The Mysterious Chinese Shar-Pei
It is now time for you to learn about one of the most interesting looking dogs ever created. In fact, you may have spotted him somewhere close by.
Have you ever seen a dog whose skin seems several sizes too large for him? Whose small triangular ears lie atop his head pointing toward his eyes? Whose delicate tail forms a perfect circle, its tip touching its base? Whose short stiff hair stands upright like a Fifties crew cut?
If so, you’ve probably seen one of the most uncommon dogs in the world – the Chinese Shar-Pei. At one point the Guinness Book of World Records declared him to be the “Rarest Dog in the World.” Be that as it may, he is certainly one of the world’s most unique dogs.
China: A Rough Start For The Chinese Shar-Pei
Not all endangered species live in the wild. In recent years, the fate of domestic animals in China has been less than happy. Millions of priceless dogs and cats have vanished from the People’s Republic of China.
During the past, taxes on dogs there rose so sharply that few people could afford them. Moreover, men whose families were hungry hunted them – regardless of ownership – for food.
A missionary nun whose work kept her in China from 1925 to 1947 tells a sad story: Her pet white Chow disappeared. She looked for him for several days. Finally, a Chinese friend advised her, “Do not look for your dog any longer. He has become someone’s dinner.”
Later in that Spartan country, domestic pets were outlawed altogether because they were considered luxuries which the State could not afford to feed, and the militia received orders to shoot them on sight. One by one, cherished household pets disappeared as they were rounded up and killed.
A certain Chinese farmer kept his beloved Shar-Pei tied to the kitchen door for years in order to protect him. A way was finally found to send the dog to the United States for refuge. Other Chinese farmers in remote districts are probably still secreting their pets inside, based on new, recent laws that have allowed the pets to live, but remain indoors.
The Mysterious History Of The Shar-Pei
The history of the Shar-Pei comes to us largely through information supplied by Chinese expatriots, since none of the American or British dog encyclopedias mention him at all. The Hong Kong Kennel Club, which recognized and registered these dogs, is strangely reticent about divulging information; countless letters of inquiry from this country have gone unanswered.
Some things we do know, however, and others we can deduce.
Ceramic statuettes and figurines unmistakably modeled after this charming creature during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to 220 A.D.) – which was noted for the revival of culture – have been found in ancient tombs. One of these is on display in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Avery Brundage Collection, as the “Chinese Tomb Dog.” He must have been greatly admired, even so long ago.
Carved marble artifacts from an even earlier period bear a marked resemblance to the Shar-Pei as he is today, although it is believed that the dog of antiquity was much larger.
It has been suggested that the breed originated in Tibet or in the northern part of China approximately twenty centuries ago, and that the earliest specimens weighed 85 to as much as 165 pounds.
Other records indicate that the Shar-Pei is descended from a breed known as “Service Dogs,” which for thousands of years existed in the southern provinces near the South China Sea. It is thought that these dogs first appeared in a small town known as Dah Let, in the province of Kwun Tung.
How Did The Shar-Pei Survive So Long
One reason for his survival over so many centuries may be that, in a culture which regarded dogs as delicacies for the table, the Shar-Pei was not considered very tasty. He was traditionally kept only by the common man, and was customarily employed to herd flocks, fight wild animals, and guard homes in rural areas.
The Shar-Pei – whose name translates from Chinese as “rough, sandy coat” – was for hundreds of years also known as the Chinese Fighting Dog; partly because he was sometimes matched against other dogs for the profit of his owner, and partly because in China, if a dog fends off an intruder, he is known as a “fighting dog.” In the Western world, he would be referred to as a guard dog.
The Shar-Pei is an amiable animal unless he is deliberately baited and provoked to make him vicious. Before a battle, wine and stimulating drugs were given to the canine contender to heighten his aggressiveness. In outlying districts, dogfighting was a popular entertainment (indeed, the only entertainment), and a Shar-Pei that was intensely trained to fight was a hard fighter to beat.
Robert Chan of Hong Kong, who raises this breed, says:
“Most of these dogs are found in Canton. They were originally used for hunting wild boar. These courageous dogs are famous for hunting game in our Chinese civilization because they possess stamina and determination and hold on until the opponent falls dead.”
He goes on to say:
“People in China used them for dog fights, upon which they gambled. The loose, wrinkled skin enabled the dog to turn around and fight even if he was bitten by his adversary; and this skin made it difficult for the enemy to get a grip on him. It is no easy matter to get to the flesh of these dogs.”
