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CLEAR ALLThe Shar Pei is believed to be one of the most ancient dog breeds. They were originally bred to guard, herd, and hunt in their native country, China. This dog breed is one of the most recognised in the world because of the wrinkles around their faces and their blue or black tongues. The latter is an unusual trait that is only shared with one other dog breed, the Chow Chow. Another distinguishing feature of the Shar Pei is their coat, which is bristly to touch even though it looks soft.
The Shar Pei name means ‘sand skin’. referring to their distinct, bristle-like coat. But that's not the only thing uncommon about the Chinese Shar-Pei's coat. They are a solid mass of loose wrinkles and folds of skin that make them look like they are wearing a large, oversized suit.
Aside from their unique appearance, the Shar Pei has many personality traits that make them perfect for family living. They are loyal, calm, intelligent, and protective. They are also independent thinkers, that are known to be reserved around strangers – a trait that stems from their history as guard dogs and fighting dogs. This makes them excellent watchdogs; however, consistent training is necessary to ensure they understand their role in the family.
The Shar Pei we see today is less wrinkled and taller than the original dogs that first came out of China. In fact, back in the 1970s, this amazing dog breed was once considered to be one of the rarest breeds in the world. But, through the efforts of devoted breeders, the Shar Pei has steadily gained in popularity once again.
The Shar Pei is believed to be one of the most ancient dog breeds. They were originally bred to guard, herd, and hunt in their native country, China. This dog breed is one of the most recognised in the world because of the wrinkles around their faces and their blue or black tongues. The latter is an unusual trait that is only shared with one other dog breed, the Chow Chow. Another distinguishing feature of the Shar Pei is their coat, which is bristly to touch even though it looks soft.
The Shar Pei name means ‘sand skin’. referring to their distinct, bristle-like coat. But that's not the only thing uncommon about the Chinese Shar-Pei's coat. They are a solid mass of loose wrinkles and folds of skin that make them look like they are wearing a large, oversized suit.
Aside from their unique appearance, the Shar Pei has many personality traits that make them perfect for family living. They are loyal, calm, intelligent, and protective. They are also independent thinkers, that are known to be reserved around strangers – a trait that stems from their history as guard dogs and fighting dogs. This makes them excellent watchdogs; however, consistent training is necessary to ensure they understand their role in the family.
The Shar Pei we see today is less wrinkled and taller than the original dogs that first came out of China. In fact, back in the 1970s, this amazing dog breed was once considered to be one of the rarest breeds in the world. But, through the efforts of devoted breeders, the Shar Pei has steadily gained in popularity once again.
The Shar Pei is a medium-sized dog that stands 18 to 20 inches tall and weighs between 18 to 26 kg. They have compact, muscular, and square-shaped bodies with long, thick necks and large, robust heads.
Shar Pei means “sand skin”, which relates to this pup’s unique coat that is rough and bristly, like sandpaper. Another distinct appearance trait is their loose skin folds noticeable on their face and all over their body but most apparent on their neck, back, and forehead.
The Shar Pei has a short muzzle and blue-black tongue, another distinct trait of this breed. Their ears are small, thick, set high on their heads, and triangled shaped, although the tips are rounded and fold down slightly. Their eyes are almond-shaped and dark in colour, matching their wide, dark nose.
Shar Peis have short fur (1.25 - 2.5 cm long) and no undercoat. It is straight and stands away from the body. Their coats can be any solid colour except white; black, chocolate, blue, and cream are the most common shades.
Shar Peis are intelligent, independent, loyal, and protective. As they were originally bred to guard and protect humans, you can expect this canine to always have his eye out for potential danger.
Unlike other breeds, they act aloof and guarded towards strangers until they understand they are friends, not foes. That said, they are very calm and will not bark or get aggressive.
If you’re looking for a guard dog, this is, hands down, one of the best breeds. But if you want a super friendly pup who is welcoming to everyone they meet, a Shar Pei may not be the right choice for you.
While they don’t adore strangers, these dogs are never short of attention for their owners. They develop intense, loyal bonds with their humans and will vow to protect them at all costs.
