Post by charmingnancy on Mar 17, 2009 15:28:20 GMT -5
Chinese Shar-Pei
Group: 6- Non-sporting
Origin: China
Purpose: Dog fighting
Description:
It is generally accepted that the Chinese Shar-Pei originated during the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD) in the village of Dah-Let near the South China Sea. These dogs were all purpose working dogs to guard the family, farms and temples.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
General Appearance: An alert, dignified, active, compact dog of medium size and substance, square in profile, close-coupled, the well proportioned head slightly but not overly large for the body. The short, harsh coat, the loose skin covering the head and body, the small ears, the "hippopotamus" muzzle shape and the high set tail impart to the Shar-Pei a unique look peculiar to him alone. The loose skin and wrinkles covering the head, neck and body are superabundant in puppies but these features may be limited to the head, neck and withers in the adult.
Coat and Colour:
Coat: The extremely harsh coat is one of the distinguishing features of the breed. The coat is absolutely straight and offstanding on the main trunk of the body but generally lies somewhat flatter on the limbs. The coat appears healthy without being shiny or lustrous. Acceptable coat lengths may range from extremely short "horse coat" up to the "brush coat", not to exceed one inch in length at the withers. A soft coat, a wavy coat, a coat in excess of 1" (2.5cm) in length at the withers or a coat that has been trimmed is a major fault. One coat type is not to be preferred over the other. The Shar-Pei is shown in its natural state.
Colour: Only solid colours and sable are acceptable and are to be judged on equal basis. A solid coloured dog may have shading, primarily darker down the back and on the ears. The shading must be variations of the same body colour (except in sables) and may include darker hairs throughout the coat. A pigmented dog may have a darker mask on the face.
Head: Large, slightly but not overly, proudly carried and covered with profuse wrinkles on the forehead continuing into side wrinkles framing the face. Eyes: Dark, small, almond-shaped and deep set, displaying a scowling expression. In the dilute coloured dogs the eye colour may be lighter. Ears: Extremely small rather thick, equilateral triangles in shape, slightly rounded at the tips, edges of the ear may curl. Ears lie flat against the head, are set wide apart and forward on the skull, pointing toward the eyes. The ears have the ability to move. Skull: Flat and broad, the stop moderately defined. Muzzle: One of the distinct features of the breed. It is broad and full with no suggestion of snipiness. The length from nose to stop is approximately the same as from stop to occiput. Nose: Large and wide and darkly pigmented, preferably black but any colour nose comforming to the general coat colour of the dog is acceptable. In dilute colours, the preferred nose is self-coloured. Darkly pigmented cream Shar-Pei may have some light pigment either in the centre of their noses or on their entire nose. The lips and top of muzzle are well padded and may cause a slight bulge at the base of the nose. Tongue, Roof of Mouth, Gums and Flews: Solid bluish-black is preferred in all coat colours except in dilute colours, which have a solid lavender pigmentation. A spotted tongue is a major fault. A solid pink tongue is a disqualification (Tongue colors may lighten due to heal stress; care must be taken not to confuse dilute pigmentation with a pink tongue). Teeth: Strong, meeting in a scissors bite. Deviation from a scissors bite is a major fault.
Neck: Medium length, full and set well into the shoulders. There are moderate to heavy folds of loose skin and abundant dewlap about the neck and throat.
Forequarters: Shoulders: Muscular, well laid back and sloping. Forelegs: When viewed from the front, straight, moderately spaced, with elbows close to the body. When viewed from the side, the forelegs are straight, the pasterns are strong and flexible. The bone is substantial but never heavy and is of moderate length. Removal of front dewclaws is optional. Feet: Moderate in size, compact and firmly set, not splayed.
Body: Topline: The topline dips slightly behind the withers, slightly rising over the short, broad loin. Chest: Broad and deep with the brisket extending to the elbow and rising slightly under the loin. A level, roached or swayed topline shall be faulted. Back: Short and close-coupled. Croup: Flat, with the base of the tail set extremely high, clearly exposing an uptilted anus.
Hindquarters: Muscular, strong, and moderately angulated. The metatarsi (hocks) are short, perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. Hind dewclaws must be removed. Feet as in front.
Tail: The high set tail is a characteristic feature of the Shar-Pei. A low tail shall be faulted. The tail is thick and round at the base, tapering to a fine point and curling over to either side of the back. The absence of a complete tail is a disqualification.
Gait: The movement of the Shar-Pei is to be judged at a trot. The gait is free and balanced with the feet tending to converge on a centre line of gravity when the dog moves at a vigorous trot. The gait combines good forward reach and a strong drive in the hindquarters. Proper movement is essential.
