Chinese Shar-Pei

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Chinese Shar-Pei

Canis lupus

Last updated: February 9, 2022
Verified by: IMP
Image Credit Liliya Kulianionak/Shutterstock.com

These dogs have a blue and black tongue.

Chinese Shar-Pei Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis lupus

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

Chinese Shar-Pei Conservation Status

Chinese Shar-Pei Locations

Chinese Shar-Pei Locations


Chinese Shar-Pei Facts

Fun Fact
These dogs have a blue and black tongue.
Temperament
Loyal, intelligent, protective
Diet
Omnivore

Chinese Shar-Pei Physical Characteristics

Color
  • Fawn
  • Red
  • Black
  • Cream
  • Sandy
Skin Type
Hair
Lifespan
9 to 11 years
Weight
44 lbs

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Chinese Shar-Pei as a Pet:

General Health
Energy Level
Shedability
Trainability
Intelligence
Tendency to Chew
Size
Family and kid friendliness
Yappiness / Barking
High
Separation Anxiety
Moderate
Preferred Temperature
Average climate
Exercise Needs
Low
Friendly With Other Dogs
Moderate
Pure bred cost to own
$750 to $1,500
Dog group
Non-sporting
Male weight
35-44 lbs
Female weight
35-44 lbs

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The Chinese Shar-Pei is smart and intelligent, making it easy to train them. They make great guard dogs, due to their intimidating look and loyalty to their family.

Chinese Shar-Peis are compact and medium in size, though they are not mixed with any other breed. They have a broad hippopotamus muzzle and a tongue that is blue and black. Their eyes are small and sunken, and they have a scowling expression. They sometimes have a price as high as $1,800 for a purebred puppy.

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Their ears are tiny and triangular, while their skin has abundant folds. Their coat has a sandpaper texture, complemented by the wrinkles on their coat. They are strong and independent and are known for their loyalty as well as intelligence. These dogs are suspicious of strangers.

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3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Chinese Shar-Pei

Here are a few pros and cons of owning a Chinese Shar-Pei:

Pros! Cons!
Good guard dog: If you are looking for a dog that can watch over the home and family, this would the perfect choice for you to consider. Training: These dogs can sometimes be difficult to train. When teaching them new commands, make sure to be a firm and confident pet parent while dealing with them.
Affectionate: These pups are very affectionate and are very protective of their owner’s families. Strong-headed: They are strong-headed and often want to be independent and make their own decisions rather than blindly following commands. This can sometimes be a problem for their owners.
Low exercise needs: These dogs need only a low level of daily exercise which means that they can happily stay in an apartment. Health problems: These dogs are prone to several health problems which can be a difficult thing to handle for the owners sometimes.
Blue Shar Pei Dog in green grass in a park. The Shar Pei, or Chinese Shar-Pei, is a breed of dog known for its distinctive features of deep wrinkles.
Blue Shar Pei Dog in green grass in a park. The Shar Pei, or Chinese Shar-Pei, is a breed of dog known for its distinctive features of deep wrinkles.

Grisha Bruev/Shutterstock.com



Chinese Shar-Pei Size and Weight

The Chinese Shar-Peis are compact and medium in size. They are about 17 to 20 inches tall and usually weigh between 35 to 44 pounds. These dogs have a short and very harsh coat and do not usually have loose hair. Their coat comes in various colors like fawn, red, brown, white, black, and cream.

Height (Male) 17-20 inches tall
Height (Female) 17-20 inches tall
Weight (male) 35-44 lbs., fully grown
Weight (female) 35-44 lbs., fully grown

Chinese Shar-Pei Common Health Issues

The Chinese Shar-Pei, while it is a beautiful and smart animal, can come with health issues if you choose an unreliable or inconsistent source to adopt them from. Hip and elbow dysplasia is rather common in this dog, which is an incredibly painful condition in the misalignment of the joints that can result in low white blood cells. Patellar luxation also impacts the bones, causing misalignment in the femur in the hind legs.

Health and Entertainment for your Chinese Shar-Pei

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Autoimmune thyroiditis is another common condition, inflaming the thyroid. It often is caused by the antibodies in the dog’s body that ends up attacking the thyroid, and it can be deadly.

Due to the shape of the eyelids, many conditions can arise that affect the eyes. Entropion, for example, is caused when the dog’s lower eyelid turns inward, causing the eyelashes to rub against the eyeball. Retinal dysplasia, however, may happen when the folds in the retina cause lesions that could lead to blindness.

