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The Shar Pei is an ancient breed from the ancient land of China and it is famous for its wrinkles, hippopotamus-like looks and a tongue that is a blue-black color. In addition, it has a rough and coarse coat that comes in three different types.

Puppies are known to have a lot of wrinkles, though with age, these wrinkles become ironed out. Also, for a while this breed was considered rare and was only recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991.

You can expect the Shar Pei to come in a variety of colors including rose red, sand as well as blue, black and also cream and it also shares its blue-black tongue color with that of its relative the Chow Chow.

It also stands out because of its loose skin and a head that is very wrinkled, though not all varieties of the Shar Pei have wrinkled appearances because some even have tight skins and few wrinkles.

The Shar Pei has three different types of coats including the brush, bear and horse coats. They are also prone to suffering from health problems that may be due to irresponsible breeding. One such malady it is known to suffer from is entropion, which causes the eyelashes to curl inward and thus irritates the Shar Pei’s eyes. To lessen the risk of health problems, manufacturers of dog foods have even created special dry foods for the Chinese Shar Pei that will prevent common skin allergies and also sores from affecting the breed.

The Shar Pei also has an independent mind, while also being very aloof and reserved, and not given to easily making friends with strangers. This could be attributed to the fact that the breed was originally bred to serve as watchdogs. However, the Shar Pei will show much devotion to its master and is generally affectionate and also loyal to its family members. However, despite socialization, it will still keep its watchdog proclivities, and it is also very territorial and possessive.

For prospective Shar Pei owners, it is important to bear in mind that even though it has many characteristics common to watchdogs, and despite being somewhat aggressive, it is nevertheless a good learner and thus takes well to being trained, though it will show its boredom if something is repeated too often. The bottom line is that your Shar Pei will show you a lot of love and is possessive and a good guard dog, though certainly an independent creature as well.

The Shar Pei is of Chinese origin and comes from Guangdong province and is well recognized for its ability to fight and also being a good watchdog, and it even was the main watchdog for early Chinese royals. It is a good defender and even though the Chinese Communists attempted to wipe this breed from the face of the earth, it has survived to become a popular breed that is often even called the “Golden Lion”.

Last 5 posts by Melissa Coleman

• The Origin Of Shar Pei Allergies - July 17th, 2008
• How To Choose The Right Shar Pei Puppy - June 19th, 2008
• Chinese Shar Pei: Saved From Extinction - June 6th, 2008
• Tips For Shar Pei Care - May 31st, 2008

Tags: Dogs