Sharpei Colors, Types and Sizes

Learn about the different colors of Shar Pei, sizes of Shar Pei and the Shar Pei coat.

COLOR LINES:

Colors
Black nose and dark purple tongue: Cream, Apricot, Fawn, Fawn with Black Mask, Red Fawn, Red Fawn with Black Mask, Red, Red with Black Mask, Dark Chocolate, Black, and Sable.
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Shar Pei’s Neck, Topline, Body

The Shar-Pei’s neck is medium in length, very full, and evenly set into the shoulders.  Famous for it’s wrinkled skin, there are moderate to heavy folds of loose skin on the neck and abundant dewlap surrounding the neck and the throat.

The topline is located slightly behind the highest part of the back at the base of the neck and has a slight dip.  The broad and deep chest of the Shar-Pei extends to the elbow and rises slightly under the loin while the back is short and close-coupled.

Shar-Pei’s have a flat croup with the base of the tail set extremely high compared to that of other breeds.  A high-set tail is a commendable feature of the Shar-Pei as low set tails are faulted.  The tail is thick and has a round base.  It tapers off to a fine point and curls over the back.

Recent Sharpei History

After becoming a communist nation, the People’s Republic of China was nearly eliminated after high taxes and no-breeding laws were established throughout the country.  Dogs were no longer seen in the cities and only few remained in rural areas.  Only few Shar-Pei were bred in Hong Kong and in Taiwan.
The Hong Kong Kennel Club did not recognize the Shar-Pei until 1968 when it established a dog registry and registered the breed.  This organization still registers the breed as well as other Kennel Clubs throughout Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and other organizations throughout Canada, Great Britain, and Europe.
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Ancient History – The Chinese Shar Pei

The Chinese Shar-Pei was discovered over 2000 years ago and was kept by peasant farmers throughout the southern areas of China.  They were used not only for hunting wild boar but also to protect valuable livestock.  Their intelligence and strength made them a universal asset to any farm.  Shar Pei served as great guard dogs to their masters and helped alarm thieves and those who were always at war with farmers.

Jean Yu, an educated Orientalist of Washington, D. C., and researcher of ancient Chinese manuscripts persists that Shar-Pei were originally bred for hunting mongoose.  However, because of the immense strength and vigorous appearance, they were eventually used for fighting-dog purposes.  The village of Dah Let, in Southern China’s Kwangtung Province, was known as a gambler’s haven in ancient history. Dog fights became a popular event and the Shar-Pei became an even more popular contestant.  Breeders throughout Dah Let attempted to improve the breed’s fighting ability and set out to perfect some of the main characteristics known to modern Shar-pei.  The bristly coat was developed to create a repugnant taste in an opponent’s mouth.  The loose wrinkled skin helped when twisting and turning in attempt to grasp his antagonist and also made it difficult for the opponent to grip the flesh of the Shar-Pei.  The canine’s teeth created a hook-like hold on the contender helping to tear the flesh of his challenger.  Before any battle, the dogs were always given stimulating drugs and wine to heighten aggressiveness.
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