconic feature is those deep, adorable wrinkles, and they come with a hidden maintenance cost most new owners aren't prepared for. See the wrinkle care routine →
• Shar-Peis are smart enough to learn commands quickly, but that same intelligence is exactly what makes training them so difficult. Explore the training challenges →
• Their cat-like temperament makes them fiercely loyal family dogs, but there's one household dynamic where that loyalty becomes a liability. See the family dynamic risks →

Chinese Shar-Peis are compact and medium in size, though they are a purebred dog, not mixed with any other breed. They have a broad hippopotamus-like muzzle and a tongue that is blue and black. Their eyes are small and sunken, their ears are tiny and triangular, and their skin has abundant folds. Their coat has a sandpaper texture, complemented by the wrinkles on their skin. They are strong, independent, and suspicious of strangers. This breed is known for its loyalty and intelligence, and typically has a price ranging from around $800 to over $2,000 for a purebred puppy, depending on pedigree and breeder reputation.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Chinese Shar-Pei

Evolution and Origins

The Chinese Shar-Pei is named for its rough coat, with shar-pei translating to “sand-skin.” It is thought to have originated in China around 200 BC and was used as a hunting and guard dog. It was once popular as a fighting dog due to its thick skin, but after larger breeds were introduced, it suffered a decline, and its population further decreased in the late 1940s when the Chinese government imposed high taxes on dog ownership. This breed almost became extinct, and during the 1960s and 1970s, they were considered one of the rarest dogs in the world.

In 1979, Life magazine featured a Chinese Shar-Pei on its cover alongside a plea from a breeder in Hong Kong named Matgo Law to keep the breed alive. It was immediately successful; sales of Shar-Pei puppies rapidly increased, and the breed was saved from extinction.

Some breeders in the U.S. bred Shar-Peis to be smaller and with more wrinkles, creating what they call the Miniature Shar-Pei, which stands at around 16 inches, which has been met with resistance from some breeders of traditionally sized Shar-Peis.

Size and Weight

Chinese Shar-Peis are compact and medium in size. They are about 18 to 20 inches tall and usually weigh between 45 and 60 pounds. These dogs have short and very harsh coats and do not usually have loose hair. Their coat comes in various colors like fawn, red, brown, white, black, and cream.

Common Health Issues

The Chinese Shar-Pei, while it is a beautiful and smart animal, can come with health issues if you choose an unreliable breeder or source to adopt from. Hip and elbow dysplasia is rather common in this dog, which is an incredibly painful condition involving abnormal joint development that can result in reduced mobility and significant discomfort. Patellar luxation also impacts the bones, causing misalignment of the femur in the hind legs.

Autoimmune thyroiditis is another common condition, inflaming the thyroid. It is often caused by antibodies in the dog’s body that attack the thyroid, and it can be deadly.

Due to the shape of the eyelids, many conditions can arise that affect the eyes. Entropion, for example, occurs when the dog’s lower eyelid turns inward, causing the eyelashes to rub against the cornea. Retinal dysplasia, however, may happen when the folds in the retina cause lesions that could lead to blindness.

These dogs can also develop glaucoma and cataracts.

Temperament

Chinese Shar-Peis are rather cat-like when it comes to their temperament; they tend to march to the beat of their own drummer, giving attention only when they feel like it. They can come to cuddle with you, but it depends on their mood. Still, these dogs can get suspicious of strangers.

These dogs are intelligent and strong, and they are affectionate toward their owners. They are also quite devoted and can make excellent watchdogs. Shar-Peis are great family dogs and are very protective of the families that they live with.

These dogs are strong-willed and prefer making their own decisions rather than blindly following a command.

How to Take Care of a Chinese Shar-Pei

The Chinese Shar-Pei can be a fickle pet, so it is important to be fully prepared to give them what they need. Here are a few considerations that you should have in mind for their food, grooming, and even their training.

The Best Dog Food

You should feed your Shar-Pei healthy food, and a natural diet with lean meats will do your dog good. You can add other whole ingredients to your Shar-Pei’s diet, including fruits and vegetables, but high-quality dog food would be beneficial.

Keeping the right type of diet supports the health of the Chinese Shar-Pei, protecting and improving the quality of its hair and skin.

Maintenance and Grooming

For grooming your Shar-Pei, brush them as often as you want. Aim to brush it at least once a week. If you want to keep their coat in the best condition, brushing twice a week is more than enough. Their coat has a texture similar to that of sandpaper.

It is a good idea to brush their teeth twice a week. The deep wrinkles on their skin also need to be cleaned and thoroughly dried afterward, preventing any infections that might develop under their wrinkles. As a purebred, this dog does not usually shed loose hair.

Training

While Shar-Peis are smart, they are strong-minded and love to make their own decisions. Therefore, they can pick up commands quickly but often prefer to go their own way.

They do need a firm pet parent to guide them and train them. It is important that their training starts early in life, helping them to develop good habits in the long run.

Exercise

Shar-Peis are usually alert but do need low to moderate levels of exercise daily. These dogs can happily stay in an apartment, but bringing them along on a walk or two each day satisfies their need for low to moderate exercise.

They are good for being companions to the elderly, as they can accompany them on slow walks. These dogs do not consider dog parks to be ideal playgrounds and are often wary and suspicious of unfamiliar people.

Puppies

A Shar-Pei puppy requires the same general care as an adult. However, some things need to be kept in mind while dealing with Shar-Pei puppies.

For instance, the food portions should be smaller for Shar-Pei puppies. They also need to be trained at an earlier stage in life so that they can develop good habits.

Chinese Shar-Pei and Children

Shar-Peis make great family dogs and can be very playful and protective of the children of the family. However, it is always advisable to get these dogs only when your children are older. Toddlers should not be left unsupervised with these dogs.

Dogs Similar to the Chinese Shar-Pei

The Chinese Shar-Pei is not the right choice for everyone, but that’s okay. Here are a few dogs that are similar to the Chinese Shar-Pei, to help you find the right match.

• Chow Chow: These dogs are incredibly calm and confident and make great watchdogs. Their fur is much fluffier, which means they will need much more grooming.
• Pugs: These dogs are very loyal and friendly and have big personalities, though they are much smaller than the Chinese Shar-Pei.
• Corgi: These dogs are great with children and do not shed a lot. They are also easily trainable.

Famous Chinese Shar-Peis

While there might not be many famous Shar-Peis in the world, there are a few notable Instagram accounts where you can see these dogs. Some of them include @sharpeisofinstagram, showcasing individuals of this breed, and @franklinandleo, Shar-Pei brothers living in Australia.