FICTION About Shar-Pei
The following statements are all untrue !!
Shar-Pei are a rare breed?
20 years ago, there were just a hundred dogs, and they were the world's rarest breed. The government of mainland Communist China had an active program of destroying all dogs. As fanciers became involved with saving the Shar-Pei, its quick intelligence and engaging personality made it an extremely popular companion. So much so, that when the Shar-Pei entered the AKC Non-Sporting Group in August, 1992, over 70,000 dogs were registered as foundation stock,the largest breed to ever to join AKC. That says a lot for our breed!
Shar-Pei are expensive to buy
When the Chinese Shar-Pei first came to this country, they were very expensive. They were even featured in the famous American Neiman-Marcus Christmas catalogue Today however, Shar-Pei are a very popular breed of dog, and have spread worldwide. Prices for pet quality and show quality dogs are comparable to what you would expect to pay for any other pure-bred dog.
Shar-Pei have lots of medical problems
When the Shar-Pei first landed in America, there were only a few dozen dogs from which to start a breeding program. Unfortunately, some early dogs had health problems. Over the past 20 years, dedicated breeders have carefully selected away from health problems and bred only sound dogs. Most Shar-Pei do not require eye entropian surgery and do not have skin problems.
Shar-Pei have a bad temperament
Shar-Pei are intensely loyal to their family and make excellent watch dogs. Like all dogs, however, they should be socialized through puppy and obedience classes. Some Shar-Pei are aloof toward strangers, but once befriended, they never forget people who they have come to know. Because Shar-Pei have a quick intelligence and are eager to please their family, theyare very easily trained. The many Shar-Pei with CD and CDX titles attest to their excellent temperament.
You must dry and powder Shar-Pei wrinkles after a bath
Shar-Pei do not require any special treatment when bathing. You don't have to powder or dry their wrinkles. Like any other breed, you must thoroughly rinse the shampoo from the coat and wrinkles. Although Shar-Pei hate water, they are easily trained to stand for a bath. Because they are fastidiously clean, they greatly appreciate how they feel after a bath. A good dog shampoo and a simple towelling down to keep them from dripping on the carpet is all that's required. The short coat naturally air-drys in a few moments.
Facts about the Chinese Shar-Pei
The following statements are TRUE !
Shar-Pei do not require much house training
Shar-Pei must be the easiest breed in the world to house break. It's not unusual for 6 to 8 week puppies to prefer and ask to go outside When there is a pet door near the whelping box, Shar-Pei instinctively copy mama's behavior and bounce out the pet door to relieve themselves. New owners should take their puppies outside immediately after feeding and about once every 2 hours. After a Shar-Pei has its scent down on the ground, it prefers that area. Shar-Pei are fastidiously clean and are famous for holding it in until they can go outside.
Shar-Pei are highly intelligent
Shar-Pei have a quick and engaging intelligence. This intelligence and their eagerness to please makes many Shar-Pei successful in obedience competition. However, their high intelligence may cause boredom with overly repetitive training, so training should be combined with play and new tasks to accomplish. A few owners have even demonstrated that Shar-Pei can be successful in tracking and retrieving.
Shar-Pei are very social
Although some Shar-Pei are aloof toward strangers, all are very attached to their dog and human family. Shar-Pei easily recognise other Shar-Pei. After spending hours nonchalantly observing other breeds at a dog show, Shar-Pei readily break out into a great burst of tail-wagging, when they see another Shar-Pei across the show grounds. They bond very closely with other dogs in their family and are known to grieve when their doggy friend goes away even for a day.
Shar-Pei are not cropped or clipped
Those tiny little ears and short harsh coats are natural. We do not crop ears, dock tails, or clip coats. In conformation competition, Shar-Pei are shown in a natural state. Shar-Pei do not have an undercoat of hair; so when they moult their coats in the Spring, they look pretty rough! This is normal. The holes and pits in their coats at moulting time is not a skin disease; it's a natural process. After a few weeks of brushing out the old, dead hairs, the new coat grows in.
Shar-Pei come in all colours
Shar-Pei come in just about every colour there is: black, red, red-fawn, fawn, sable, blue, chocolate, apricot-dilute, lilac and cream-dilute. Any solid colour is acceptable, but albinism, spots, patches, saddle-patterns, and two-tone patterns are a disqualification. Black-pointed dogs have solid-black to slate-Gray tongues. Dilute-coloured dogs have solid lavender tongues. A spotted tongue is a major fault, and a pink tongue is a disqualification.
