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Shar-Pei
The Shar Pei or Chinese Shar-Pei were used to help herd cattle, guard home and family, hunt wild game, and as fighting dogs by the Chinese nobility. The Shar Pei known for its deep wrinkles and a blue-black tongue. Shar Pei puppies are very wrinkled, but as these dogs mature, their wrinkles will disappear. Shar Pei were once one of the world's rarest dog breeds and is mostly bred in the US and Canada. Breeding in the west saved the breed, but also .
The Western Shar Pei comes in many different colors including fawn, red (rose), sand, cream, black, lilac and blue. They also come in three different coat types; horse, brush and bear coat. The horse-coat is rough to the touch, extremely prickly and off-standing and is closer to the original Shar Pei breed. The brush-coated have slightly longer hair and a smoother feel to them. The Brush Coat Shar Pei is considered to be more of a 'couch potato'. The Bear Coat Shar Pei has a coat that is much longer than the Brush and Horse Coat and in some cases the coat will cover the wrinkle features. The Shar Pei breed has little to no shedding.
The Shar Pei, true to its guard dog heritage, is suspicious of strangers and will bark at them when they approach and they are willing and able to protect their owners. These are powerful dogs. They are also a loving and devoted family dog that is affectionate for a breed that is very independent and reserved. Without training and socialization, Shar Peis can become especially territorial and aggressive.
Shar Pei had a number of health issues stemming from the rushed breeding that occurred in the West in the 1970s in order to save the breed. Responsible breeders have worked to reduce the frequence of genetic problems so if you have decided on a Shar Pei seek out an experienced, well-established Shar-Pei breeder.
Life expectancy is 10 - 12 years.
Some of the content on this page was originally published on Wikipedia
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