Quick Take
- The Shar Pei's famous wrinkles were not bred for cuteness. They served a specific, brutal purpose that shaped the breed's survival. See their fighting dog roots →
- A communist government nearly erased this ancient breed from existence, but one unlikely factor managed to keep it alive. Explore the breed's near extinction →
- The Shar Pei was once the rarest dog breed on Earth, and the only reason they exist in America today is a single breeder's plea. Discover Matgo Law's rescue effort →
- British colonial rule transformed the Shar Pei into something its original Chinese breeders would barely recognize. Read about British colonial influence →
The wrinkled coat of the Chinese Shar Pei is one of the hallmarks of this unique breed. Shar Pei are among the oldest known dog breeds, dating back thousands of years. In this article, we’ll discuss what Shar Pei were originally bred for, their different jobs, and their history.
Shar Pei Facts
Shar Pei are medium- to large-sized dogs. They stand 18 to 20 inches at the shoulders and weigh 45 to 60 pounds. Breed standards note that the males are larger with more square-shaped bodies. They have small eyes and ears, a “hippopotamus” muzzle shape, and a high-set tail that curls over the back or off to either side. They can be any solid color or sable, which means they have hairs that are lighter at the base and become darker at the tips.
Shar Peis have a “hippopotamus” muzzle shape.
©WilleeCole Photography/Shutterstock.com
There are three types of Shar Pei coats:
- Bear-coat Shar Pei have fluffy coats with fewer skin wrinkles and are the rarest variety. The trait is due to a recessive gene and is not recognized by major kennel clubs.
- Horse-coat Shar Pei have short hair that bristles when rubbed in the wrong direction.
- Brush-coat Shar Pei have longer fur and more wrinkled skin.
The Origins of the Shar Pei
The Shar Pei breed is over 2,000 years old. They are thought to have originated in the village of Tai Li in Guangdong Province, China, the southernmost mainland province. They are believed to have lived in the southern provinces of China since at least the time of the Han Dynasty in roughly 200 B.C.E. The Shar Pei was a flexible rural working dog that was trained to hunt or for farm work, depending on its abilities. The dog’s short fur and dark skin were adapted to the southern Chinese climate.
Shar Pei originally come from China, where they’ve been bred for over 2,000 years.
©Waldemar Dabrowski/Shutterstock.com
Some sources claim that Shar Pei were once guards of the royal palace, and one of their jobs was to protect the royal family. Shar Pei also have a history as fighting dogs. In 1899, the British began occupying the rural outskirts of Hong Kong that were part of the Chinese province of Guangdong. So the Shar Pei population in those areas was cut off from the rest of China. With Hong Kong being a British colony, Shar Pei were bred with dogs such as mastiffs, pit bulls, and bulldogs. This was done to make them more aggressive for dog fighting, which was a popular sport at the time. Due to their loose skin, Shar Pei have unique flexibility when grabbed, and their prickly fur was believed to be a deterrent for attackers and predators.
Shar Pei Evolution
When the People’s Republic of China was established as a communist country in 1949, Mao Zedong’s government essentially banned pet ownership in the cities, nearly eliminating the Shar Pei. Fortunately, this did not impact the working dogs in rural areas, as these hunting dogs were considered valuable to families.
The Guinness Book of World Records listed the Shar Pei as the rarest dog breed in the late 1960s and late 1970s, with the breed definitively noted as such in 1978. A few Shar Pei traveled to the U.S. in the mid-60s, but they did not become popular until years later. To continue Shar Pei breeding efforts, Hong Kong breeder Matgo Law asked American friends for help. In 1973, the first Shar Pei from Law’s kennel traveled to the U.S. Fortunately, the recipients of those dogs communicated with one another and formed a national registry and dog club for the Shar Pei in the U.S. The Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America, Inc. (CSPCA), held its first meeting in 1974, and the club still exists today.
Shar Pei were once bred as farm guardians, hunting dogs, and fighting dogs.
©Alexeysun/Shutterstock.com
The breed gained popularity in the United States throughout the 1980s and was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1992. The Shar Pei of today are pampered pets with their dog-fighting days behind them. These calm, loyal, intelligent companions are devoted to their families. They excel in various AKC sports, such as scent work, tracking, barn hunting, coursing, trick ball, and fly ball.