These dogs can also develop glaucoma and cataracts. Overall, the health problems of a Chinese Shar-Pei include:

  • Hip dysplasia
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Patellar luxation
  • Entropion
  • Retinal dysplasia
  • Cataracts
  • Glaucoma
  • Skinfold infections

Chinese Shar-Pei Temperament

Chinese Shar-Peis have a rather cat-like when it comes to their temperament; they tend to march to the beat of their own drummer, providing attention when they want to receive it themselves. They can come to cuddle with you, but it depends on the mood. Still, these dogs can get suspicious of strangers.

These dogs are intelligent and strong, and they are affectionate towards their owners. They are also quite devoted. They can also make excellent watchdogs. Shar-Peis are great family dogs and are very protective of the families that they live with.

These dogs are strong-willed and prefer making their own decisions rather than blindly following a command.

How to Take Care of a Chinese Shar-Pei

The Chinese Shar-Pei can be a fickle pet, so it is important to be fully prepared to give them what they need. Here are a few considerations that you should have in mind in their food, grooming, and even their training.

The Best Dog Food for Chinese Shar Peis

You should feed your Shar-Pei healthy food (though the same can be said of any breed). A natural diet with lean meats will do your dog good. You can add other whole ingredients to your Shar Pei’s diet, including fruits and vegetables, but high-quality dog food would be beneficial.

Keeping the right type of diet supports the health of the Chinese Shar-Pei, protecting and improving the quality of its hair and skin.

A-Z Animals believes the best dog food for Chinese Shar Peis is Victor Super Premium Dog Food – Performance Dry Dog Food.

Since this breed has such a wide range of potential health concerns, we think this beef recipe covers all the bases. There’s glucosamine to keep joint problems at bay, carrots and taurine for eye health, with selenium, fatty acids, and amino acids for the immune system. It also has just the right balance of vitamins and minerals for healthy skin and coat.

Follow this link to buy Victor Super Premium Performance dog food on amazon.

VICTOR Super Premium Dog Food – Performance Dry Dog Food – 26% Protein for Active Adult Dogs – Includes Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Hip and Joint Health, 40lbs

  • PERFORMANCE DOG FOOD: Performance high energy dog food is a nutrient-dense dry dog food for adult dogs with high physical demands; this active dog food is formulated to promote stamina and endurance
  • 26% PROTEIN DRY FOOD: This gluten free, multi-protein dog food is a nutrient-dense formula with ingredients to promote digestibility, immune system function and healthy skin and coat
  • HIP & JOINT HEALTH: VICTOR Performance dog food is designed with added glucosamine and chondroitin to support hip and joint health in active adult dogs
  • PROPRIETARY VPRO BLEND: Every VICTOR dog kibble formula begins with our exclusive mix of supplements, vitamins and minerals that have been designed to help maximize the genetic potential of every dog, regardless of breed, age, or activity level.
  • MADE IN THE USA: We proudly produce every bag of VICTOR kibble in our own Texas-based facility and do not waver in our commitment to high-quality nutrition. A majority of ingredients come from ranches, farms and other trusted suppliers who are within a day’s drive of our East Texas plant

Chinese Shar-Pei Maintenance and Grooming

For grooming your Shar-Pei, brush them as often as you want. You can mostly brush it at least once a week. If you want to keep their coat in the best condition, brushing twice a week is more than enough. Their coat has a texture similar to that of sandpaper.

These dogs usually have their teeth in good condition. However, to help them better, you can always brush your teeth twice a week. The deep wrinkles on their skin also need to be cleaned and also dried up after, preventing any infections that they might have under their wrinkles. These dogs are not mixed dogs and do not usually have loose hair.

Chinese Shar-Pei Training

While Shar-Peis are intelligent and smart, they are strong-headed and love to make their own decisions. Therefore, they can pick up commands quickly but often like to go their own way.

They do need a firm pet parent to guide them and train them. It is important that their training starts early on in life, helping them to develop good habits in the long run.

Exercise

Shar-pies are usually always alert but do need low to moderate levels of exercise daily. These dogs can happily stay in an apartment but bringing them along on a walk or two each day keeps their need for low to moderate exercise.

They are good for being companions to the elderly as they can accompany them on their slow walks. These dogs do not consider dog parks to be ideal playgrounds and are often wary and suspicious of an unknown company.

