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The Shar Pei is a Chinese bred dog that has very distinctive features including a deeply wrinkled face and a tongue that is blue-black in color, and in Chinese the term Shar Pei refers to sand skin and this breed certainly has a rough and short coat that is coarse and thus gets its name because of this characteristic.

Because of this coarseness it got its name, which in Chinese translates to sand skin, which is a close approximation of its body skin. As puppies, they are sure to have plenty of wrinkles, though as they grow in age, these will slowly lessen and are not so pronounced.

The Shar Pei can have more than one color and among the ones that are common to this breed you will find colors such as red like a rose, blue, sand, black and even cream, and it also shares the blue-black colored tongue with its relative the Chow Chow.

It also stands out because of its loose skin and a head that is very wrinkled, though not all varieties of the Shar Pei have wrinkled appearances because some even have tight skins and few wrinkles.

The Shar Pei has three different types of coats including the brush, bear and horse coats. They are also prone to suffering from health problems that may be due to irresponsible breeding. One such malady it is known to suffer from is entropion, which causes the eyelashes to curl inward and thus irritates the Shar Pei’s eyes. To lessen the risk of health problems, manufacturers of dog foods have even created special dry foods for the Chinese Shar Pei that will prevent common skin allergies and also sores from affecting the breed.

The Shar Pei also has an independent mind, while also being very aloof and reserved, and not given to easily making friends with strangers. This could be attributed to the fact that the breed was originally bred to serve as watchdogs. However, the Shar Pei will show much devotion to its master and is generally affectionate and also loyal to its family members. However, despite socialization, it will still keep its watchdog proclivities, and it is also very territorial and possessive.

The Shar Pei, which no doubt is a strong creature, will still suffer from health-related issues and so it does require careful selection before being purchased so that you don’t end up with a pet that is not well suited for your home. It would be in your best interest for you to obtain a Shar Pei only from a reputable and responsible breeder, which will ensure a healthy and well-bred puppy. Nevertheless, it has many endearing qualities such as being loving and though possessive, is a great guard dog and also excellent family dog as well and very independent too.

Hailing from the ancient land of China and more particularly from Guangdong province in that country, it is easily a wonderful fighter and even better watchdog, which was its main calling in the early years when it lived in China and served the Royal family as a watchdog. It is also fondly referred to as the “Golden Lion” and has even survived attempts at stopping its breeding altogether.

Tags: Dogs

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