Dog Breed
Chinese Shar-Pei
BraniacConfidence King
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- Full Name
- Chinese Shar-Pei
- Alternate Names
- Chinese Fighting Dog
- Your PupScore
- Take the best dog breed quiz to get your Pup Scores!
- Life Span
- 8 - 12 years
- Weight
- 45 - 60 pounds
- Description
Shar-Pei are famous ancient guardian dogs known for their intelligence and loyalty. Guarding is in their blood and that means they are always suspicious with strangers, but once they start trusting you, you have a life companion.
Shar-Pei are strong and regal and need training and socialization.- Origin
- China
- Bred For
- Hunting, guarding and fighting
- Family Considerations
- Overall Ease of Breed
- Personality
- Home and Environment Considerations
- Physical Characteristics
Child Friendly
4/5
Is the Chinese Shar-Pei good with children?
Yes, the Chinese Shar-Pei is very friendly with children. We still recommend introductions to children while they are young so they get used to them, but the Chinese Shar-Pei naturally loves children.
Stranger Friendly
4/5
Is the Chinese Shar-Pei friendly with strangers?
Yes, the Chinese Shar-Pei is very friendly with strangers. We still recommend early socialization while the Chinese Shar-Pei is a puppy to introduce them to various new people, but in general they are friendly with everyone.
Dog Friendly
4/5
Is the Chinese Shar-Pei friendly with other dogs?
Yes, the Chinese Shar-Pei is very friendly with other dogs. We still recommend early socialization while the Chinese Shar-Pei is a puppy to introduce them to various new dogs, but in general they are friendly with dogs as soon as they meet them.
Likes to Cuddle
3/5
Does the Chinese Shar-Pei like to cuddle?
The Chinese Shar-Pei likes to cuddle up every once in a while. They appreciate physical affection, but probably won't stay in your lap for extended amounts of time.
Playfulness
4/5
Does the Chinese Shar-Pei like to play?
The Chinese Shar-Pei will almost always be ready for play! The Chinese Shar-Pei is great for a family with children, or otherwise, an environment that is always ready for play.
Service Dog Ability
2/5
Does the Chinese Shar-Pei make a good service dog?
The Chinese Shar-Pei would not be a great fit as a service dog for several reasons.
Ease for Novice
3/5
Is the Chinese Shar-Pei good for first-time owners?
The Chinese Shar-Pei is not the easiest breed for first-time owners, but can certainly still work out if the owner is willing to put the time into training and exercise.
Training Potential
2/5
How well can the Chinese Shar-Pei be trained?
The Chinese Shar-Pei does not have high levels of training potential. There are exceptions, but the Chinese Shar-Pei is not typically seen in competitions or as a service dog or police dog.
Amount of Shedding
2/5
Does the Chinese Shar-Pei shed a lot?
The Chinese Shar-Pei does shed, but less than average.
Ease of Grooming
4/5
Is the Chinese Shar-Pei easy to groom?
The Chinese Shar-Pei requires some grooming, but less than the average dog breed. Typically you will not need to take the Chinese Shar-Pei to the pet salon, and occasional combing at home should be enough.
Exercise Need
3/5
Does the Chinese Shar-Pei need a lot of exercise?
The Chinese Shar-Pei requires an average amount of exercise. You should be ready to dedicate a couple of short walks or a larger dog park session each day for your Chinese Shar-Pei to be happy and fulfilled.
Intelligence
4/5
How smart is the Chinese Shar-Pei?
The Chinese Shar-Pei is very smart. Above-average intelligence means they can pick up on cues and signals quickly when it comes to training. But it also means that they need to be challenged mentally, in addition to their standard exercise needs.
Amount of Barking
2/5
How much does the Chinese Shar-Pei bark? Does the Chinese Shar-Pei bark too much?
The Chinese Shar-Pei occasionally barks, but only for specific reasons such as when they need something, for protection, etc.
Guard Dog Ability
2/5
Is the Chinese Shar-Pei a good guard dog?
The Chinese Shar-Pei would not make a good guard dog. They can be alert, but typically do not have the desire or instinct to take on "guarding" as their job.
Tolerates Being Alone
3/5
Is the Chinese Shar-Pei good at staying alone? Is the Chinese Shar-Pei independent?
