Shar Pei: breed characteristics, pros and cons

Shar Pei is one of the most amusing dog breeds in appearance. This breed is characterized primarily by the presence of lovely folds of skin and a calm expression of the muzzle. Behind this lies a real strong character, which can be called an ancient primitive power.

Today, sharpei is quite popular among those who value strength and character in dogs.. In order to raise a true protector and true friend from a pet, you need to properly educate and care for him. It is about how to take care of sharpei, what positive and negative sides of character he possesses, and we will talk in this article.

The homeland of Shar-Pei is Ancient China. Thanks to archaeological investigations, it was clear that the breed appeared about 3,000 years ago. Mastiffs and Chow Chows are considered their descendants. Initially, these dogs were used as shepherd and guard.

Shar Pei refers to medium-sized dogs, which are characterized by a strong physique and well-developed muscles. A male significantly exceeds the height and weight of a female, his height can reach 50 centimeters, and the weight is a maximum of 25 kilograms. Life expectancy is 10 years. The distinctive features of the breed include the following:

• massive skull, which is wider than the body;
• the presence of folds - when a sharpei puppy is born, it is completely covered with folds, and with aging they are smoothed out and remain only on the face;
• the presence of a large nose in black;
• dark eyes that are set deep enough;
• well developed jaws and black lips;
• wide and powerful legs;
• strong torso;
• harsh short coat.

The breed standard is also defined and color, which is as follows:

• the black;
• blue;
• apricot;
• chocolate;
• ginger;
• lilac;
• ashen;
• cream;
• sable;
• deer.

This is an active and intelligent dog, which, despite its rather strict and tough character, treats family members quite well and with love. To strangers, a dog can show aggression only if it feels that a negative or a threat to the owners of the animal is coming from them. Shar Pei is a very brave dog who protects his master to the last. A sharpei dog is a true friend for children, he loves to play with them. But the child needs to be explained that the dog should be treated with respect, as the pet will not tolerate rudeness and bad attitude.

Sharpey is characterized by leadership qualities, they are used to dominate. The hierarchy for such a dog is a common thing. That is why, when a puppy lives in a family, he begins to "test" all his "roommates" in order to understand who to obey and who can be manipulated.

Like any other dog, sharpei have both positive and negative traits. Let's separately highlight both the pros and cons. It is worth highlighting several positive aspects of the breed.

• Mind and intuition. The dog perfectly feels all members of the family, knows how to distinguish their mood. For example, if a dog sees that its owner is homesick or saddened by something, it will certainly show sympathy. As for training, you need to train your pet in order from early childhood.
• The real protector. As mentioned earlier, sharpei are excellent defenders and will protect relatives even at the cost of their own lives.
• Friendliness and playfulness. Sharpei will relate to a person as he relates to him. Dogs are very fond of actively playing and relaxing, but even with the most entertaining game, the animal must control itself and its actions. With them you need to often and long walk in the fresh air.
• Unpretentiousness in leaving. Sharpei does not need frequent combing, since he has short hair. Water procedures need to be done several times a year. After bathing, you must definitely dry the dog with a hairdryer. Constantly you only need to monitor the condition of the auricles and eyes, brush your teeth with a special brush and take care of the hair that is in the folds.

It is also worth highlighting the negative aspects.

• Dominant character. This characteristic of the breed is strongly manifested in the attitude of the dog to other animals.
• Real brawlers. Sharpei very often become instigators of fights. They do not care that the adversary can be twice as large as he is. If it happens that your pet has been in a fight, he must be shown to a doctor.
• Often get sick. All diseases that are characteristic of sharpei are transmitted by heredity.
• Need special nutrition. Sharpei often have allergic reactions to foods. In most cases, the dog should be given exclusively special food, the cost of which is quite high.
• Harmful character. To raise an obedient pet, you need to spend a lot of time training it.

Of course, getting a sharpei or not is already a private matter for everyone. But it must be borne in mind that the size of the dog is rather large, so keeping it in a small apartment is not practical.

About the features of the breed, see the video below.