Major Faults: Deviation from a scissors bite; Spotted tongue; A soft coat, a wavy coat, a coat in excess of 1" (2.5 cm) in length at the withers or a coat that has been trimmed.
Disqualification: Pricked ears; Solid pink tongue; Absence of a complete tail; Not a solid colour, i.e. Albino; Brindle; Parti-coloured (patches); spotted (including spots, ticked or roaning); Tan-Pointed Pattern (including typical black and tan or saddled patterns or shading that has a defined pattern i.e. distinct butterfly pattern on the chest).
Size:
The height is 18 to 20 inches (45-50 cm) at the withers. The weight is 40 to 60 pounds (18-27 kg). The dog is usually larger and more square bodied than the bitch but both appear well proportioned. Proportion: The height of the Shar-Pei from the ground to the withers is approximately equal to the length from the point of breast-bone to the point of rump.
Temperament:
Regal, alert, intelligent, dignified, lordly, scowling, sober and snobbish, essentially independent and somewhat standoffish with strangers, but extreme in his devotion to his family. The Shar-Pei stands firmly on the ground with a calm, confident stature.
Health:
The wrinkly skin and deep-set eyes give the Shar-Pei some health problems that could discourage prospective owners. The breed is susceptible to entropion and actropion, two malformations of the eyelids. Ectropion causes the lid to turn outward, exposing the eye to irritation and injury. Entropion rolls the eyelid inward, causing irritation from lashes. Untreated, the lashes can cause ulcers on the eye. Both conditions are corrected by surgery.
Various mouth and ear problems also occur in the breed. Tiny ear canals and folded ear flaps limit air circulation in the ear and can lead to infections. Ear odor and shaking the head or pawing at the ear are indications of infection; owners should check ears frequently so that these symptoms don't get started.
Tight lip causes the lower lip to roll over the lower teeth and can lead to an overshot jaw, and an elongated soft palate can cause breathing or eating problems. Both can be corrected by surgery.
Inhalant allergies and fleas can cause dermatitis or skin irritation, which becomes infected as the dog licks, scratches, and bites at his skin. Skin infections or pyodermas are difficult to control in the folds of Shar-Pei skin. Horse-coated dogs are more susceptible to these skin conditions.
Demodectic mange is also a problem in the breed. Although most dogs normally carry a complement of demodex mites, a few breeds appear to be susceptible to severe infestations that cause hair loss and skin sores. Demodex can be difficult to treat as the infestations recur in young dogs with immature immune systems. There is some thought that susceptibility to demodex is inherited as it seems to be connected to compromised immune systems.
When looking for a Shar-Pei puppy, be sure to ask the breeder if she x-rays breeding stock for hip dysplasia, for it, too, is a problem for the breed.
Average Lifespan:
The typical lifespan of a Shar-Pei is 8 to 10 years.
History:
The Shar-Pei is an ancient breed from an ancient land, perhaps related to the smooth-coated Chow Chow and the Tibetan Mastiff. The breed developed in the southern provinces of China as a working companion of farmers and peasants who needed a cattle herder, guardian, and hunting helpmate. His loose skin, nettlesome coat, and small ears protected him in battles, characteristics that unfortunately gained him favor as a fighting dog.
During the Han Dynasty some 2000 years ago, traders opened China to the West and to mastiff-type dogs that outweighed the Shar-Pei and attracted the attention of fight promoters, so the breed's fighting career was cut short. The Shar-Pei returned to his peasant roots to guard hearth and home for several centuries. After World War II, Communism took over in China, and dogs were considered a luxury that took food from the mouths of babes. Taxes on pets thinned their ranks, and by 1950, the breed was in big trouble.
Somewhere along the way, a few breeders in the British colony of Hong Kong acquired a few of these Chinese Fighting Dogs. Matgo Law was one such fancier of the wrinkled dogs, and in 1973 he and fellow breeder C.M. Chung began a campaign to save the breed with a plea for help in Dogs magazine.
Americans responded wholeheartedly and almost too well -- the Shar-Pei became a fad in the early years in the US, with pups selling for thousands of dollars and breedings done without concern for temperament, health, or structure.
A handful of Shar-Pei came to the US prior to Law's effort, but the breed was neither promoted nor developed. Chung and Law received more than 2000 responses to their appeal, and they began to send puppies to selected breeders in this country. Several of these early breeders formed the Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America to form a breed standard and work together to preserve the breed.
The Chinese Shar-Pei gained entrance to the American Kennel Club miscellaneous group in 1988 and became a full-fledged member of the non-sporting group in October, 1991. The breeds numbers have increased substantially from that first cry for help; in 1994, more than 15 thousand individuals and 6600 litters were registered, placing the dog 25th in popularity of 137 breeds.
