Chinese Shar Pei 101: Breed History



Posted: Thursday, January 17, 2008

by
http://www.sharpeiguide.com/

The name Shar Pei roughly translates into English as sand-skin. The Shar Pei does have a rough skin and tough coat. Everything about this breed is tough its personality, its physical strength and especially its history. For centuries Shar Peis were strictly Chinese. They were not allowed outside of the borders. The first Shar Pei did not reach Western shores until 1966.

There is no consensus among Shar Pei information sources where in China the breed originated. Tradition indicates the small village of Tai Lai in Southern China as the home of the Shar Pei breed. They are most likely mutations from Chow Chow crosses that were line bred or inbred in order to emphasis their mutations, most notably of the loose skin and the abundance of wrinkles. Pottery and statues of wrinkled dogs from the Han dynasty (ca 200 BCE) have been discovered. The first written reference to a wrinkled dog was in a 13th century Chinese manuscript.

Shar Peis were thought to have been originally farm dogs, meant to guard livestock, the farm and the farmer's family. Even today, Shar Peis are very protective and leery of strangers. But then they were taken off of the farm and put into the spotlight of the dog fighting pits of China. This is probably when the emphasis on loose skin and wrinkles occurred. A Shar Pei is supposed to have enough skin to cover two dogs. Loose skin makes a fighting dog harder to damage.

By the time Communism took hold of China, Shar Peis could be found in Hong Kong and what is now known as Taiwan, but they were still mostly in China. And then the Cultural Revolution came, where many traditions in China were wiped out and ruthlessly suppressed overnight. Although the end of dog fighting was a positive move, killing off all of the dogs was not. It looked like the end was in sight for the tough Shar Pei.

A Hong Kong businessman, Matgo Law, managed to rescue many Shar Pei dogs and get them exported to Western countries through the Hong Kong Kennel Club. In the 1980's, the cost of a pure bred Shar Pei puppy in America was astronomical. The lure of easy money made for poor breeding choices. The Shar Pei fell out of favor with the American public in the 1990's. However, they did manage to become a recognized breed in the American Kennel Club in 1988.

Although there are an estimated 70,000 Shar Peis today, that still is not considered a diverse enough gene pool to ensure the breed's survival. They are prone to many health problems, including inverted eyelids. Sometimes their wrinkles become so deep, the dog is effectively blind and needs cosmetic surgery in order to see. Perhaps it is best if this breed was left to history, since they do not have much of a promising future.



Melissa Coleman has interviewed many owners, trainers and vets about Shar Peis. The Shar Pei has an interesting history that is not completely known. You can find lots of articles about Shar Pei information in dog history books.

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