The following statements are all untrue !!
Shar-Pei are a rare breed?
20 years ago, there were just a hundred dogs, and they were the world's rarest breed. The government of mainland Communist China had an active program of destroying all dogs. As fanciers became involved with saving the Shar-Pei, its quick intelligence and engaging personality made it an extremely popular companion. So much so, that when the Shar-Pei entered the AKC Non-Sporting Group in August, 1992, over 70,000 dogs were registered as foundation stock,the largest breed to ever to join AKC. That says a lot for our breed!
Shar-Pei are expensive to buy
When the Chinese Shar-Pei first came to this country, they were very expensive. They were even featured in the famous American Neiman-Marcus Christmas catalogue Today however, Shar-Pei are a very popular breed of dog, and have spread worldwide. Prices for pet quality and show quality dogs are comparable to what you would expect to pay for any other pure-bred dog.
Shar-Pei have lots of medical problems
When the Shar-Pei first landed in America, there were only a few dozen dogs from which to start a breeding program. Unfortunately, some early dogs had health problems. Over the past 20 years, dedicated breeders have carefully selected away from health problems and bred only sound dogs. Most Shar-Pei do not require eye entropian surgery and do not have skin problems.
Shar-Pei have a bad temperament
Shar-Pei are intensely loyal to their family and make excellent watch dogs. Like all dogs, however, they should be socialized through puppy and obedience classes. Some Shar-Pei are aloof toward strangers, but once befriended, they never forget people who they have come to know. Because Shar-Pei have a quick intelligence and are eager to please their family, theyare very easily trained. The many Shar-Pei with CD and CDX titles attest to their excellent temperament.
You must dry and powder Shar-Pei wrinkles after a bath
Shar-Pei do not require any special treatment when bathing. You don't have to powder or dry their wrinkles. Like any other breed, you must thoroughly rinse the shampoo from the coat and wrinkles. Although Shar-Pei hate water, they are easily trained to stand for a bath. Because they are fastidiously clean, they greatly appreciate how they feel after a bath. A good dog shampoo and a simple towelling down to keep them from dripping on the carpet is all that's required. The short coat naturally air-drys in a few moments.
Facts about the Chinese Shar-Pei
The following statements are TRUE !
Shar-Pei do not require much house training
Shar-Pei must be the easiest breed in the world to house break. It's not unusual for 6 to 8 week puppies to prefer and ask to go outside When there is a pet door near the whelping box, Shar-Pei instinctively copy mama's behavior and bounce out the pet door to relieve themselves. New owners should take their puppies outside immediately after feeding and about once every 2 hours. After a Shar-Pei has its scent down on the ground, it prefers that area. Shar-Pei are fastidiously clean and are famous for holding it in until they can go outside.
Shar-Pei are highly intelligent
Shar-Pei have a quick and engaging intelligence. This intelligence and their eagerness to please makes many Shar-Pei successful in obedience competition. However, their high intelligence may cause boredom with overly repetitive training, so training should be combined with play and new tasks to accomplish. A few owners have even demonstrated that Shar-Pei can be successful in tracking and retrieving.
Shar-Pei are very social
Although some Shar-Pei are aloof toward strangers, all are very attached to their dog and human family. Shar-Pei easily recognise other Shar-Pei. After spending hours nonchalantly observing other breeds at a dog show, Shar-Pei readily break out into a great burst of tail-wagging, when they see another Shar-Pei across the show grounds. They bond very closely with other dogs in their family and are known to grieve when their doggy friend goes away even for a day.
Shar-Pei are not cropped or clipped
Those tiny little ears and short harsh coats are natural. We do not crop ears, dock tails, or clip coats. In conformation competition, Shar-Pei are shown in a natural state. Shar-Pei do not have an undercoat of hair; so when they moult their coats in the Spring, they look pretty rough! This is normal. The holes and pits in their coats at moulting time is not a skin disease; it's a natural process. After a few weeks of brushing out the old, dead hairs, the new coat grows in.
Shar-Pei come in all colours
Shar-Pei come in just about every colour there is: black, red, red-fawn, fawn, sable, blue, chocolate, apricot-dilute, lilac and cream-dilute. Any solid colour is acceptable, but albinism, spots, patches, saddle-patterns, and two-tone patterns are a disqualification. Black-pointed dogs have solid-black to slate-Gray tongues. Dilute-coloured dogs have solid lavender tongues. A spotted tongue is a major fault, and a pink tongue is a disqualification.