Will Shar Peis Ever Become Popular?

Shar Peis are the really wrinkly dogs from China that were all the rage in the 1980's. They'd been around for centuries in China, but the Western world didn't get their own Shar Peis until then. It has been suspected that the Shar Peis that were sold to North Americans were of far inferior stock than their kin in China. The gene pool in North America is very small, so finding a healthy puppy is rare.

These are big, muscular dogs that often tip the scales at fifty to sixty pounds. They were originally bred for dog fighting, so their personalities are far different than most other breeds of dogs. They are single person dogs and usually do not get on well with other dogs, but usually do well with children. They have strong wills to match their strong bodies. These are not dogs for the first time dog owner, for those with physical problems, or those with a submissive nature. It is thought that Shar Peis descended from Chow Chows, which are more popular around the world than Shar Peis. The two breeds share a lot in common. They are both big, muscular breeds with broad chests and a bull neck. Both are have bodies that resemble furry bricks on legs. And both have a purple, or blue-black tongue. Often blue tongues are the sign of a very sick dog, but not in Chow Chows or Shar Peis. Some Shar Peis are born with pink tongues, but are disqualified from showing.

Other ways Shar Peis can get disqualified from the show ring is by not having a solid colored coat. They often come in a brown and white coat that resembles an English Springer Spaniel's. This is sometimes called a flowered Shar Pei among Shar Pei enthusiasts. Sometimes a small tuft of white is allowed on a show dog. If they have bear coats, in which the hairs are over one inch long, they will also be disqualified.

The Shar Pei temperament is perhaps the most surprising, considering the breed is considered so cute in North America. They were bred to be fighting dogs. The loose skin and wrinkles give not only a scowling appearance, but less of a solid hold for an opponent to sink his teeth into. Chinese Shar Peis are a lot like Japanese Sumo wrestlers. They were also bred to fight off human and animal predators from livestock.

As a consequence, these are not very friendly dogs, on the whole. They usually do well with children, but become aggressive to other dogs and to adults. They often bond closest to one member of the family. They make great watchdogs and need a lot of exercise in order to burn up their energy. They are fearless dogs that feel superior to the rest of the world that need few excuses to ignore you. These are not the dogs for first time dog owners.

Melissa Coleman loves everything having to do with dogs, including Sharp Peis. The Shar Pei is hard to breed properly, as the breeding lines have dwindled. Shar Pei information is easy to find if your search the web or go to the library.