Chinese Shar-Peis

The Chinese Shar-Pei is often considered ugly by many people because of the wrinkles that are characteristic of the breed.  Shar-Peis are medium sized dogs, with a square, compact body.  According to the American Kennel Club, the AKC, the Shar-Pei is 18 - 20 inches at the withers, the highest point of the animal, located between the shoulder blades.  The animal weighs between 45 and 60 pounds.  Males are usually slightly larger than the females.  Both genders appear to be well proportioned.

A Shar-Pei’s head appears slightly oversized, compared to its body.  Shar-Pei’s have wrinkles covering the forehead, continuing down the neck to the rest of the face and body.  The eyes are often sunken, and in puppies, contribute to a ‘half-asleep’ look.  The eyes are almond shaped and dark in color, although in ‘dilute’ dogs, a coloring classification for show purposes, the eye color may be light.  Shar-Peis have small, triangular ears that lay flat against the head at all times.  The ears are placed high on the head and point toward the front; in some animals, the edges of the ears may curl.  Pricked ears are considered a disqualification for show animals.  The muzzle of the Shar-Pei is considered one of the major distinctive features of the dog.  It is short, compact, and often compared to a hippopotamus muzzle.  The top and sides of the muzzle are padded, often causing a slight bulge to appear above the nose.  Nose coloration is preferably black, but any color compatible with the coat color is acceptable.  In ‘dilute’ color dogs, a self-colored nose is preferred.  The interior of the mouth, including the tongue, should be a dark-purple or bluish-black color.  The teeth of the Shar-Pei are strong and meet in a scissors bite, where the upper incisor teeth barely overlap the lower incisors.