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Chinese Shar-Pei
An "ugly-beautiful" dog that
is intelligent and affectionate, the Chinese Shar-Pei has only
recently been revived from near extinction.
History:
The Chinese Shar-Pei can be
traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220) in Southern
China. It was prized for its intelligence and, for centuries,
was used to hunt wild boar and to protect livestock and homes.
Due to the high government taxes in China in 1947, and the
inability of the people to afford pets, dogs were ordered to
be destroyed. The Chinese Shar-Pei was saved only by the avid
Hong Kong fanciers of the breed, and once the Western world
learned of its affectionate temperament and appeal, the breed
was built up again. The Chinese Shar-Pei was noted in the
Guinness Book of World Records as the rarest breed in the
world a few years ago, and now their popularity is such that
the price of good breeding stock is quite high.
Physical
characteristics:
A medium-sized, though solid
dog. Height: 18 - 20 in (46 - 51 cm). Weight: 35 - 55 lb (16 -
25 kg). The physical appearance of the Chinese Shar-Pei is
quite striking. Most obvious in the pup is the huge abundance
of excess skin with many folds of flesh. The coat fits better
as the dog grows.
The
coat is short and can either be soft or coarse. The colors of
the coat range from cream to light and dark fawn to sable,
red, black, and a rare shade of chocolate, and requires little
grooming.
Behavior:
When people first see a
Chinese Shar-Pei puppy their heart goes out to it because it
look so incredibly cute. However, it is most important not to
be overly indulgent with this dog, particularly as a puppy.
Even though it looks so very cute it still has all the normal
behaviors of a dog. In most cases, the Chinese Shar-Pei has a
gentle nature. However, it is still wise to behave in an
assertive manner towards this dog until it has reached
maturity.
The
Chinese Shar-Pei is a very sociable animal, and if allowed,
will happily seek out the company of other dogs. Although this
dog benefits from early socialization, it does get on
exceedingly well with people. When the Chinese Shar-Pei
becomes a member of a human family, it is truly happy to
receive their attention. This very affectionate dog usually
settles in very well.
The
Chinese Shar-Pei should be provided with plenty of exercise.
Before becoming a companion animal, its former duty was as a
hunting dog. Care should be taken with the eyes of the Chinese
Shar-Pei, especially the puppies. Sometimes it may be
necessary for a veterinarian to hold back the abundantly loose
skin above one or both of the eyes until the puppy is older.
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