Shar Pei
A quiet, aloof Chinese farm breed with famous wrinkles. Low exercise needs, but skin folds, very narrow ear canals, and a long list of inherited conditions make it a high-maintenance dog medically.
- Weight
- 18–27 kg
- Lifespan
- 8–12 years
Weight and lifespan are reference ranges from the breed guide. They vary by sex, lineage and individual dog and do not predict your dog’s ideal weight or lifespan. Read the care descriptions alongside the individual dog’s history.
Background and characteristics
The Shar Pei comes from southern China, where it was a general-purpose farm dog that hunted, herded, and guarded. Numbers collapsed in the mid-twentieth century and the modern population was rebuilt from a small group of dogs, which is why breed-specific health problems are so prominent today. Temperament is calm, independent, and reserved: devoted to its own people, indifferent or wary toward strangers and other dogs, and not a breed that enjoys being hugged or fussed over.
Exercise and play
Exercise needs are modest, around two half-hour walks a day. The shortened muzzle reduces cooling efficiency, so warm humid weather calls for early and late outings rather than midday ones.
Coat and everyday care
The harsh short coat sheds seasonally and the bristly hairs stick into fabric; a weekly brush is enough. The real work is skin and ears. Folds must be dried thoroughly after bathing or swimming, and the ear canals are unusually narrow, which makes recurrent otitis a running theme in humid climates.
Check the ears weekly rather than waiting for head-shaking or odour.
Before bringing this dog home
The medical list is long and worth reading before you commit. Entropion, where the eyelid rolls inward against the cornea, is common enough that puppies are sometimes treated early. Fold dermatitis, hypothyroidism, food allergies and inflammatory bowel disease, and cutaneous mucinosis all appear.
Most significantly, the breed has an inherited fever syndrome, usually seen as episodes of high temperature with a swollen hock, which is associated with amyloid deposition in the kidneys over time. Unexplained recurring fevers should be investigated with that possibility named to the vet, since management differs from a routine infection.
Home environment and care planning
Size-wise the Shar Pei fits an apartment, and it is generally quiet. Budget instead for dermatology, ophthalmology, and ear care over the dog's life.