Content
- origin of shar pei
- Shar pei characteristics
- shar pei personality
- shar pei care
- Shar pei diseases
- Shar pei education and training
O shar pei is a very peculiar breed of dog, known worldwide for the wrinkles that shape its body. Of Chinese and American origin, this dog popular and appreciated in any region is also considered a symbol of social status.
On this Animal Expert page we will explain all about shar pei: its origin, its physical characteristics, personality, education and even some of its most common illnesses.
Read on and find out what a shar pei really is, what needs it has and finally decide if you should adopt a dog with these characteristics or if, on the contrary, you should keep looking for your best friend:
Source- Asia
- China
- Group II
- Rustic
- muscular
- short ears
- toy
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- Giant
- 15-35
- 35-45
- 45-55
- 55-70
- 70-80
- more than 80
- 1-3
- 3-10
- 10-25
- 25-45
- 45-100
- 8-10
- 10-12
- 12-14
- 15-20
- Low
- Average
- High
- Balanced
- Passive
- Intelligent
- Quiet
- floors
- Houses
- hiking
- Hunting
- Shepherd
- Surveillance
- Sport
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Short
- thick
- Oily
origin of shar pei
The shar pei is a dog of Asian origin. It is estimated that he was born in the south china sea during the Hang dynasty and that their ancestors are the tibetan mastiff and the chow chow. It is believed to be one of the oldest Chinese races in existence and some speculate that it dates back to 200 BC There are also beliefs of possible Tibetan origin.
For a good part of its existence, it was basically used as a guard dog, fighting dog, hunting dog and as a shepherd dog because it is a very smart animal. He had no problem adapting to the different tasks entrusted to him.
During the 20th century, the shar pei was losing popularity, as a result of wars and famines that haunted the country. Finally, in 1940, the state decreed that dogs were considered a luxury and that they should be used as food for the starving population to survive. That was the beginning of Yulin, the controversial dog meat festival that started to become popular in the 1990s.
The race was saved thanks to a small group of people who decided to export shar pei to other countries during the year 1960, with the United States being the country where most of the specimens went.
Shar pei characteristics
The shar pei is recognized as an official breed and belongs to group II of the FCI: bulldog molosso dog. There are several shar pei bloodlines, although the most popular are undoubtedly the American and the so-called "traditional" ones, of Chinese origin.
It's a dog medium, compact and robust. Measures 44-51 centimeters to the cross, size that can vary depending on sex: males are generally larger than females. On the other hand, its weight is around 18-30 kilograms, we are talking about a medium-sized dog.
Its best known physical characteristic is the shape of its skin, full of wrinkles and a little greasy, something that benefited him a lot in his time as a fighting dog. Other features are small ears, dark eyes and round tail. There are shar pei of all colors: blue, grey, white, beige...
shar pei personality
The shar pei has a peculiar temperament: on the one hand we find a calm, calm and very loyal dog, affectionate with his family, who cares for, respects and protects everything. It is, in general, a relaxed and obedient dog.
On the other hand, the shar pei is a dog a little independent, not needing the constant attention that other dog breeds require. This is an important factor to take into account. However, you should know that any dog, regardless of its breed, can develop one personality or another.
shar pei care
To start with, we must emphasize that this dog needs a rich and quality food, if possible based on fish and rice, which is due to its very sensitive stomach and prone to allergies. Feeds based on fish and rice provide greater digestibility.
On the other hand, you should know that it's not good to bathe your shar pei excessively: at the most, you should take it bath every month and a half. This happens because water and soap eliminate the layer of body fat that it has, which serves to insulate and protect the dog. be aware and dry the dog completely, after a shower or a rainy walk, this is very important to prevent the appearance of fungus. Look closely at the hidden space between the wrinkles, where fungi tend to attack the most.
although the shar pei thank you very much for the heat provided by the sun, you must take precautions to prevent it from burning. Likewise, it is convenient to adequately protect the dog from the cold with shelters.
Shar pei diseases
the shar pei has a very peculiar coat known as horse coat (horse skin) as it is short close to the body. It also has a thicker layer of fat than other breeds. These details, added to the furrows that cause the folds, favor the appearance of fungi and other problems related to the skin of the shar pei.
Dryness, dermatitis or entropion (skin that forms on the pet's lower and upper eyelids) are other wrinkle-related illnesses that can affect the dog.
Another well-known disease that affects this breed is shar pei fever. Regularly observing your health status and visiting your veterinarian every 6 months are good ways to prevent these problems. It is also essential to have the dog's vaccination updated, as well as internal and external deworming.
Shar pei education and training
the shar pei is a smart dog, although in some situations it can be a little stubborn. You must actively work on your education and training to form a sociable and kind dog:
During your puppyhood, you should practice socialization, a stage in which you should show your shar pei puppy different types of people, animals and objects. The purpose of this phase is to enrich the knowledge of the environment of the dog to ensure a sociable, affectionate and respectful attitude, preventing fears or aggression in the future.
On the other hand, your intelligence will be a big help in your training phase. The tutor must be able to teach basic commands training, such as: sitting, lying down, staying quiet, coming... These are essential elements for your safety and for you to obey, in addition to helping to create a stronger emotional bond with the dog.
You must never use physical punishment with this dog. All your education should be based on positive reinforcement, always. Once you learn the basics, you can teach your shar pei to do tricks that are more fun or difficult, and you can even get him started in agility.
To dedicate time, patience and affection the education and training of the shar pei dog is fundamental and very important. Likewise, you must maintain a consistency in your routine and day-to-day that allows him to feel confident.