And in final reference to the Shar-Pei, Robert stated:
“They are extremely gentle, friendly, and loyal to human beings; are good watchdogs and have a strong sense of responsibility.”
It is said, too, that the bristly hair of the Shar-Pei is so uncomfortable to the mouth that other dogs do not maintain their grip upon him for very long.
Only about one in fifty Shar-Pei was used for fighting in organized matches. Because they were such excellent guard dogs, they were invaluable to farmers and peasants in remote regions, who had no other means of protection.
The Shar-Pei was bred for intelligence in a rather informal manner. If an individual dog did not demonstrate a high degree of intelligence, he was simply slaughtered and eaten. Such pragmatical methods are more understandable when we remember the debilitating poverty in which the Chinese peasant lived for centuries.
T.J. Lang, who was born in Tibet, educated in Taiwan, and now lives in the United States, positively identified the Shar-Pei as “just the kind of dog I had as a boy in Tibet.” And a young Taiwanese who attends an American university has said of them, “They’re just like my dog at home!”
Where Is The Chinese Shar-Pei Today?
So we know there are Shar-Pei in Tibet, in Hong Kong, in the Philippines, in Taiwan, possibly in Korea, and now, in the United States and Canada. In Hong Kong, dedicated breeders are still nurturing the animals and raising them for export – laboring to prevent the extinction of this enchanting animal who has served China so well.
Early in 1973, Matgo Law, owner of a kennel in Hong Kong, wrote an appeal to the American people to help save the Shar-Pei from extermination. He feared that Hong Kong might some day become part of the People’s Republic, and that the same wholesale destruction of domestic animals which took place in China wold be repeated in Hong Kong.
He hoped that enough of the breed could be exported to the U.S. To ensure its preservation. Law is confident that in time the Shar-Pei will become as popular with the Americans as have the Pekingese and the Chow.
Law’s message was published in April, 1973. Hundreds of Americans responded, among them, Ernest Albright of Pleasant Hill, California. He imported his first two Shar-Pei from Hong Kong in August of that same year.
The new arrivals immediately captivated him and his entire family. Semi-retired, Albright devotes a great deal of time to research on the breed, and it is to him that we are indebted for most of the information presented in this article.
Albright subsequently imported other Shar-Pei and set about the serious business of breeding these rare and fascinating creatures under the guidance of the veterinary staff at the University of California at Davis. He engaged in an ongoing study of genetics to help him in his breeding program.
Soon after, Albright owned almost twenty Shar-Pei, ranging in ages from two weeks to several years old. He has filled orders from all over the United States, shipping dogs he had himself bred, and has as well received and forwarded imported animals to American buyers in other parts of the country.
It seems that Law’s hope that Americans would take these little fellows to their hearts went well on the way to fulfillment. Today there are many verifiably purebred Shar-Pei scattered throughout the United States already, and the number is growing. Some Americans will undertake breeding programs of their own. Interest in the breed has spread to Canada also; several Shar-Pei have been imported by fanciers there.
The Shar-Pei Club Of America
The Shar-Pei Club of America was formed to discuss and adopt a standard and to promote breeding in order to gain the recognition of the American Kennel Club. To establish a breed with the AKC there must be at least 650 specimens with five generations of true breeding, and they must be located in several different states – not all concentrated in a single region.
The AKC finally did take in the breed as a member in 1992, filed under the Non-Sporting Group. This was a long-awaited honor that fanciers of the Chinese Shar-Pei had anxiously anticipated for years.
The Shar-Pei Is A Thoroughly Engaging, Lovable Creature
The newborn puppy is a veritable mass of wrinkles from head to toe, chest to tail. He reaches his full growth at six months, and at maturity weighs between forty and fifty pounds.
The overall dog gives a squarish impression in profile. The occiput is not pronounced, the neck is short and heavy, the stop is barely discernible. The muzzle from nose to chops is blunt, almost a straight line. Legs are sturdy; the line from hip to hock is only slightly curved, seeming almost to be straight. The curled tail is set very high, and carried to one side.
The superabundance of skin forms deep folds over his face and, when he is seated, all down his back. His coat is very short, not more than half an inch long, and stands straight up. It is somewhat harsh to the touch. He is usually fawn, self-colored except for his blue-gray mask, which darkens to black near the nose.
The nose, tongue, gums and roof of the mouth are blue-black. His eyes are small, dark, almond-shaped and very alert; they appear to be deep-set because his voluminous skin forms heavy folds over the browline.
His scowling expression is deceptive – a sweeter animal would be difficult to imagine. His small triangular ears, set at the very top of his head and pointing toward the eyes, hang forward rather than down, touching upon or close to the head. Bone structure, general conformation, and posture add up to an extremely sculptural dog.