However, their protective streak can be too much, and most Shar Peis require consistent training and leadership to help them learn their role in the family. In addition, they can be pretty strong-willed when it comes to training. Because of this, they are best suited to people with previous dog experience.
These dogs are not highly active; 40-50 minutes of exercise daily is typically sufficient and can include a short walk and a few short play sessions. Provided they get enough exercise, Shar Peis are generally happy to spend most of the day lazing around, although they are always alert even if they don’t look like it.
The Shar Pei is an excellent dog for families as they protect and love all their humans, including children. However, a Shar Pei should be introduced to the children while they are young; if you have a baby years after getting a Shar Pei, it will be harder to socialise them.
Moreover, these dogs can easily knock over a small child because they are large and heavy. Thus, they are best suited to families with older children.
As the Shar Pei has a history as a fighting dog, they do best as an only pet. That said, if they grow up without another dog, they can get on well. But introducing them to a new dog as an adult is not recommended.
Their stories
We love happy endings. Discover stories of pets who found their beloved family with the help of The Pedigree Paws <3.
Neo
Russian Blue
We had some concerns purchasing a kitten online but our experience with The Pedigree Paws was great. They connected us with Caroline, the Russian Blue breeder and we had many conversations and received multiple pictures and videos. She answered to all our questions.
The Pedigree Paws verified for us all the vaccinations and health checks to make sure our new kitten was 100% healthy.
Thank you for all your help The Pedigree Paws! Highly recommended!
Jack
Miniature Dachshund
One of the reasons I was hesitant to order a puppy from The Pedigree Paws is because I live in Spain. However they connected me with a very good FCI breeder in Barcelona.
He showed me all the health documents of both parents, their pedigree and answer to all my questions. I am so happy they helped me to find a healthy puppy as finding one by myself was very overwhelming. Contacting The Pedigree Paws was the best decision and I highly recommend them to everybody!
Stitch
Chartreux
From the kittens's selection to the arrival of our Chartreux kitten, The Pedigree Paws was there to assist us. We had great experience with them, and they breeder Alexandra from France with whom they connected us and from whom we got our kitten from. They are very prompt in answering our initial and follow-up questions while our kitten was in transit. Very reliable and trustworthy!
Thank you so much for all your help. We are very happy with our new family member. We will definitely recommend it to all our friends.
Athena
Chihuahua
It's been a few months since we decided to find a Chihuahua puppy to join our family, however we had issues finding a good breeder.
We contacted The Pedigree Paws and they connected us with a very unique breeder in Greece. Many videos and pictures were shown, the breeder shared with us the proof of vaccinations, deworming and her 5 generation pedigree. We were fortunate as George, the breeder was able to deliver the puppy to us personally. We are very pleased with our beautiful Athena. Thank you, The Pedigree Paws, for being truthful and transparent.
Thor
Abyssinian
I feel wonderful having help from The Pedigree Paws finding the dream Abyssinian kitten I was looking for. Thor is the absolute dream! The Pedigree Paws team was really patient and responsible in everything. Lovely experience! They replied to every questions, requirements, and information I ask about the kitten.
Fin
Chihuahua
Thank you for finding for me such a beautiful Chihuahua puppy! I love him so much from the minute I saw him. He changed my world.
Kate, from The Pedigree Paws assisted me through the whole process informing me about everything from health checks to arranging a Pet Nanny to transport Fin directly to my door. So thankful that the experience went so well! I love my Fin.
Emi
Ragdoll
I have always wanted a Ragdoll kitten as it was my dream cat breed, but didnt know how to find one as heard a lot about kitten farms and bad breeders. I reached out to The Pedigree Paws and they were very accommodating and transparent from the start. They offered me few kittens from their list of breeders and when I saw Emi I knew she was the one! We went through the kitten's parents DNA testing as for me that was a priority to have a kitten free from genetic disorders. We sealed the deal and now I have the best kitten I could dream of! Thank you very much for all your help
Shima
Russian Blue
I really wanted a Russian Blue kitten, but was very nervous getting one after reading horror stories about scammers on the Internet. I had my first call with Natalia, from The Pedigree Paws and with her help I was able to connect with the breeder, that I knew I could trust. I am very lucky to have now Shima, she is an absolute joy to live with.
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