Chinese Shar-Pei

Personality

The Shar-Pei is a loyal, dignified dog with strong opinions about who belongs in the house. The AKC sums it up as devoted to family and aloof with strangers, and the breed standard goes further, calling the ideal regal, alert, dignified and even snobbish. It tends to bond closely with its people and keep a watchful distance from everyone else.

Expect a self-possessed dog rather than a social butterfly. VCA describes the breed as generally tolerant of children but not always playful enough for them, and not friendly toward strange dogs. Many do fine with small family pets they grew up with, but they may chase other animals. Early, ongoing socialization is essential to keep wariness from hardening into aggression.

Shar-Peis are independent and can be stubborn, and they rebel against forceful methods. Barking is usually low to moderate. With a calm, confident owner who sets clear rules, the breed is devoted, protective and a steady presence in the home.

History

The Shar-Pei is among the world's ancient breeds. VCA notes that DNA studies place it among the 14 most ancient breeds recognized by the AKC, and that records suggest a similar dog lived in southern China by 200 BC, with stronger evidence by the 1200s. The AKC traces the breed back more than 2,000 years to the Han dynasty. Chinese farmers relied on these versatile dogs to hunt, herd and guard livestock and property, and at times they were also used for fighting.

The twentieth century nearly ended the breed. After 1949, dog keeping was discouraged on the mainland and many purebred dogs were killed, but a few good Shar-Peis survived in Hong Kong and Taiwan. In 1973, Hong Kong breeder Matgo Law appealed to American dog fanciers to help save the breed, and the enthusiastic response secured its future.

The breed's documented history in the United States began in the mid-1960s, and the AKC recognized the Chinese Shar-Pei in 1992. Today it is kept mainly as a loyal companion and guardian.

Appearance, coat & colors

The Shar-Pei is a compact, square, medium-sized dog with a scowling expression and a famously wrinkled face. The AKC standard calls for a height of 18 to 20 in (46 to 51 cm) at the withers and a weight of 45 to 60 lb (20 to 27 kg). The overall look is alert and substantial, with a close-coupled body.

The coat is the breed's other signature. It is extremely harsh and ranges from an extremely short horse coat to a brush coat no more than 1 in (2.5 cm) long at the withers. A soft, wavy or longer coat is a major fault in the show ring. Only solid colors and sable are accepted, and black, red, fawn and cream are common.

Wrinkles are abundant in puppies and often fade with age. In adults the loose skin may be limited to the head, neck and withers, though some dogs keep it all over. The tongue is another hallmark: the standard prefers a solid bluish-black tongue in most colors, calls a spotted pink tongue a major fault and treats a solid pink tongue as a disqualification in the show ring. The same blue-black tongue appears in the Chow Chow.

Training

Training a Shar-Pei is a matter of respect and consistency. The breed is intelligent but independent and stubborn, and VCA notes that it rebels against forceful methods. It does best with a calm, firm owner who uses reward-based training and keeps sessions short and interesting. Think confident leadership, not harsh corrections.

Start young. Socialization is essential for a breed that is naturally wary of strangers and often intolerant of unfamiliar dogs. Take your puppy to many places, introduce a variety of friendly people with treats, and expose it gradually to calm, well-mannered dogs. Keep it up through adolescence.

Obedience training matters both for control and for mental exercise. Teach a rock-solid recall, leave-it, wait and settle, and practice handling the feet, mouth and wrinkled skin so that grooming and vet exams are easy. Our crate training guide can help with routines.

Because Shar-Peis are strong and protective, consider a professional trainer or a well-run class, especially if you are new to the breed.

Exercise

Shar-Peis need daily exercise, but not marathons. VCA suggests a leisurely walk, a short jog or a quick game, and says the breed is not physically suited to overly vigorous exercise. A couple of moderate walks a day, with time to sniff, usually suit an adult. See our guide to how much exercise a dog needs for general benchmarks.

Heat is a real concern. The breed overheats fairly easily and does better in cool weather, so exercise early in the morning or in the evening during summer, carry water and keep the dog off hot pavement. Learn the signs of heatstroke: heavy panting, drooling, weakness or collapse. If you see them, move the dog to a cool place and call your vet or an emergency clinic right away.

Mental exercise counts too. Short training sessions, scent games and puzzle toys keep a smart, independent dog engaged. Skip crowded dog parks, since the breed is often unfriendly with strange dogs. A fenced yard and leashed walks are safer choices. Puppies should not be pushed into long or high-impact exercise before their joints mature.

Grooming

The Shar-Pei's short, harsh coat is easy to maintain. Brush once a week to remove dead hair, and a rubber grooming mitt works well on the horse coat. VCA rates shedding as average. Bathe only when the dog is dirty or smells, using a gentle dog shampoo, and rinse thoroughly, because leftover residue can irritate the skin.

Wrinkles need attention. VCA recommends examining them regularly and cleaning them if needed to prevent irritation. Skin folds trap moisture and dirt, and VCA lists skin-fold dermatitis and atopy (allergic skin disease) among the breed's concerns. After baths and swims, dry between the folds carefully. If you notice redness, odor, a greasy feel or constant scratching, see your vet.

