| A Han dynasty pottery fragment shows a wrinkly | | | | body and strong in their wills. First they protected |
| dog that may be a Shar Pei. Although the origins | | | | livestock and the farmer's family from human and |
| are unclear, the Shar Pei seems to have | | | | animal predators, and then they became the dog |
| descended from Chow Chows. Shar Peis became | | | | of Chinese dog fighting pits. Although it was great |
| the "must have" dog of the 1980's because of | | | | for China to outlaw dog fighting during the Cultural |
| their looks. However, their history shows they are | | | | Revolution, they also outlawed the dogs. It is |
| bred to be aggressive attack dogs (being mostly | | | | estimated that most of the genetic pool of Shar |
| aggressive to other dogs). A Hong Kong | | | | Peis were slaughtered. China has recently changed |
| businessman rescued many Shar Peis and | | | | its mind about the necessity of the Cultural |
| exported them to Western countries. However, | | | | Revolution and now allows many Chinese |
| due to health problems and a small gene pool, | | | | practices once outlawed. Sadly, it is thought that |
| perhaps this breed should be left to history. The | | | | dog fighting has since resumed in China. Today, |
| name Shar Pei roughly translates into English as | | | | the Shar Pei is bred to be a companion and show |
| sand-skin. The Shar Pei does have a rough skin | | | | dog, although they do often work as guard dogs |
| and tough coat. Everything about this breed is | | | | and sometimes farm dogs. It is now known that |
| tough - its personality, its physical strength and | | | | they need special consistent training from |
| especially its history. For centuries Shar Peis were | | | | puppyhood in order to be socially acceptable |
| strictly Chinese. They were not allowed outside of | | | | canines. It is harder, but training a Shar Pei is |
| the borders. The first Shar Pei did not reach | | | | possible. However, only those experienced in |
| Western shores until 1966. There is no consensus | | | | training and living with large, active dogs like |
| among Shar Pei information sources where in | | | | Rottweilers or Boxers should attempt to take on |
| China the breed originated. Tradition indicates the | | | | a Shar Pei. Shar Peis were bred to be independent |
| small village of Tai Lai in Southern China as the | | | | - not to be team players. The life of a fighting |
| home of the Shar Pei breed. They are most likely | | | | dog is especially harsh, so a certain stoic fortitude |
| mutations from Chow Chow crosses that were | | | | has had to keep the Shar Pei alive to this time |
| line bred or inbred in order to emphasis their | | | | where it can now socialize with others. Getting |
| mutations, most notably of the loose skin and the | | | | and keeping a dog's attention is crucial for training, |
| abundance of wrinkles. Pottery and statues of | | | | and with a Shar Pei, this is an uphill battle. But |
| wrinkled dogs from the Han dynasty (ca 200 | | | | some Shar Peis have won the American Kennel |
| BCE) have been discovered. The first written | | | | Club's Good Canine Citizen certificate, which is |
| reference to a wrinkled dog was in a 13th | | | | hard to get. |
| century Chinese manuscript. Many Westerners | | | | Melissa Coleman has published hundreds of articles |
| were entranced by the Shar Pei's incredibly | | | | on dogs, including Shar Peis. You can find |
| wrinkled look. They were so ugly, they were | | | | information about the history of the Shar Pei at |
| cute, was the general consensus. But the history | | | | the library or on the Internet. You can find lots of |
| of the Shar Pei clearly shows that these are not | | | | articles about Shar Pei information in dog history |
| dogs to sit placidly at the feet of yuppie owners. | | | | books. |
| These are strong dogs in all respects - strong in | | | | |