The Shar Pei is a very peculiar breed of dog, known worldwide for the wrinkles that shape its body. Both of Chinese and American origin, this dog is popular and appreciated in any region, also considered as a symbol of social status.
Keep reading and discover in this file on our site the characteristics, character and care of the shar pei Then, you can finally decide if you want to adopt a dog with these characteristics or on the contrary, you want to continue looking for your best friend.
Origin of the shar pei
The Shar Pei is a dog of Asian origin, it is estimated that it was born in the South China Sea during the Hang dynasty. His ancestors are the Tibetan Mastiff and the Chow Chow. It is believed to be one of the oldest Chinese breeds in existence and some speculate that it dates back to 200 BC. There are also beliefs of a possible Tibetan origin.
During a good part of its existence, it was basically used as a guard dog, fighting dog, hunting dog and as a herding dog, since it is a very dog intelligent.
During the 20th century the Shar Pei was losing popularity, due to the wars and famine that stalked the country. Finally in 1940, the state decreed that dogs were considered a luxury and must be used as food to feed the starving population. Those were the beginnings of Yulin, the controversial dog meat festival that became popular in the 90s.
The breed was saved thanks to a small group of people who decided to export the Shar Pei to other countries during 1960, being United States the country where more specimens were derived.
Shar Pei Characteristics
There are various bloodlines of the Shar Pei, although the most popular are undoubtedly the American and the so-called "traditional", of Chinese origin.
He is a medium-sized dog, compact and robust. It measures about 44 - 51 centimeters at the withers, a size that can vary depending on the sex: males are usually larger than females. On the other hand, his weight is around 18 -30 kilograms
His best-known physical characteristic is the shape of his skin, full of wrinklesand somewhat greasy, somewhat It greatly benefited him in his time as a fighting dog. Other characteristics are the small ears, the dark eyes and the round tail. In addition, there are shar peis of all colors: blue, gray, white, blue or cream.
Shar Pei character
The Shar Pei has a peculiar temperament. On the one hand we find a dog calmed, calm andvery loyal Affectionate with his relatives, whom he cares for, respects and protects above all else. He is usually a dogrelaxed andobedient
On the other hand, the Shar Pei is a somewhat independent dog, he doesn't need the constant attention that other dog breeds require. This is an important factor to consider. However, you should know that each dog, regardless of its breed, can develop one personality or another.
Shar Pei care
To begin with, we must point out that Shar Pei dogs need a rich and quality diet, if possible based on fish and rice. This is because the Shar Pei has a very sensitive stomach and is prone to suffering allergies Feed based on fish and rice provide greater digestibility.
On the other hand, we must know that it is not good to bathe our Shar Pei excessively: at most we will give him baths every month and a halfThat's because soap and water remove the layer of body fat you have, which insulates and protects you. Paying attention to exhaustively drying the dog after bathing or after a walk in the rain, will be very important to prevent the appearance of fungi. We will pay attention to the hidden space between the wrinkles, where fungi tend to affect more.
Although the Shar Pei greatly appreciates the warmth that the sun provides, we must take precautions to prevent it from burning. In the same way, it will be convenient to adequately protect him from the cold with coats.
Shar Pei He alth
The Shar Pei has a very peculiar coat known as a horse coat, since it is short and sticks very close to the body. It also has a thicker fat layer than other breeds. These details added to the grooves that cause the folds favor the appearance of fungi and other problems related to the skin of the Shar Pei.
The dryness, the dermatitis or theentropion (skin that forms on the lower and upper eyelids of the animal) are other diseases related to wrinkles that can affect you.
Another well-known disease that this breed can suffer from is the well-known Shar Pei fever Check their he alth status regularly andgoing to the vet every 6 months will be a good measure to prevent these problems. It will also be essential to carry out your vaccination schedule up to date, as well as internal and external deworming.
Shar Pei Education
The shar pei is a intelligent dog although sometimes he can be a a little stubborn. We have to actively work on their education and training to promote a sociable and kind dog.
During his puppy stage we must practice socialization, a stage in which we must show our Shar Pei different kinds of people, animals and objects. The purpose of this stage is to enrich the knowledge of the environment of the dog to promote a sociable, affectionate and respectful attitude. Preventing fears or aggressiveness in the future.
On the other hand, his intelligence will help us a lot in his training stage. We should be able to teach him the basic commands of training. They are essential elements for its safety, so that it obeys us and also helps us create a powerful emotional bond with the dog.
We must never use physical punishment, we will base all their education on positive reinforcement. Once we have learned the basics, we can teach our Shar Pei more fun or complicated tricks, we can even think about introducing him to agility.
Dedicating time, patience and affection to the education and training of the Shar Pei dog will be fundamental and very important. In the same way we will maintain a regularity in your routine and day to day that allows you to feel confident.
