All You Need to Know About the Shar-Pei Dog Breed
The Shar-Pei is a beloved dog breed, known for its unique wrinkles and loyalty. Widely searched, this breed continues to grow in popularity as potential pet owners learn more about the breed’s characteristics and history.
History
The Shar-Pei is an ancient Chinese breed, which was originally used for guard-dog and hunting purposes. Developed during the Han Dynasty, it is believed that the Shar-Pei originates from the province of Guangdong. The breed made its way to North America in the 1970s, opening the door for the breed to become a popular pet across the globe.
Appearance
The Shar-Pei is a medium-sized breed with a square body and a broad head, typically measuring 18 to 20 inches tall and weighing 45 to 55 pounds. This breed has unique facial wrinkles and a distinctive blue-black tongue. Its coat is course and straight and comes in many colors, including cream, fawn, chocolate and red.
Personality
The Shar-Pei breed is loyal, protective and devoted to its family. They are known for being suspicious and aloof of strangers, but loving and protective with their family. This breed is also very intelligent and independent. Shar-Pei can require strong and consistent training, so it is important for potential pet owners to be prepared to put the time and effort into training.
Health
The Shar-Pei breed is known to be relatively healthy, but can be prone to certain conditions. These may include:
- Skin Irritation: Shar-Pei dogs may experience skin irritation due to their deep wrinkles.
- Eye Problems: Shar-Pei are prone to eyeball and eyelid conditions, such as entropion and enthunas symblepharon.
- Hip Dysplasia: Hip dysplasia can affect the Shar-Pei breed, which causes lameness and arthritis.
- Cataracts: This breed can be prone to developing cataracts, which can lead to blindness.
Overall, the Shar-Pei is a loving and loyal breed that can make a great family pet when taken care of properly. If you are considering adopting a Shar-Pei, it is important to research the breed in depth and prepare for a potential commitment of up to 15 years.