The Shark Skin Dog: Chinese Shar Pei
Recognized the world over for its unique wrinkled coat and blue-black tongue, lets get to know the dog called the Shar Pei. Its also referred to by its other names, such as the sharkskin dog, the Chinese Shar Pei or Chinese Fighting Dog, because it was in China that it originated. The name Shar Pei can be roughly translated to sand paper skin, which takes into account its rough, prickly hide.
The Shar Pei is an ancient breed, tracing its ancestors back 2,000 years! It is thought to be related to the chow-chow, for they do have in common a bluish tongue, a trait that is unique to the two. Because of its appearance and its link to the chow-chow, the Shar Pei is associated, incredibly, with the giant Mastiff breeds!
This animal sports the easily recognizable hippopotamus head, are of medium size, squarish in profile, and keep a comical frown. For a long time, Shar Pei were used as general-purpose farm dogs in the Chinese countryside, with tasks like protecting cattle (stock), hunting, and guarding the home and the family. The Chinese, believing that the scowling expression warded off evil spirits, raised the dog breed to look the way it does now, along with being intelligent and strong.
The loose skin and harsh coat were specifically bred into the Shar Pei in order to aid it in fighting, so that its opponent would find it next to impossible to grab and hold on to it. Possessing no undercoat, their coats do not need to be trimmed, but regular brushing would be perfect. The adults do not have as many wrinkly skin folds as the puppies, for this breed loses its wrinkles as it gets older.
There are three coat varieties in this breed: the horse-coat, a brush-coat, and the uncommon bear-coat, which is not recognized by the American Kennel Club. The unusual horse-coat is rough, extremely prickly to the touch, while the brush-coat has longer fur and a smoother texture. Coat colors include all solid colors, as well as sables.
The Shar Pei is a very loyal dog, is faithful to his handler and bonds well with his family. They are smart, spunky, playful, dominant, and quite courageous. The Shar Pei are known for having a perpetually frowning expression, but they are calm, devoted, easygoing and independent little fellows.
The Shar Pei needs a firm, gentle, and consistent figure of authority to treat as alpha dog, as they are very clever and will end up dominating a weak trainer. They have a tendency to be stubborn, due to their instincts as fighters, but early training, socialization and exercise will easily remedy this. The Shar Pei have had myriad roles in history, including catching vermin, herding, and tracking, but if you know how to handle them, there is no reason they could not make perfectly desirable house companions for you.
The Shar Pei is an ancient breed, tracing its ancestors back 2,000 years! It is thought to be related to the chow-chow, for they do have in common a bluish tongue, a trait that is unique to the two. Because of its appearance and its link to the chow-chow, the Shar Pei is associated, incredibly, with the giant Mastiff breeds!
This animal sports the easily recognizable hippopotamus head, are of medium size, squarish in profile, and keep a comical frown. For a long time, Shar Pei were used as general-purpose farm dogs in the Chinese countryside, with tasks like protecting cattle (stock), hunting, and guarding the home and the family. The Chinese, believing that the scowling expression warded off evil spirits, raised the dog breed to look the way it does now, along with being intelligent and strong.
The loose skin and harsh coat were specifically bred into the Shar Pei in order to aid it in fighting, so that its opponent would find it next to impossible to grab and hold on to it. Possessing no undercoat, their coats do not need to be trimmed, but regular brushing would be perfect. The adults do not have as many wrinkly skin folds as the puppies, for this breed loses its wrinkles as it gets older.
There are three coat varieties in this breed: the horse-coat, a brush-coat, and the uncommon bear-coat, which is not recognized by the American Kennel Club. The unusual horse-coat is rough, extremely prickly to the touch, while the brush-coat has longer fur and a smoother texture. Coat colors include all solid colors, as well as sables.
The Shar Pei is a very loyal dog, is faithful to his handler and bonds well with his family. They are smart, spunky, playful, dominant, and quite courageous. The Shar Pei are known for having a perpetually frowning expression, but they are calm, devoted, easygoing and independent little fellows.
The Shar Pei needs a firm, gentle, and consistent figure of authority to treat as alpha dog, as they are very clever and will end up dominating a weak trainer. They have a tendency to be stubborn, due to their instincts as fighters, but early training, socialization and exercise will easily remedy this. The Shar Pei have had myriad roles in history, including catching vermin, herding, and tracking, but if you know how to handle them, there is no reason they could not make perfectly desirable house companions for you.
About the Author:
Learn more interesting information about the wrinkly Shar Pei from Tanya Warwick. Come and visit her website today and learn how to breed, train and groom a Shar Pei.
.jpg)
.jpg)
0 comments:
Post a Comment