Shar Pei
Breed characteristics
- Size
- Medium
- Exercise
- Up to 1 hour per day
- Size of home
- Small house
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat length
- Short
- Sheds
- Yes
- Lifespan
- Over 10 years
- Vulnerable native breed
- No
- Town or country
- Either
- Size of garden
- Small/ medium garden
About this breed
This Chinese breed probably shares some of the ancestry of the Chow Chow, descending from the ancient Han Dog, a guard dog in China 2000 years ago. The Shar-Pei was developed as a fighting dog and as a hunter.
The loose wrinkled skin was useful for a fighting dog as it prevented a rival from obtaining a strong grip and the characteristic bristly coat was uncomfortable to the mouth (Shar-Pei translates as 'harsh sandy coat' or 'sand paper skin'). The 20th Century saw the breed almost wiped out when the communist regime destroyed thousands of domestic dogs but there has been a revival and modern breeders have addressed the problem of excessive wrinkle and eye problems in the breed.
Images for this breed
The Utility breed group
This group consists of miscellaneous breeds of dog mainly of a non-sporting origin, including the Bulldog, Dalmatian, Akita and Poodle. The name ‘Utility’ essentially means fitness for a purpose and this group consists of an extremely mixed and varied bunch, most breeds having been selectively bred to perform a specific function not included in the sporting and working categories. Some of the breeds listed in the group are the oldest documented breeds of dog in the world.
Breed standard colours
Breed standard colour means that the colour is accepted within the breed standard and is a traditional and well-known colour in this breed.
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
- Apricot
- Black
- Blue
- Brown
- Chocolate Dilute
- Cream
- Cream Dilute
- Fawn
- Five Point Red
- Red
- Red Fawn
Non-breed-standard colours
- Black & Tan (NBS)
- Black & White Flowered (NBS)
- Blue & Tan (NBS)
- Blue & White Flowered (NBS)
- Brindle
- Brown & White Flowered (NBS)
- Chocolate & White Flowered (NBS)
- Red & White Flowered (NBS)
- Sable (NBS)
Non-breed-standard colour means that the colour is not accepted within the breed standard and whilst some dogs within the breed may be this colour, it is advised to only select a dog that fits within the breed standards for all points.
Colour is only one consideration when picking a breed or individual dog. Health and temperament should always be a priority over colour.
Other colour/s
'Other' means you consider your puppy to be a colour not currently known within the breed and one that does not appear on either the breed standard or non-breed-standard list. In this instance you would be directed through our registration process to contact a breed club and/or council to support you on identifying and correctly listing the new colour.
Health
Whether you’re thinking of buying a puppy, or breeding from your dog, it’s essential that you know what health issues may be found in your breed. To tackle these issues we advise that breeders use DNA tests, screening schemes and inbreeding coefficient calculators to help breed the healthiest dogs possible.
More about health
Priority health schemes and tests
The Kennel Club Assured Breeders must use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice. All other breeders are strongly advised to also use these.
Important health schemes and tests
We strongly recommend that all breeders, both assured breeders (ABs) and non ABs, use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice.
- Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter
- DNA test - POAG/PLL - part of The Kennel Club's CombiBreed package* (see below). Find a list of tested dogs
- Check inbreeding calculators
*CombiBreed - simple to use and easy to organise all-in-one DNA tests for breeders
The DNA tests listed above marked with an asterisk (*) are included in our CombiBreed health test package. This includes:
- POAG (Primary open angle glaucoma)
Assured breeders receive a 10% discount.
Find out more about our CombiBreed health packages.
Find out about a particular dog's results
Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed Register.
You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.
Have any questions about health in your breed?
If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.
Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.
To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email
Breed watch
Category 2
Particular points of concern for individual breeds may include features not specifically highlighted in the breed standard including current issues. In some breeds, features may be listed which, if exaggerated, might potentially affect the breed in the future.
Breeding restrictions
There are a number of The Kennel Club's rules and regulations that may prevent a litter from being registered, find out about our general and breed specific breeding restrictions below.
More about breeding
There are not currently any additional breed specific restrictions in place for this breed.
More information
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