Pros and cons of Shar Pei breed

Shar Pei is one of the funniest looking dog breeds. This breed is characterized primarily by the presence of cute folds of skin and a calm expression on the muzzle. Behind this lies a real strong character, which can be called ancient primitive power.

Today Shar Pei is quite popular among those who appreciate strength and character in dogs.... In order to raise a true protector and a true friend from a pet, you need to properly educate and care for it. It is about how to take care of Shar Pei, what positive and negative sides of character it has, and we will talk in this article.

The homeland of Sharpei is Ancient China. Thanks to investigations by archaeologists, it was determined that the breed appeared about 3000 years ago. Mastiffs and Chow Chows are considered their descendants. Initially, these dogs were used as a shepherd and guard.

Shar Pei is a medium-sized dog that is characterized by a strong constitution and well-developed muscles. The male significantly exceeds the bitch in height and weight, his height can reach 50 centimeters, and his weight is a maximum of 25 kilograms. The average life expectancy is 10 years. The distinctive features of the breed include the following:

• a massive skull that is wider than the torso;
• the presence of folds - when a Shar Pei puppy is born, it is completely covered with folds, and with growing up they smooth out and remain only on the face;
• the presence of a large black nose;
• dark eyes that are set fairly deep;
• well developed jaws and black lips;
• wide and powerful paws;
• strong body;
• harsh, short coat.

The breed standard also defines the color, which is as follows:

• black;
• blue;
• apricot;
• chocolate;
• ginger;
• lilac;
• ashen;
• cream;
• sable;
• deer.

This is an active and intelligent dog, which, despite its rather strict and tough character, treats family members quite well and lovingly. A dog can show aggression towards strangers only if he feels that they are negative or a threat to the owners of the animal. Shar Pei is a very brave dog who protects his master to the last. A Shar Pei dog is a real friend for children, he loves to play with them. But the child needs to be explained that the dog needs to be treated with respect, since the pet will not tolerate rudeness and bad attitude.

Sharpei are characterized by leadership qualities, they are used to dominating. Hierarchy for such a dog is a common thing. That is why, when a puppy lives in a family, he begins to "test" all his "roommates" in order to understand who to obey them and who can be manipulated.

Like any other dog, Shar Pei have both positive and negative traits. Let's highlight both the pros and cons. It is worth highlighting a few positive aspects of the breed.

• Mind and intuition. The dog perfectly feels all family members, knows how to distinguish their mood. For example, if a dog sees that its owner is bored or sad about something, it will definitely show sympathy. As for training, you need to accustom your pet to order from early childhood.
• A real protector. As mentioned earlier, Shar Pei are excellent defenders and will protect their relatives even at the cost of their own lives.
• Friendliness and playfulness. Shar Pei will treat a person the way he treats him. Dogs are very fond of actively playing and relaxing, but even with the most entertaining game, the animal must control itself and its actions. With them you need to walk often and for a long time in the fresh air.
• Unpretentious care. Shar Pei does not need frequent combing, since it has short hair. Water procedures must be performed several times a year. After bathing, be sure to dry the dog with a hair dryer. You just need to constantly monitor the condition of the ears and eyes, brush your teeth with a special brush and take care of the hair that is in the folds.

It is also worth highlighting the negative aspects in more detail.

• Dominant character. This characteristic of the breed is strongly manifested in the dog's attitude towards other animals.
• Real brawlers. Shar Pei very often become the instigators of fights. They don't care that the enemy can be twice as big as he is. If it happens that your pet has been in a fight, it must be shown to the doctor.
• Often get sick... All diseases that are characteristic of Shar-Pei are hereditary.
• They need special nutrition. Shar Pei often have allergic reactions to food.In most cases, the dog should be given exclusively special food, the cost of which is quite high.
• Harmful character. To raise an obedient pet, you need to devote a lot of time to training it.

Of course, whether to start a Shar Pei or not is a personal matter for everyone. But it must be borne in mind that the size of the dog is rather big, so keeping it in a small apartment is impractical.

For the characteristics of the breed, see the video below.