The Chinese Shar-Pei

In The Beginning...

The breed has been traced back over 2000 years to a time when it was kept by Chinese peasant farmers as a guardian of the farmers home also for hunting wild boar and protecting the livestock.  The features most valued in the breed were intelligence, strength and the "Warrior Scowl" that helped in frightening barbarian thieves who were always at war with the farmers.

The following excerpt is from the book "The Chinese Shar-Pei" by Paul Strand and Eve C. Olsen. "During the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-AD. 220), artistic fired-clay statues and statuettes depicting the life of the era were very popular, and the dog was a favourite subject. Fortunately, many of these Han statuettes have survived to this day and may be seen in such places as the Louvre and the British Museum. One such statuette is on display in the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, Avery Brundage Collection, as the ''Chinese Tomb Dog.'' And there are others in private collections. Anyone who harbours a tendency to doubt the antiquity of the Shar-Pei has but to examine the Han dog figurines. These dogs portray, unmistakably, the same breed we know today. Although then not quite so wrinkled as now, the rugged, foursquare look, the tail wheeled over the back, and the celebrated warrior scowl is lifelike to an amazing degree.

It is interesting to note that the time of the Han Dynasty in China corresponds rather closely to the time of the Roman Empire in Europe. Under the Romans, European dogs were often trained as fighters, matched either against others of their kind or against bears and lions. But in China there is no record of the dogs of the Han Dynasty ever being used in such fashion.

Jean Yu, Orientalist of Washington, D. C., has researched ancient Chinese manuscripts and insists that the Sharp-pet's original purpose was for use as hunting dogs and that their principal quarry was the mongoose. Nevertheless, because of their strength and appearance, these dogs were introduced to a combat role at a later time in history. The village of Dah Let, in Southern China's Kwangtung Province near Canton, was at one time known as a gambler's haven. Betting on dogfights was a popular pastime and the Han dog became a favourite contestant. Dah Let dog breeders, anxious to improve the breed's ability and its chances in the ring, set out to perfect some of the main characteristics we know today. The bristly coat was developed to make it distasteful in an opponent's mouth', the very loose skin to enable a dog to turn and twist in the grasp of his opponent, making it difficult for the enemy to get to the Shar-pei's flesh', and the re curved canine teeth to provide a hook-like hold on the antagonist. He possessed stamina and determinations but before battles the canine contender was given wine and stimulating drugs to heighten his aggressiveness.

But while these developments were taking place in our breed, other tight promoters and gamblers were proceeding along a different line. Mastiffs, Bulldogs, and other breeds were brought to China from the West, crossbred, and selected for vicious temperament. The native fighting Han dog of Dah Let proved to be no match for these bigger, stronger, more ferocious dogs. No longer in demand, their breeding was neglected and the numbers of the Dah Let fighting dogs rapidly decreased. But what was to be the near fatal blow to the breed occurred when the Chinese Communists came to power. One of their first moves was to impose such a heavy tax on dogs that only the extremely wealthy could afford the luxury of canine companionship. And then a further edict declared dogs a ''decadent bourgeois luxury'' and banned dog breeding. In 1947 the tax on dogs that still survived was sharply increased. As a result of all this Communist Party pressure, by 1950 only scattered specimens of the noble dog of the Han Dynasty were left. From isolated South China villages, fanciers in Macao (Portuguese China) and Hong Kong were able to secure an occasional specimen, but the breed was on the brink of being lost forever. "The Strang and Olsen book was copyrighted in 1980 and published by William W. Denlinger.

Recent History

Shirley Rafferty (Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America) had the following to say in description of the Shar-Pei.

"A few years ago these dogs were listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's rarest breed, and in 1975 there were less than forty in the United States. The Hong Kong Kennel Club, affiliated with the London Kennel Club, registered Shar-Pei as late as 1966.

Puppies are more wrinkled than adults. The skin tightens up over the lower half of the body as a pup matures, with full size being reached at six to eight months. The Shar-Pei is strongly built; the body is short-coupled and well balanced, with a broad, deep chest giving the dog a strong solid, square appearance. Colours range from light to dark fawn, red fawn, cream, black, chocolate and sable. The coat is not slick or glossy and should have a gritty feel because of its stiff and bristly texture. Coat types are the very short bristly harsh coat and the brush coat that is not over one inch in length and stands off from the skin at 90 degrees over the wrinkle. The name Shar-Pei means sandy coat.

The tongue has the distinction of being either all blue-black or flowered, meaning one with spots of various sizes. Also many have black flews and roof of mouth. Because of the profuse skin above the eyes, eyes have to be watched closely for any turning or rolling in of eyelashes that can irritate the cornea. This condition is treatable with little effort on the part of the owner. The distinctive head displays a blunt muzzle, even more so in the males, a description that accurately applies to no other breed. The ears, small and triangular, lay tight to the head and point toward the eyes.

The average size is 45 to 50 centimetres tall the shoulder with weight from 18 to 25 kilograms. Shar-Pei puppies housebreak themselves at a very early age. They are devoted to the owner who really loves them and they want to please and to be close to their master whenever possible. As watchdogs they are outstanding, as their sense of smell and sight are superior to most breeds. Grooming is no chore either, for they are very clean dogs. Their average life span in China is 12 to 14 years with the oldest known Shar-Pei living to be 18.

Being sturdy, compact, active and intelligent the Shar-Pei is perfectly suited to city suburban or country living. The dog is outgoing by nature and happy indoors or out. The Shar-Pei love to ride in cars, and are not barkers. They are homebodies and do not like to stray. Because of his stay-at-home nature and his deep loyalty to family and friends, the Shar-Pei makes a natural watchdog. Being both calm and obedient, he does not tend to overreact. The Shar-Pei is an enchanting creature, possessing so many qualities sought after in an all-around dog for security as well as companionship.”