Check the ears weekly and clean them gently when needed, since VCA notes that the breed's narrow ear canals call for regular cleaning. Trim nails regularly, brush the teeth several times a week, and look at the eyes for redness, squinting or watering, which can signal a problem such as entropion.

Feeding

Like many sturdy breeds, a Shar-Pei can gain weight if portions creep up, so keep a close eye on them. VCA recommends a balanced adult diet with calories reduced if the dog starts to gain, and a large-breed puppy food while growing. A large-breed puppy diet slows growth without changing the final size and may reduce the incidence or severity of hip dysplasia in adults.

Most adults do well on two meals a day. Use our dog food calculator for a starting amount and adjust by body condition: you should be able to feel the ribs without pressing hard, with a visible waist from above. The loose skin can disguise weight changes, so rely on your hands as well as your eyes.

The AKC notes that some Shar-Peis have food or other allergies, so introduce any new food gradually and tell your vet if you notice itching, ear trouble or loose stools after a diet change. Keep treats small, count them in the day's total, and stick to a consistent routine. Ask your vet before adding supplements.

Health

Shar-Peis have a handful of well-known health challenges, so choose a breeder and a vet with the breed in mind. Familial Shar-Pei fever causes episodes of fever and swollen hocks, and over time it can lead to amyloidosis, in which an abnormal protein builds up in organs such as the kidneys and liver. PetMD notes that there is no cure for the amyloidosis, so early veterinary attention to repeated fevers matters.

The eyes and skin need regular checks. The AKC calls the eyes a major problem area, with entropion (an eyelid that rolls inward, which is painful and can damage the eye), glaucoma and retinal dysplasia among the disorders seen. VCA adds skin-fold dermatitis, allergic skin disease, hypothyroidism, lens luxation, and hip, elbow and kneecap problems to the breed's list.

The AKC lists patella, hip and elbow evaluations, an eye exam and a thyroid evaluation as the national club's recommended tests. The AKC and VCA both give a life expectancy of 8 to 12 years. Call your vet about fever, lameness, squinting, repeated ear or skin trouble, or a sudden change in appetite or thirst.

Health conditions to know about

• Familial Shar-Pei fever and amyloidosis — Recurring fever and swollen hocks that can lead to amyloid buildup and kidney or liver failure; see your vet about repeated fevers.
• Entropion — An eyelid that rolls inward, causing pain and potential damage to the eye; your vet may recommend surgery.
• Skin fold and ear infections — Skin folds, allergies and narrow ear canals make skin and ear trouble common, so keep folds clean and dry.
• Elbow and hip dysplasia — Inherited joint malformations that can cause lameness and arthritis.
• Glaucoma — Raised eye pressure reported in the breed; red, painful or cloudy eyes need urgent veterinary care.
• Hypothyroidism — Underactive thyroid; the breed club recommends a thyroid evaluation for breeding dogs.

Health tests to ask a breeder about

• Patella evaluation
• Hip evaluation
• Elbow evaluation
• Eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist
• Thyroid evaluation

Read more: allergies, luxating patella.

Written from veterinary sources by the Pawsplained editorial team. Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian; this is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Updated Oct 30, 2026. Editorial policy

Living with a Chinese Shar-Pei

A Shar-Pei can live in an apartment or a house if its exercise and heat needs are met. It is a calm, dignified indoor dog that does not need much space, but it does need leadership, routine and time with its family. It is a poor fit for a household in a hot climate without air conditioning.

Because of its guarding instincts and wariness of strangers, think about the layout of your home and yard. Use secure fencing and a gate that visitors cannot open by mistake, introduce guests calmly, and do not let a Shar-Pei greet strangers over a fence. Strange dogs are another challenge, so be ready to cross the street rather than force an encounter.

With children, the breed is generally tolerant, but VCA notes it may not be playful enough for them. Supervise all interactions and teach kids to respect the dog's space. Households with small family pets can work if introductions are early and careful, though the breed may chase other animals.

Shar-Peis enjoy cold weather, but they should still live inside as family companions.

Puppies, breeders & rescue

Shar-Pei puppy prices vary widely, and a high price says nothing about health. The breed has several known inherited and skin-related issues, so choose a breeder who screens breeding stock and is open about results. The AKC lists patella, hip and elbow evaluations, an eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist and a thyroid evaluation as the national club's recommended health tests. Ask for those results for both parents, and ask whether any puppies in the lines have needed eye surgery for entropion or have had repeated fevers or skin trouble.

Good breeders raise puppies in the home, expose them to people and different surfaces, let you meet the mother and ask you plenty of questions about experience, family and fencing. Avoid sellers with multiple litters, rare-color pitches or no records.

Rescue is worth considering. Shar-Pei rescues often know an adult dog's temperament and health history, and they know the breed well. Be honest about your experience, your climate and your other pets, so the rescue can match you with a dog that will thrive.