The Shar Pei is famous throughout the world as a distinctively wrinkled breed of dog with a blue-black tongue. It is also known as the Chinese Shar Pei or Chinese Fighting Dog, as it derives from China, but it is also called the sharkskin dog. Its name translates to sand paper skin, referring to the texture of its short, rough coat.

With ancestors dating back at least 2,000 years, the Shar Pei are definitely an ancient breed! Because the chow-chow has a bluish tongue much the same as the Shar Pei, and this trait is exclusive only to these two breeds, they are believed to be related. Due to its appearance, and its close ties to the chow-chow, the Shar Pei has links to the giant Mastiff breeds!

Of medium size and substance and squarish in profile, the Shar Pei has what is called a hippopotamus head and an endearing, melancholy expression. For many years, the Shar Pei was used as a general-purpose farm dog in the Chinese countryside, for such purposes as hunting, protecting cattle (stock), and as a guard dog for the family and home. During that period, it was bred for its intelligence, strength, and scowling face!

The loose skin and prickly coat were developed in the Shar Pei to aid it in fighting, as these traits would make it difficult for its opponent to grab and hold on to it. While they should be brushed regularly, their coat does not need to be trimmed, and they do not have an undercoat. Puppies have more wrinkles than adults, and the Shar Pei slowly lose their wrinkles as they get older.

They have three coat varieties: the horse-coat, the brush-coat, and the rare bear-coat. The horse-coat is prickly to the touch and is rough like sand, but the brush coat has longer hair and is softer to the touch. Their coats come in all solid colors and in sables too.

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.