Chinese Shar-Pei

Chinese Shar-Pei are independent, intelligent, and alert dogs with a reputation of being very loyal to the family. Their independent spirit responds well to a reward-based approach to training involving treats or favorite toys. They are moderately active dogs. They are known to be wary or reserved around strangers and may require careful socialisation to prevent or reduce defensive aggressive tendencies.

Chinese Shar-Pei History:

The Chinese Shar-Pei is an early breed whose origins date back to the Han Dynasty in Southern China, with the first record of the Shar-Pei in artwork dating back to 200 BC. It is believed they have descended from the Nordic and Mastiff breeds of ages past. Some even postulate that the Chow Chow may share some heritage with the Chinese Shar-Pei, due to the breeds’ characteristic black tongues.

Originally the Shar-Pei was bred to be a farming dog, but they were also used to hunt and were sometimes used for dog fighting. The breed faced the threat of extinction when the communist regime in China outlawed them during the revolution. In 1978 they were recognised in the Guinness Book of Records as the rarest dog breed in existence. Having first been introduced to the United States in 1966. When an article was published in 1973 asking the United States to assist with the survival of the breed, American breeders responded and the numbers began to rise. Today the Shar Pei, while not exactly common, is no longer in danger of extinction.