Shar Pei

Guide Note

The Shar Pei, a breed characterized by its distinctive deep wrinkles, originated in China over 2,000 years ago.

The wrinkled skin that distinguishes the Shar Pei is highly pronounced while the pups are young, but as they mature, they tend to grow into their excess skin, so the wrinkles are usually limited to the face and neck in adulthood.

Shar Pei means "sand skin," a reference to the breed's short, sandpaper-like coat.

The Shar Pei is further distinguished by its blue-black tongue, a characteristic shared with another Chinese breed, the Chow. It is believed that Shar Peis and Chows likely had a common ancestor.

The Shar Pei's history is difficult to trace, since most of the related records were destroyed when China adopted communism. At this time, many of the country's dogs were also destroyed, bringing the Shar Pei to the brink of extinction.

A 1973 article naming it "the rarest dog in the world" brought attention to the breed and its numbers have increased steadily since.

Fast Facts

1. 45-60 pounds
2. 18-24" tall
3. Bred since the Han Dynasty, about 200 B.C.
4. Traditionally used as guard dogs and boar hunters
5. Unrecognized by the American Kennel Club until 1991.