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Shar Pei

History of the Chinese Shar-Pei

tThe Chinese Shar-Pei, an ancient and unique breed, is thought to have originated in the area around the small village of Tai Li in Kwangtung Province, and has existed for centuries in the southern provinces of China, apparently since the Han Dynasty (c. 200 B.C.). Statues bearing a strong resemblance to the Shar-Pei have been discovered and dated to this period. More recently, a Chinese manuscript of the 13th century has been translated; it refers to a wrinkled dog with characteristics much like those of the Shar-Pei.The name "Shar-Pei" itself literally means "sand-skin", but translated more loosely as "rough, sandy coat" or "sand-paper-like coat" and refers to the two distinctive qualities of the Shar-Pei coat - roughness and shortness - which make the breed unique in the dog world. The Shar-Pei shares another distinctive characteristic with only one other breed, the Chow-Chow, in having a blue-black tongue, which may indicate an ancestor common to both breeds. However, proof of such a relationship is difficult.The history of the Chinese Shar-Pei in modern times is incomplete. However, it is known that following the establishment of the People's Republic of China as a communist nation, the dog population of China was essentially eliminated. No dogs were seen in the cities, and few dogs remained in the countryside. During this period a few Chinese Shar-Pei were bred in Hong Kong, BC and in the Republic of China (Taiwan).The breed was recognized by the Hong Kong Kennel Club until about 1968. Subsequently the Hong Kong and Kowloon Kennel Association established a dog registry and registered the Shar-Pei. This organization still registers the breed today as do other registries in Taiwan, Japan, Korea, as well as organizations in Europe, Canada and Great Britain. In the United States, the documented history of the breed goes back to 1966 when a few dogs were imported from stock registered with the Hong Kong Kennel Club. The American Dog Breeders Association registered a Chinese Shar-Pei for J.C. Smith on October 8, 1970. Strong interest in the breed increased in 1973 when Matgo Law of Down-Homes Kennels, Hong Kong, appealed to dog fanciers in the United States to "Save the Chinese Shar-Pei". The response was enthusiastic, and because of their rarity, a limited number of Shar-Pei arrived in the United States in the fall of 1973. The recipients of these dogs corresponded with each other and decided to form a national dog club and registry. The Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America, Inc. (CSPCA), held its first organizational meeting in 1974, and the club has been in continuous existence since that time. The first Annual National Specialty Show was held in 1978 and successive national shows have been held each year. The Club's primary purpose was to promote the breed, maintain the stud book registry and to provide a standard for the breed. On May 4, 1988 the Chinese Shar-Pei was accepted in to the American Kennel Club (AKC) Miscellaneous Class. The CSPCA continued to represent the breed and operated the registry until the AKC accepted the breed into the Non-Sporting Group on August 1, 1992. The CSPCA continues to promote the best interests of the breed, maintains the Standard and serves as a Member Of every club

Breed Standard of the Chinese Shar-Pei

General Appearance **** An alert, dignified, active, compact dog of medium size and substance, square in profile, close-coupled, the well proportioned head slightly but not overly large for the body. The short, harsh coat, the loose skin covering the head and body, the small ears, the hippopotamus muzzle shape and the high set tail impart to the Shar-Pei a unique look peculiar to him alone. The loose skin and wrinkles covering the head, neck and body are superabundant in puppies but these features may be limited to the head, neck and withers in the adult.

Proportion and Substance *** Preferred height is 18 to 20 inches at the withers. The preferred weight is 40 to 55 pounds. The dog is usually larger and more square bodied than the bitch, but both appear well proportioned. Proportion ** The height of the Shar-Pei from the ground to the withers is approximately equal to the length from the point of breastbone to the point of the rump.

Head *** The head is large, slightly but not overly, proudly carried and covered with profuse wrinkles on the forehead continuing into side wrinkles framing the face.

Eyes *** Eyes are dark, small, almond-shaped and sunken, displaying a scowling expression. In the dilute colored dogs the eye color may be lighter.

