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With its deeply folded skin, erect and curved tail, and very rough coat, the Shar Pei (meaning "sandy coat") is one of the most visually distinctive dog breeds available today. The American Kennel Club even refers to the Shar Pei’s head as having a "hippopotamus" shape. The history of this unusual dog may possibly extend back two thousand years; shards of ancient Chinese pottery show pictures of a dog remarkably similar to the modern Shar Pei, and a second-century statue in Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts as well as small pieces in other museums also bear a strong resemblance. In support of the antiquity of this breed is a 2004 article published in Science Magazine (Genetic Structure of the Purebred Domestic Dog), revealing that the Shar Pei is one of only four basic types of dog that were bred originally from wolves.

Believed to have originated in Quandong province of China, the Shar Pei was bred to serve as an all-purpose farm dog, able to herd, track, catch rats, and function as a reliable watchdog. Continued modern breeding has resulted in a strong, intelligent, intensely loyal, and protective animal.

The Shar Pei breed was not recognized by the American Kennel Club until 1991.

An Excellent Family Companion

Although generally not friendly to strangers, with early training the Shar Pei can become a very devoted family pet. They learn quickly (though sometimes characterized as stubborn), are tenacious guardians of the home, can be house-trained easily, and require very little grooming because they are meticulous in self-grooming. As puppies, Shar Peis are the model of "cute and cuddly" and their unusual appearance attracts attention even as adults.

Physical Appearance

The Shar Pei is a medium size dog, 18 to 20 inches tall at the withers and weighing between 45 and 60 pounds as an adult, males are typically being larger and more square-bodied. Both sexes have relatively large heads that they carry erectly, based on a full neck. Chinese breeders refer to the shape of the Shar Pei head as "calabash." Their ears are quite small relative to the head and lie flat to the head. Eyes tend to be quite small, dark, and deeply set, giving the adult dog a slightly menacing appearance that may have contributed to their value as guard dogs on the farm. This is enhanced by a combination of keen eyesight and sense of smell. The Shar Pei’s coat colors vary widely but as show dogs only solid colors, with some degree of shading, are acceptable.

As noted above, the coat is one of this dog’s most distinctive features, standing completely erect and stiff in the main trunk of the body, while the skin appears to be very loose and multiply folded, particularly as puppies. Some or even most of these folds or wrinkles can in the mature animal be confined to the head, neck, and withers.

Behavior and Temperament

The Shar Pei has been described as: dignified, calm, and confident, regal, alert, intelligent, dignified, lordly, scowling, sober and snobbish, essentially independent, a bit arrogant and somewhat standoffish with strangers, but extreme in his devotion to his family. Shar Pei can also exhibit behavior characterized by some as "clownish."

Because of the breed’s hooded eyes, the Shar Pei has limited peripheral vision. As a consequence, they do not like to be approached closely from the side, and typically will shy away.

They easily become attached to both the home and the family and, although they enjoy both indoor and outdoor life, do not tend to stray. Shar Pei have been described as "people dogs", reflecting their preference for human companionship over other dogs. Since they have a very strong sense of dominance, it is important to begin training when the puppy is about 6 months old, continuing until the Shar Pei is properly socialized, in order to avoid fights with other breeds.

When taught his proper place in the household as a puppy, the Shar Pei can become a devoted companion and an excellent playmate for children.

Health Issues

Typically a Chinese Shar Pei will live from about 8 to 12 years, but a longevity of well past 10 years is not uncommon. One breeder reports that his oldest Shar Pei lived to be 17.  Curiously, typical wrinkles on the head of a Shar Pei resemble the Chinese character for "longevity."

A long history of breeding unfortunately has resulted in a variety of health issues in this otherwise attractive dog. These include eyelid malformations, a condition called entropion, which can cause irritation to the eye and eventually ulceration. This condition can be relieved through surgery. Very small ear canals and folded ear flaps can result in infections, making frequent ear cleaning an important aspect of hygiene. The folded skin makes the Shar Pei susceptible to skin infections and mange, but these are readily avoided by regular bathing.

Signs of High Intelligence

In addition to its quickness in training for household purposes, the Shar Pei has frequently found acting work in television and movies because of its innate ability to follow direction. As a result, the Shar Pei has "acted" in numerous venues, including appearances in:

• The long-running TV show "Lost", as Bpo Bpo ("a kiss"), the pet of the Korean character named Sun Kwon.
• Ghostbusters II
• The Billon Dollar Hobo
• Hong Kong TVB comedy shows, as Popeye
• Big Brother reality show, as Zac Lichman’s pet
• Music videos from the Korean hip-hop group Big Bang
• An advertisement for an anti-wrinkle cream on British television
• The UK TV version of Creature Comforts
• Various cartoon shows, movies, and comic strips that include The Simpsons, American Dragon, and Get Fuzzy
• Australian television commercials for Purex toilet tissue

A Popular Canine Companion

The Shar Pei first came to the United States in 1966 from a stock registered with the Hong Kong Kennel Club. These dogs remained a rarity in this country until 1973, when an appeal went out to "Save the Chinese Shar-Pei", which had become nearly extinct resulting from policies of the Mao Zedong regime outlawing the breeding of dogs. A year later the Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America was founded, and Shar Peis have appeared in shows ever since. Today the Shar Pei has become one of the most popular breeds in America, and can be seen in the company of many celebrities, such as Kimmy Gibbler of "Full House", New Kids on the Block member Jonathan Knight, Burt Reynolds, William Shatner, Yul Brynner, David Beckham, Wayne Newton, Andy Gibb, Joanna Carson, Ray Liota, the Argentinean soccer star Maradona, and the king of Morocco.

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