Sources:
Chinese Shar-Pei Club of Canada
Canis Major
Pet Publishing (Lifespan)
Pictures:
Photobucket
Group: 6- Non-sporting
Origin: China
Purpose: Dog fighting
Description:
It is generally accepted that the Chinese Shar-Pei originated during the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD) in the village of Dah-Let near the South China Sea. These dogs were all purpose working dogs to guard the family, farms and temples.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
General Appearance: An alert, dignified, active, compact dog of medium size and substance, square in profile, close-coupled, the well proportioned head slightly but not overly large for the body. The short, harsh coat, the loose skin covering the head and body, the small ears, the "hippopotamus" muzzle shape and the high set tail impart to the Shar-Pei a unique look peculiar to him alone. The loose skin and wrinkles covering the head, neck and body are superabundant in puppies but these features may be limited to the head, neck and withers in the adult.
Coat and Colour:
Coat: The extremely harsh coat is one of the distinguishing features of the breed. The coat is absolutely straight and offstanding on the main trunk of the body but generally lies somewhat flatter on the limbs. The coat appears healthy without being shiny or lustrous. Acceptable coat lengths may range from extremely short "horse coat" up to the "brush coat", not to exceed one inch in length at the withers. A soft coat, a wavy coat, a coat in excess of 1" (2.5cm) in length at the withers or a coat that has been trimmed is a major fault. One coat type is not to be preferred over the other. The Shar-Pei is shown in its natural state.
Colour: Only solid colours and sable are acceptable and are to be judged on equal basis. A solid coloured dog may have shading, primarily darker down the back and on the ears. The shading must be variations of the same body colour (except in sables) and may include darker hairs throughout the coat. A pigmented dog may have a darker mask on the face.
Head: Large, slightly but not overly, proudly carried and covered with profuse wrinkles on the forehead continuing into side wrinkles framing the face. Eyes: Dark, small, almond-shaped and deep set, displaying a scowling expression. In the dilute coloured dogs the eye colour may be lighter. Ears: Extremely small rather thick, equilateral triangles in shape, slightly rounded at the tips, edges of the ear may curl. Ears lie flat against the head, are set wide apart and forward on the skull, pointing toward the eyes. The ears have the ability to move. Skull: Flat and broad, the stop moderately defined. Muzzle: One of the distinct features of the breed. It is broad and full with no suggestion of snipiness. The length from nose to stop is approximately the same as from stop to occiput. Nose: Large and wide and darkly pigmented, preferably black but any colour nose comforming to the general coat colour of the dog is acceptable. In dilute colours, the preferred nose is self-coloured. Darkly pigmented cream Shar-Pei may have some light pigment either in the centre of their noses or on their entire nose. The lips and top of muzzle are well padded and may cause a slight bulge at the base of the nose. Tongue, Roof of Mouth, Gums and Flews: Solid bluish-black is preferred in all coat colours except in dilute colours, which have a solid lavender pigmentation. A spotted tongue is a major fault. A solid pink tongue is a disqualification (Tongue colors may lighten due to heal stress; care must be taken not to confuse dilute pigmentation with a pink tongue). Teeth: Strong, meeting in a scissors bite. Deviation from a scissors bite is a major fault.
Neck: Medium length, full and set well into the shoulders. There are moderate to heavy folds of loose skin and abundant dewlap about the neck and throat.
Forequarters: Shoulders: Muscular, well laid back and sloping. Forelegs: When viewed from the front, straight, moderately spaced, with elbows close to the body. When viewed from the side, the forelegs are straight, the pasterns are strong and flexible. The bone is substantial but never heavy and is of moderate length. Removal of front dewclaws is optional. Feet: Moderate in size, compact and firmly set, not splayed.
Body: Topline: The topline dips slightly behind the withers, slightly rising over the short, broad loin. Chest: Broad and deep with the brisket extending to the elbow and rising slightly under the loin. A level, roached or swayed topline shall be faulted. Back: Short and close-coupled. Croup: Flat, with the base of the tail set extremely high, clearly exposing an uptilted anus.
Hindquarters: Muscular, strong, and moderately angulated. The metatarsi (hocks) are short, perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. Hind dewclaws must be removed. Feet as in front.
Tail: The high set tail is a characteristic feature of the Shar-Pei. A low tail shall be faulted. The tail is thick and round at the base, tapering to a fine point and curling over to either side of the back. The absence of a complete tail is a disqualification.
Gait: The movement of the Shar-Pei is to be judged at a trot. The gait is free and balanced with the feet tending to converge on a centre line of gravity when the dog moves at a vigorous trot. The gait combines good forward reach and a strong drive in the hindquarters. Proper movement is essential.
Major Faults: Deviation from a scissors bite; Spotted tongue; A soft coat, a wavy coat, a coat in excess of 1" (2.5 cm) in length at the withers or a coat that has been trimmed.