Ears *** Ears are extremely small rather thick, equilateral triangles in shape, slightly rounded at the tips, edges of the ear may curl. Ears lie flat against the head, are set wide apart and forward on the skull, pointing toward the eyes. The ears have the ability to move. Pricked ears are a disqualification

Skull *** The skull is flat and broad, the stop moderately defined

Muzzle *** One of the distinctive features of the breed. It is broad and full with no suggestion of snippiness. The length from nose to stop is approximately the same as from stop to occiput. Nose large and wide and darkly pigmented, preferably black but any color nose conforming to the general coat color of the dog is acceptable. In dilute colors, the preferred nose is self-colored. Darkly pigmented cream Shar-Pei may have some light pigment either in the center of their noses or on their entire nose. The lips and top of muzzle are well padded and may cause a slight bulge at the base of the nose.

Tongue ***m Tongue is solid bluish-black is preferred in all coat colors except in dilute colors, which have a solid lavender pigmentation. A spotted tongue is a major fault. A solid pink tongue is a disqualification. (Tongue colors may lighten due to heat stress; care must be taken not to confuse dilute pigmentation with a pink tongue.

Teeth *** Teeth are strong, meeting in a scissors bite. Deviation from a scissors bite is a major fault.

Topline *** The topline dips slightly behind the withers, slightly rising over the short, broad loin.

Neck *** The neck is medium length, full and set well into the shoulders. There are moderate to heavy folds of loose skin and abundant dewlap about the neck and throat.

Chest *** The chest is broad and deep with the brisket extending to the elbow and rising slightly under the loin. Back short and close-coupled.

Croup *** The croup is flat, with the base of the tail set extremely high, clearly exposing an uptilted anus. The high set tail is a characteristic feature of the Shar-Pei.

Tail *** The tail is thick and round at the base, tapering to a fine point and curling over or to either side of the back. The absence of a complete tail is a disqualification.

Shoulders *** Muscular, well laid back and sloping.

Forelegs *** When viewed from the front, straight, moderately spaced, with elbows close to the body. When viewed from the side, the forelegs are straight, the pasterns are strong and flexible. The bone is substantial but never heavy and is of moderate length. Removal of front dewclaws is optional.

Feet *** Feet are moderate in size, compact and firmly set, not splayed.

Hindquarters *** Hindquarters are muscular, strong, and moderately angular. The metatarsi (hocks} are short, perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. Hind dewclaws must be removed. Feet as in front.

Coat *** The extremely harsh coat is one of the distinguishing features of the breed. The coat is absolutely straight and offstanding on the main trunk of the body but generally lies somewhat flatter on the limbs. The coat appears healthy without being shiny or lustrous. Acceptable coat lengths may range from extremely short horse coat up to the brush coat not to exceed one inch in length at the withers. A soft coat, a wavy coat, a coat in excess of 1 inch in length at the withers or a coat that has been trimmed is a major fault. The Shar-Pei is shown in its natural state.

Color *** Only solid colors are acceptable. A solid colored dog may have shading, primarily darker down the back and on the ears. The shading must be variations of the same body color (except in sables) and may include darker hairs throughout the coat. The following colors are a disqualifying fault:
Not a solid color, that is: Albino; Brindle; Parti-colored (patches) Spotted (including spots, ticked or roaning) Tan-Pointed Pattern (including typical black and tan or saddled patterns).

Gait *** The movement of the Shar-Pei is to be judged at a trot. The gait is free and balanced with the feet tending to converge on a center line of gravity when the dog moves at a vigorous trot. The gait combines good forward reach and a strong drive in the hindquarters. Proper movement is essential.

Temperament *** Regal, alert, intelligent, dignified, lordly, scowling, sober and snobbish, essentially independent and somewhat standoffish with strangers, but extreme in his devotion to his family. The Shar-Pei stands firmly on the ground with a calm, confident stature.

Faults *** Faults are undesirable traits in a dog. A major fault is undesirable, but forgivable in the show ring. The judge may overlook a major fault if the dog has other outstanding qualities. A disqualifying fault means that a dog with such a fault should not bred or shown in AKC Conformation.

Major Faults *** Spotted tongue * A soft coat * A wavy coat * A coat in excess if 1 inch at the withers * A coat that has been trimmed.

Disqualifications *** Pricked Ears ** Solid Pink Tongue **Absence of a complete tail ** Not a solid color, that is, the dog's coat is one of the following ** Albino ** Brindle **Parti-colored patches ** Spotted including spots, ticked or roaning ** Tan-Pointed Pattern including typical black and tan or saddled patterns.