Puppies

A Shar-Pei puppy has to be taken care of the same way as you normally take care of an adult. However, some things need to be kept in mind while dealing with Shar-Pei puppies.

For instance, the food portions should be smaller for Shar-Pei puppies. They also need to be trained at an earlier stage in life so that they can develop good habits.

Chinese Shar-Pei puppy playing outside in the garden.
Chinese Shar-Pei puppy playing outside in the garden.

Waldemar Dabrowski/Shutterstock.com

Chinese Shar-Pei and Children

Shar-Peis make great family dogs and can be very playful and very protective with and for the children of the family. However, it is always advised that you keep these dogs only when your children are slightly older. Toddlers should not be left unsupervised with these dogs.

Dogs Similar to the Chinese Shar-Pei

The Chinese Shar-Pei is not the right choice for every person, but that’s okay. Here are a few dogs that are similar to Chinese Shar-Pei, giving you a few alternatives to find the right match.

  • Chow Chow: These dogs are incredibly calm and confident and make great watchdogs. Their fur is much fluffier, which means they will need much more grooming.
  • Pugs: These dogs are very loyal and friendly and have a big personality, though they are much smaller than the Chinese Shar-Pei.
  • Corgi: These dogs are great with children and do not shed a lot. They are also easily trainable.

Famous Chinese Shar-Peis

While there might not be many famous Shar-Peis in the world, there are a few famous Instagram accounts that you can go check out to see these dogs online. Some of them include @sharpiesofinstagram and @franklinandleo.

Here are a few popular names for the Chinese Shar-Pei:

  • Bella
  • Lune
  • Max
  • Bailey
  • Charlie

Last update on 2022-07-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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What’s the right dog for you?

Dogs are our best friends but which breed is your perfect match?

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Small

Medium

Large

Xtra-Large

If you have kids or existing dogs select:

Kids
Other Dogs

Should they be Hypoallergenic?

Yes

No

How important is health?
Which dog groups do you like?
How much exercise should your dog require?
What climate?
How much seperation anxiety?
How much yappiness/barking?

How much energy should they have?

The lower energy the better.

I want a cuddle buddy!

About average energy.

I want a dog that I have to chase after constantly!

All energy levels are great — I just love dogs!

How much should they shed?
How trainable/obedient does the dog need to be?
How intelligent does the dog need to be?
How much chewing will allow?
About the Author

AZ Animals is a growing team of animals experts, researchers, farmers, conservationists, writers, editors, and — of course — pet owners who have come together to help you better understand the animal kingdom and how we interact.

Chinese Shar-Pei FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What is a Chinese Shar Pei?

The Chinese Shar Pei is a medium, compact-sized dog with a strong and intelligent personality.

Are Chinese Shar Pei good dogs?

Yes, the Chinese Shar Pei makes a great family dog and is also great with children.

How much is a Chinese Shar Pei puppy?

The purebred puppy usually costs around $750 to $1,800.

Do Shar Peis have health problems?

Yes, like all the other dogs, the Chinese Shar Pei dogs also suffer from a couple of health problems, some of them include – hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, autoimmune thyroiditis, patellar luxation, entropion, retinal dysplasia, cataracts, and glaucoma. They can also encounter skin fold infections on their bodies.

Is Shar Pei a dangerous dog?

No, the Shar Pei is not usually an aggressive dog.

How tall is a Chinese Shar Pei?

A Chinese Shar Pei can be as tall as 20 inches.

How much does Chinese Shar Pei cost to own?

These dogs are not mixed dogs, which is why they usually have a price around $750 to $1800. For their care, budget an additional $1,500 each year for the price of their veterinary visits, grooming, and other maintenance.

Is Chinese Shar Pei good with kids?

Yes, Shar Pei dogs are rather good with children. However, they should not be left unsupervised around toddlers.

How long does Chinese Shar Pei live?

They are not mixed dogs and the lifespan of a Chinese Shar Pei is around 9 to 11 years.

Sources
  1. American Kennel Club, Available here: https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/chinese-shar-pei/
  2. The Nest, Available here: https://pets.thenest.com/training-sharpei-dogs-11012.html
  3. iPupster, Available here: https://ipupster.com/best-dog-food-for-a-shar-pei/
  4. Embrace Pet Insurance, Available here: https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/dog-breeds/chinese-shar-pei

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