Disqualification: Pricked ears; Solid pink tongue; Absence of a complete tail; Not a solid colour, i.e. Albino; Brindle; Parti-coloured (patches); spotted (including spots, ticked or roaning); Tan-Pointed Pattern (including typical black and tan or saddled patterns or shading that has a defined pattern i.e. distinct butterfly pattern on the chest).
Size:
The height is 18 to 20 inches (45-50 cm) at the withers. The weight is 40 to 60 pounds (18-27 kg). The dog is usually larger and more square bodied than the bitch but both appear well proportioned. Proportion: The height of the Shar-Pei from the ground to the withers is approximately equal to the length from the point of breast-bone to the point of rump.
Temperament:
Regal, alert, intelligent, dignified, lordly, scowling, sober and snobbish, essentially independent and somewhat standoffish with strangers, but extreme in his devotion to his family. The Shar-Pei stands firmly on the ground with a calm, confident stature.
Health:
The wrinkly skin and deep-set eyes give the Shar-Pei some health problems that could discourage prospective owners. The breed is susceptible to entropion and actropion, two malformations of the eyelids. Ectropion causes the lid to turn outward, exposing the eye to irritation and injury. Entropion rolls the eyelid inward, causing irritation from lashes. Untreated, the lashes can cause ulcers on the eye. Both conditions are corrected by surgery.
Various mouth and ear problems also occur in the breed. Tiny ear canals and folded ear flaps limit air circulation in the ear and can lead to infections. Ear odor and shaking the head or pawing at the ear are indications of infection; owners should check ears frequently so that these symptoms don't get started.
Tight lip causes the lower lip to roll over the lower teeth and can lead to an overshot jaw, and an elongated soft palate can cause breathing or eating problems. Both can be corrected by surgery.
Inhalant allergies and fleas can cause dermatitis or skin irritation, which becomes infected as the dog licks, scratches, and bites at his skin. Skin infections or pyodermas are difficult to control in the folds of Shar-Pei skin. Horse-coated dogs are more susceptible to these skin conditions.
Demodectic mange is also a problem in the breed. Although most dogs normally carry a complement of demodex mites, a few breeds appear to be susceptible to severe infestations that cause hair loss and skin sores. Demodex can be difficult to treat as the infestations recur in young dogs with immature immune systems. There is some thought that susceptibility to demodex is inherited as it seems to be connected to compromised immune systems.
When looking for a Shar-Pei puppy, be sure to ask the breeder if she x-rays breeding stock for hip dysplasia, for it, too, is a problem for the breed.
Average Lifespan:
The typical lifespan of a Shar-Pei is 8 to 10 years.
History:
The Shar-Pei is an ancient breed from an ancient land, perhaps related to the smooth-coated Chow Chow and the Tibetan Mastiff. The breed developed in the southern provinces of China as a working companion of farmers and peasants who needed a cattle herder, guardian, and hunting helpmate. His loose skin, nettlesome coat, and small ears protected him in battles, characteristics that unfortunately gained him favor as a fighting dog.
During the Han Dynasty some 2000 years ago, traders opened China to the West and to mastiff-type dogs that outweighed the Shar-Pei and attracted the attention of fight promoters, so the breed's fighting career was cut short. The Shar-Pei returned to his peasant roots to guard hearth and home for several centuries. After World War II, Communism took over in China, and dogs were considered a luxury that took food from the mouths of babes. Taxes on pets thinned their ranks, and by 1950, the breed was in big trouble.
Somewhere along the way, a few breeders in the British colony of Hong Kong acquired a few of these Chinese Fighting Dogs. Matgo Law was one such fancier of the wrinkled dogs, and in 1973 he and fellow breeder C.M. Chung began a campaign to save the breed with a plea for help in Dogs magazine.
Americans responded wholeheartedly and almost too well -- the Shar-Pei became a fad in the early years in the US, with pups selling for thousands of dollars and breedings done without concern for temperament, health, or structure.
A handful of Shar-Pei came to the US prior to Law's effort, but the breed was neither promoted nor developed. Chung and Law received more than 2000 responses to their appeal, and they began to send puppies to selected breeders in this country. Several of these early breeders formed the Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America to form a breed standard and work together to preserve the breed.
The Chinese Shar-Pei gained entrance to the American Kennel Club miscellaneous group in 1988 and became a full-fledged member of the non-sporting group in October, 1991. The breeds numbers have increased substantially from that first cry for help; in 1994, more than 15 thousand individuals and 6600 litters were registered, placing the dog 25th in popularity of 137 breeds.
Sources:
Chinese Shar-Pei Club of Canada
Canis Major
Pet Publishing (Lifespan)
Pictures:
Photobucket