The Chinese Shar-Pei does not enjoy being left alone for extended periods. They can do well for a couple of hours alone, but may have anxiety for time beyond that.
Good for Apartment Living
3/5
Is the Chinese Shar-Pei a good apartment dog?
The Chinese Shar-Pei is not the best dog apartment living, but it can work if the owner is dedicated to exercising and training their Chinese Shar-Pei
Size
2/5
How big is the Chinese Shar-Pei?
The Chinese Shar-Pei is below average when it comes to size. They are not a "toy" breed, but it is still significantly easier to travel with them.
Tolerates Heat
5/5
How much does the Chinese Shar-Pei tolerate hot weather? When is it too hot for a Chinese Shar-Pei?
The Chinese Shar-Pei can do very well in hot weather. Owners should still be aware of over-heating as this is one of the most common reasons for dogs going into the emergency room, but overall the Chinese Shar-Pei can do well in hot climates.
Tolerates Cold
2/5
How much does the Chinese Shar-Pei tolerate cold weather? When is it too cold for a Chinese Shar-Pei?
The Chinese Shar-Pei does not tolerate cold weather very well, and we would not recommend having a Chinese Shar-Pei if you live in a very cold weather climate. Even if your home is warm, it can be inconvenient to go on walks, and you may need to have a sweater for your Chinese Shar-Pei.
Potential to Run Away
5/5
Does the Chinese Shar-Pei try to run away?
The Chinese Shar-Pei has huge wanderlust, meaning that it's natural for them to want to run away. They are known as escape artists. It's important to test your yard and have a tall fence that cannot be jumped or climbed over. Sometimes the Chinese Shar-Pei is not well suited for being off-leash, even if they are well trained.
General Health
4/5
Is the Chinese Shar-Pei a healthy dog? The health of a Chinese Shar-Pei should be measured not just by how many years they live, but also by how many health issues they've had. It is important to know which health conditions your breed is prone to- hip problems, eye problems, bloating, and arthritis are all common dog health problems.
The Chinese Shar-Pei is very healthy, but it is still important to feed the Chinese Shar-Pei high-quality food and to live a healthy lifestyle.
Energy Level
4/5
How energetic is the Chinese Shar-Pei?
The Chinese Shar-Pei has a lot of energy and this needs to be considered before bringing the Chinese Shar-Pei into your home. Can you give your Chinese Shar-Pei enough exercise? They will need several small daily walks, or a large dog park trip to get all of the energy out.
Amount of Drooling
2/5
How much does the Chinese Shar-Pei drool?
The Chinese Shar-Pei drools very little, typically to where it's never a concern.
Prey Drive
4/5
Does the Chinese Shar-Pei have a large prey drive? Does the Chinese Shar-Pei like to chase birds, cats, and other small animals?
The Chinese Shar-Pei has a high prey drive and has a natural tendency to chase after any small animal. Every case is unique, but the Chinese Shar-Pei may not be the best dog for living with other cats or small animals.
Athleticism
4/5
Is the Chinese Shar-Pei atheltic?
The Chinese Shar-Pei is very athletic and would be well suited for a family that frequently works out or goes on adventures.
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Breed Variations
Dog- Non-Sporting
- Ancient
- Chinese Shar-Pei
The Chinese Shar-Pei is a purebred dog that belongs to the Ancient sub group, which falls under the larger Non-Sporting dog breed group.
Non-Sporting group: The Non-Sporting group of dogs is probably the most diverse in the sense that it has a variety of dogs, and they were not all bred for one specific purpose. Each breed in the non-sporting group is unique!
They have been primarily bred as house pets, and because of that make excellent additions to the family. Exercise is still important for them, but the typical non-sporting dog does not have the energy of of a sporting or working group dog.
Ancient sub-group: These dogs are unique as they are some of the oldest dogs! Dogs in the ancient world have been documented, both for work, and companionship.
Dogs have been recorded to be living alongside humans dating as far back as 12,000 BC, which can be seen from temple paintings. Ancient dogs have been recorded in ancient Mesopotamia, ancient Persia, and ancient Turkey and India.
Ancient dogs are generally medium sized, healthy, and well-rounded. They are friendly but somewhat reserved with strangers- all characteristics that sense for a dog that has survived through thousands of years.
Chinese Shar-Peis for adoption
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