Pet Shop Blog

by Melissa Coleman

In spite of its unique characteristics, for some reason the Chinese Shar Pei was deemed to be dangerous and thus was being slowly driven to extinction by the Chinese Communists until the brave efforts of some Hong Kong breeders and a few Americans saved them and made them a very popular breed that today is much sought after by dog lovers all over the world. Thus, today this unique breed that has a wrinkled look and which has the face much like that of a hippo is readily available for dog lovers to own

Chinese Shar Pei’s are very compact animals that have muscular bodies and a square appearance that along with a blocky head makes it a very unique looking breed, partly because its face is very much like that of a hippopotamus. The Shar Pei can weigh about fifty-five pounds at most and it moves with strength and balance and there is a good rear-end drive to it as well. The name is symbolic of the Chinese words for coarseness of coat that are of three main types including the bear coat, horse coat and also brush coat.

The Chinese Shar Pei is well loved by everyone that comes in contact with it, and because of a calm disposition and confident manner, these are characteristics for which the Shar Pei is best known for. In addition, it also appears very dignified though it is also very aloof and will not easily become friends with strangers, and in fact, can also be given to being very aggressive sometimes.

The Chinese Shar Pei is also an excellent watchdog, though care must be taken by its owner to not allow it to get too aggressive to other dogs and even to other humans. However, it is a breed that likes to be around people and it is always a good idea before selecting a pup, to ensure that its breeder has allowed it a lot of opportunity to be around people so that it is already used to human company.

Thus, training the Shar Pei may prove to be harder than you bargained for, though once socialized, will make for an excellent and devoted companion.

The Chinese Shar Pei can easily be recognized from the wrinkles on its face and because many people find its hippopotamus-like looks very appealing, is a much sought after breed in spite of the fact that it was once on the list of rare breeds and despite the best efforts of the Chinese Communists to drive it to extinction.

Still, because of good fortune, it is now possible to own this aloof breed that has a unique appearance, though such a breed is still not the best bet for a first time dog owner and because it needs a fair bit of maintenance, may not always be the easiest dog to keep at home.

The Shar Pei is also prone to certain health problems and will often require preventive care, which a prospective owner must be aware of and be prepared to do. Nevertheless, the Chinese Shar Pei is loved and because of its possessive nature, makes a good family pet, and to ensure that you get yourself a good pet, try and obtain it from reputable breeders who will ensure that its temperament is sound, and who will have assessed it as being worthy of making an ideal pet dog.

About the Author:

About the author: Melissa Coleman is an avid lover of the Shar Pei and has a popular website that can teach you how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved Shar Pei. Among other topics at this website, you can also learn all about Shar Pei types plus a whole lot more.