Shar-Pei move superbly, head and tail carried high; the gait is purposeful, balanced and strong.
In character and personality, they are friendly and highly responsive to human companionship. Although they are said to be aloof with strangers, if a visitor welcomed by the family demonstrates a liking for them, they scramble over one another to receive as much attention as they can get – and in return, they wiggle and waggle and bestow moist kisses. An intruder, of course, would be greeted in an entirely different manner.
They have a high degree of intelligence and have been claimed by fanciers to be able to learn anything.
Shar-Pei At The Dog Shows: Meet Ling-Ling
A Shar-Pei generates so much interest at a dog show that he is sought after by even the coordinators of these events. Spectators find him irresistible. They flock about, asking questions and crowding in to see and touch these dogs.
Perhaps the star of the Albright family Shar-Pei was Ling-Ling, which was recognized back when she was just one year old, a beautiful female who had distinguished herself early. She so elegantly epitomized the very best features of the intriguing breed, and made many appearances on T.V. shows and in front of live audiences.
Ling-Ling, owned and handled at the time by Mrs. Darlene Albright Wright, took Best in Show at the Modesto Rare Breeds Match in May of 1976. She received an elaborate red-white-and-blue Bicentennial ribbon and a silver cup to commemorate her triumph.
At the conclusion of that show, one of the AKC judges remarked, “What we lacked in quantity of Shar-Pei here today we certainly made up for in quality.”
As if that were not heady praise enough, another of the judges, a doctor and instructor of Canine Anatomy, said, “The first time I saw that dog move I knew that was the winning dog.”
Ling-Ling was next entered in the Peralta Dog Fanciers Match in June. She won Best of Breed, for which there was no competition; but she then proceeded to march off with Best in Miscellaneous Group against stiff competition.
To Mrs. Wright’s astonishment and delight, Ling-Ling was given the opportunity (most unusual in the annuals of dog shows) to compete against all comers, including breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club – and took Best Puppy in Match!
Mrs. Wright worked with a loose lead. “The dogs hold up their own little heads and move right along.” she said. “The adult dog shows very little hock and has a straight stifle. The movement, graceful and rhythmical. They walk like little gladiators.”
The Shar-Pei As A Household Pet
As household pets, they are a joy to own. They are even-tempered, good with children, quick to learn, and housebreak themselves at a very early age. They are excellent watchdogs, too. Although they will not attack human beings, they sound the alarm in no uncertain terms.
The breed has some mysterious characteristics not yet fully understood even by veterinarians and geneticists. The birth ratio is three females to one male. The female estrus is irregular and unpredictable. Some females come into season at eight or nine months, while with others’ estrus may not occur until the age of fifteen months or more.
Even after the first season, the intervals are irregular. Furthermore, the female Shar-Pei in heat does not attract dogs of other breeds. She may or may not attract a male Shar-Pei; or she may attract one and not another. Such unreliable seasons necessitate constant surveillance on the part of the breeder, careful selection of the sire, and perfect timing of the proposed mating.
Medical Conditions Of The Shar-Pei
Because of the profuse skin above and below the eye, the breed is subject to a condition known to ophthalmologists as entropion (a rolling in of the margin of the eyelid, and with it the lashes). This of course causes irritation to the eye, and if it is not treated, the lashes will penetrate the cornea, causing blindness.
The condition is treatable and occurs infrequently, but a Shar-Pei owner should be aware of the possibility and keep a close watch on his pet’s eyes for symptoms of irritation.
In the Orient, dogs are generally not as well cared for as they are in this country. They are fed mostly on rice, or they sustain themselves by scavenging. They seldom receive veterinary attention when they need it. As a result, some dogs develop rickets, splay feet, or weak pasterns. A dog imported at an early age and given good nutrition and medical care will not have these problems.
People visiting foreign countries who are exposed to diseases against which they have built up no resistance may fall ill; similarly, imported dogs may be more susceptible to the diseases of the new country than are native dogs.
Before the dog leaves its native soil, the new owner should seek the advice of a veterinarian familiar with the breed to determine what steps should be taken to ensure the animal’s health in its new environment.
Closing Comments
In closing, the Shar-Pei is an enchanting little creature, with all the best qualities of the canine genre: he is hardy, cheerful, affectionate, gentle, intelligent, obedient, and intensely loyal. And it is surprisingly easy to import a Shar-Pei from Hong Kong or Taiwan, and surprisingly inexpensive. No quarantine period is required in most ports.
