Shar Pei

Also known as: Sharpay, Hock fever, Bone mouth, Wrinkle dog, Shar Pei fever

The Shar Pei comes from Guangdong province in southern China, used as a farm guardian, hunter and at times a fighting dog, and its trademark loose, wrinkled skin is thought to have helped protect it from an opponent's bite during fights. The breed nearly disappeared during China's Cultural Revolution, when keeping dogs was treated as a bourgeois indulgence, surviving only through small populations in Hong Kong and Taiwan. An American dog fancier declared it one of the rarest breeds in the world in the 1970s, which triggered a sudden surge of popularity in the West. The harsh, extremely short coat feels almost like sandpaper to the touch, unlike any other breed's. A male weighs up to 30 kilograms, and the deep skin folds need regular cleaning to prevent infections. Life expectancy runs 9 to 11 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Shar Pei: how old in human years?

44–51 cmHeight
18–30 kgWeight
9–11 yrsLife expectancy

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

FCI group: Pinscher and Schnauzer type, Molossoid breeds, Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs
FCI section: Section 2.1: Molossoid breeds, Mastiff type
FCI: 309
Country of origin: China

Energy level

3/5
Trainability

3/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

1/5

At a glance

Height

Males 44–51 cm

Females 44–51 cm

Weight

Males 18–30 kg

Females 18–30 kg

Life expectancy

9–11 yrs

Coat

short, harsh, bristly (short)

Temperament & Family Life

Shar Pei's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 3/5
Good with other dogs 2/5
Friendly with strangers 2/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 3/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Shar Pei's energy and exercise needs are low.

Energy level 3/5
Exercise need 3/5
Apartment friendly 3/5
Prey drive 2/5
Hunting instinct 1/5

Guarding & Alertness

Shar Pei's guarding and alertness traits are moderate.

Guarding instinct 3/5
Watchfulness 4/5
Barking level 2/5

Grooming & Care

Shar Pei's grooming needs are low.

Shedding 2/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 1/5

Living with the Shar Pei

A Shar Pei does not greet the morning by flinging itself at you. It gets up, stretches, surveys the room, and only then strolls over to say hello, as if it had first checked that the house was in order. It is devoted to its own people but reserved with strangers, and it takes guarding seriously: a stranger at the window gets a short, deep bark, not a full concert. It is not always easy-going with other dogs, especially of the same sex, so early socialising is a necessity, not a luxury.

Its energy is moderate. Two good walks and a little play, and your Shar Pei will happily spend the rest of the day near you on the sofa, which is why it can settle in a flat if it has a quiet corner of its own. It is clever but independent: it understands what you are asking and then considers whether it is worth doing. Keep training short, consistent and respectful, because harshness only makes this dog shut the door. Earn its trust and you get a calm, loyal companion who always knows where you are.

Grooming and coat

Stroke a Shar Pei against the grain and the coat feels almost prickly under your palm. It is short and harsh, sheds lightly, and a weekly once-over with a rubber brush or grooming mitt is enough to lift loose hair and give the skin a massage. The real work lies underneath: the folds on the face, forehead and around the base of the tail need opening up, wiping with a damp cloth and, above all, drying. Baths can be rare, but after every bath or rainy walk, dry those wrinkles as carefully as you would a toddler's fingers after the pool.

Look at the eyes every day: they should be clear, without constant tears or squinting. Once a week, gently lift the small ears and check inside for smell or discharge; if they look clean, leave the canal alone. Trim the nails when you hear them clicking on the floor, and check between the toes while you are down there. A Shar Pei tends to have opinions about having its feet handled, so start young, with treats and patience.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

The wrinkles that make a Shar Pei impossible to mistake for anything else are also where the care goes: this breed's skin, eyes and ears ask for more attention than the average dog's. The trouble tends to start with small, visible signs, so an owner who glances into the folds and at the eyes every day is already ahead. Add regular vet check-ups and a Shar Pei can live a calm, comfortable life.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Entropion

Entropion is when the edge of an eyelid rolls inward, so the lashes rub against the eye like a grain of sand that never washes out. You might see your dog squinting, a watery or reddened eye, or a face rubbed along the carpet. A Shar Pei's eyes sit among heavy folds of skin, so it is worth watching the eyelids from puppyhood on, and a vet decides whether a lid really is turning in.
Familial Shar-Pei fever (recurrent fever)

This is an inflammatory condition linked to the breed, in which the dog runs a fever for no obvious reason, recovers, and then has another bout later on. During an episode the dog goes flat, turns down food and walks, and sometimes a joint just above a hind paw, or the muzzle, swells and hurts. If your Shar Pei suddenly feels hot and listless, take them to the vet and mention any earlier episodes: the history is part of the picture.
Skin problems

Folds of skin trap warmth and moisture, and that is exactly where inflammation likes to settle in: the skin turns red, damp and starts to smell. You may notice your dog rubbing their face or sides along the furniture, and when you open a fold the skin inside looks red or sticky. Few breeds carry as many folds as the Shar Pei, so clean, dry wrinkles are part of daily life with one, and redness that lingers is for a vet to look at.
Pododermatitis (inflamed paws)

Pododermatitis is inflammation of the skin of the paws, between the toes and around the pads, and it has many possible causes, from allergies to infections. The first sign can be a sound: the steady licking and nibbling at the paws in the evening, then redness or swelling between the toes. The short Shar Pei coat hides little, so look at the feet after walks and let a vet work out what is behind any change.
Ear infections

An ear infection is inflammation of the ear canal when bacteria or yeast take hold there. The dog shakes their head, scratches at the ear, and you may catch a sour smell or see dark discharge. A Shar Pei has small ears that lie close to the head over narrow canals, so little air gets in, and any smell or scratching deserves a trip to the vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (30 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 320 g of dry food a day, from €17,53 a month For a neutered, normally active 24 kg dog. Calculate for your dog