Shar Pei Coat

SHAR PEI COAT DESCRIPTION

The rough coat of the Shar-Pei is one of the most distinguishing features of the breed.  Though the coat always appears healthy, it never appears shiny or radiant.  The coat generally stands straight on the main trunk of the body and lays flat on the limbs.

SHAR-PEI COAT QUALITY

Two types of coat textures are recognized by the American Kennel Club for the Shar-pei.  “Horse,” coats are short and very harsh.  This is where the Shar-Pei’s name originated from, meaning “sandy skin” or “sand-paper-like coat.”

The “Brush” coat has a more pleasant, softer, longer coat.  These dogs often have less trouble with skin infections.  The AKC considers coats longer than one inch at the shoulder to be a disqualification when judging in the show ring.