GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 46-51cm ( 18”-20”).
Colour: Black, red, fawn or cream. White patches are undesirable.
Coat: Short, bristly and harsh - up to 2.5cm (1”).
Gait: Purposeful and effortless with fore and hindlegs moving straight.
Looking like a wise old Chinaman with well wrinkled head, Shar Pei must stand boldy showing a squarely knit, compact body. Appearing to scowl, the eye sight must never be hampered by excessive overhanging wrinkles. The muzzle must be padded and the small triangular ears lie on the forehead pointing towards the eyes. The tongue may be bluish black or pink spotted. The short neck, carrying plenty of loose skin, runs into a broad back which dips slightly behind the withers before rising over a short broad loin. Strong moderately angulated muscular quarters finish with well knuckled feet. The shortish tail is carried either in a tight curl, or up and straight over the back.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
When young, the puppies are wrinkled all over but with maturity many of the body wrinkles disappear. Care must be taken to see that the padding of the lower lips is not so great that it interferes with the teeth fitting in a workable bite. These old fighting dogs of China are lordly, sober and standoffish with strangers, however they are very loyal, making excellent guard dogs. Minimal coat care is required. Regular bathing and checking of the skin folds is necessary in order they be kept clean and dry.
HISTORY
Although its history is imprecise one can presume that having blue/black tongues like the Chow Chow, the Shar Pei evolved from the same Asian mastiff family. The Chinese used them for protection against bandits and wild animals and, in the 14th century, Marco Polo found them to be great hunters. Later the Shar Pei became known as the Chinese Fighting Dog and, like the Chow Chow, a source of food. In 1947, when the Communist regime came to power, destruction of dogs became widespread as they were a drain on food resources. Only through appeals from a dog lover in Hong Kong to kennel clubs around the world, did the breed survive.