Characteristics of the Shar-pei

This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, August 2017 issue.

Characteristics of the Shar-pei

I am fairly certain that most people think their breed of dog is the best one above all the others. The Chinese Shar-Pei is no different. Once people own one, they seldom change to another breed.

It truly is a unique breed. They are very loyal dogs and extremely devoted to their family. There isn’t much they wouldn’t do for their owners. When you are gone, they will be looking for your return. They are a little bit standoffish and aloof with strangers, but over time will become friends with them as well.

Shar-Pei make great house companions. They are easy to house-train and love to keep themselves and their area clean. Puppies housebreak themselves. Many of them take care of “their business” at the farthest corners of their yard to keep their play area clean. This is not taught—it is just a natural quality unique to the breed.

If you change the home of a Shar-Pei puppy, give them three days, and they will learn where you expect them to go outside. They are pretty mellow dogs and, once they have outgrown the puppy stage, are fairly calm. They do require exercise, though, whether that is daily walks or the opportunity to run freely in a fenced backyard.

Most Shar-Pei love children and are very protective if they feel that someone is trying to harm a child. Shar-Pei are watchdogs and take their job seriously, watching over their homes and family members. Although they aren’t really known as barkers, they will certainly alert you to a stranger approaching the home or anything unusual going on outside. If you hear a Shar-Pei barking wildly, you’d better investigate.

Many of them even watch from the window for their owners to return and can recognize the vehicles that the family drives. They want to be in the same room as their owners and will follow you from room to room. Shar-Pei will either sleep close to your feet while you watch TV or lay in a spot where they can monitor all entrances to the home while keeping an eye on their owners.

If you have your heart set on a lap dog, this probably is not the breed for you. Some people don’t believe that dogs can show empathy, but Shar-Pei can! They sense when you are sad and will do their best to show their deep love for you, as well as try to make you feel better. They are very affectionate dogs and might even shower you with kisses, although that is not reserved for just being sad!

Learning is not a problem with this breed. They love to learn new things but can be a little stubborn. If they feel that what they are learning is not fun or useful, there might be a problem. On the whole, they love to please their owners and will try just about anything their owners ask of them—up to a point.

We have quite a few dogs in our breed that participate in conformation, obedience/rally, agility, therapy work, herding, flyball, and freestyle dance. There are several multi-titled dogs that have earned Versatility titles from the CSPCA. Most of the breed has a good understanding of the difference between working and playing. You can often find them playing outside of a show or performance ring, but they get serious and down to business as soon as they cross the line into the ring.

Shar-Pei have no problem running the show, so they need a strong owner who lets them know who the boss is. They are happy to have their owners step up to that job, but if the owner doesn’t, they will. Most of the breed gets along well with other dogs, and some even get along with cats. It is easy to run these dogs in a pack as long as they know who the boss is.

You probably need to know that Shar-Pei are like potato chips—you can’t have just one. As with any breed, there are regular maintenance needs. The breed is pretty much “wash and wear.” Bathe them when needed and let them air dry. Their hair is so short that blow drying is not necessary. Their nails grow very fast, so it’s a good idea to trim them weekly.

Since their ears fold over toward the face, this structure is ideal for ear problems. Weekly cleaning of the ears, along with nail trimming, is recommended. The breed usually “blows their coat” (sheds) twice a year with the changes of seasons. During this time, you will probably want to brush the loose hair out of their coat.

All breeds of dogs have some health issues. The inherited problems in the breed include Shar-Pei fever, Amyloidosis (kidney disease), entropion (rolling in of the eyelids), and allergies, which can cause skin problems. Not all Shar-Pei are affected with these issues, but if you encounter a problem, it is likely to be one of these.

Good breeders have worked hard to eliminate these problems and are making progress in reducing inherited health issues.

All in all, the owners of this breed are just as devoted to the breed as the dogs are devoted to their owners. If you would like more information about our breed, visit our website at www.cspca.com.