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Shar Pei Are Brave And Loyal

by: MelissaColeman
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The Shar Pei is a Chinese bred dog that has very distinctive features including a deeply wrinkled face and a tongue that is blue-black in color, and in Chinese the term Shar Pei refers to sand skin and this breed certainly has a rough and short coat that is coarse and thus gets its name because of this characteristic.

Because of this coarseness it got its name, which in Chinese translates to sand skin, which is a close approximation of its body skin. As puppies, they are sure to have plenty of wrinkles, though as they grow in age, these will slowly lessen and are not so pronounced.

You can find Shar Pei coats in various colors and it is normal to see black, blue, rose-like red, cream and even sand colors, while it also has the same blue-black tongue that is common to its relative the Chow Chow.

It also stands out because of its loose skin and a head that is very wrinkled, though not all varieties of the Shar Pei have wrinkled appearances because some even have tight skins and few wrinkles.

The Shar Pei has three different types of coats including the brush, bear and horse coats. They are also prone to suffering from health problems that may be due to irresponsible breeding. One such malady it is known to suffer from is entropion, which causes the eyelashes to curl inward and thus irritates the Shar Pei's eyes. To lessen the risk of health problems, manufacturers of dog foods have even created special dry foods for the Chinese Shar Pei that will prevent common skin allergies and also sores from affecting the breed.

The Shar Pei also has an independent mind, while also being very aloof and reserved, and not given to easily making friends with strangers. This could be attributed to the fact that the breed was originally bred to serve as watchdogs. However, the Shar Pei will show much devotion to its master and is generally affectionate and also loyal to its family members. However, despite socialization, it will still keep its watchdog proclivities, and it is also very territorial and possessive.

In any case, despite its aggressive nature, and watchdog attributes, the Shar Pei will still be willing to learn and is thus amenable to being trained, though when things are repeated too often, it will easily get bored. All in all, you can expect great loyalty from your Shar Pei and it is also a very loving animal that will protect you, even though it is very independent by nature.

The breed originates from China's Guangdong province and was well known from that time for being a fighting dog that also made an excellent watchdog. That is why originally, the Chinese Shar Pei served as a watchdog for the royal family of China, and thus is well suited for defending. And despite being in danger of extinction and being termed a rare breed, it is now thriving in some parts of the world and makes an outstanding family pet, and is often affectionately known as "Golden Lion".

About the Author

About the author: Melissa Coleman is a passionate lover of the Shar Pei and has a popular website where you'll discover how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved Shar Pei. Among other topics at this website, you can also learn all about Shar Pei Characteristics plus a whole lot more.

Shar Pei Are Brave And Loyal

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