Tell me about Shar Peis please

I used to never ever think a shar pei would appeal to me, but we have one that has been boarding at my work and I absolutely have fallen in love with him.

So I am still planning on getting my Ibizan next, but I'm researching possible breeds for in the future.

So tell me about them please.

What is there temperament like? I hear they are prone to DA. Is this true or false?
Size? This guy is way smaller than I expected, but I'm not sure if his size is standard or not. He's around Cricket sized at around 19 inches high, but he is more heavy bodied than Cricket. Do they come in different types of coats? What are things they tend to Excel in? How are they generally with children? Strangers? How are they to train?

They're coarse to the touch, it causes allergic reactions in a lot of people.

They're very sober dogs, they don't tend towards silly antics. They're also very stubborn, willful dogs. Very into their people and can be one-person dogs. They need a pretty smart, confident, stubborn handler too.

They are very guardy and can have some pretty bad aggression issues. As a rule they're not great with kids but any breed can be with work.

Also, they're a money pit breed. They're unhealthy and costly to maintain, just something to keep in mind.

ETA Oh and it's Shar Pei. Pei is singular and plural.

I am allergic to them. Their fur is rough and sand papery, and it makes me itchy and I am in NO WAY allergic to other dogs

I know many of them have to have eye lid surgery..

Oops I didn't know that sorry lol

Just one of those fun facts I found in my research years ago.

I have yet to have one come into my work that I could actually "meet" and most of the time I end up telling my employees to steer clear.

I think they are cool, especially the bone mouth type (that's the old style, non-hippo looking ones, right?), but I don't think I would ever own one. Almost all of the ones that come into my work have HORRIBLE HORRIBLE skin allergies, and I just don't think that continuing to breed them with so many skin issues is okay. Why set a dog up for that type of pain?

the sad thing is that back when they were match dogs, they didn't have all the wrinkles. i've seen pics from turn of the 20th century & they look like a whipcord little pit bulldog.

There are bone mouth and meat mouth types. The bone mouth are older style and tend to have fewer skin problems. Personally I've met some bone mouths and they were really good dogs. Very into their people, tolerant of strange children running around and doing kid stuff around them, and if they were DA they were trained enough you'd never know because they didn't react to other dogs at all.

I think I linked to this pic before, but I LOVE this dog. Physically he's exactly what I'd want in a shar pei.

I actually really like She Pei. I'm not sure why. The old style smaller-sized ones without the exaggerated faces. They're not dogs for everybody, and I wouldn't really pick one as a sport dog (though I know one who is in utility level obedience and there was one playing flyball in our region).

The ones we see at work don't really have skin problems (though some of them have had very delicate skin that tears ridiculously easily). Eye problems are a big concern.

Not a fan, at all. Every one I've ever met has tried to bite me. They are known to be one person dogs, stick to their owners.

Agree on the money pit thing, the ones I know all have medical issues. I would never own one!

My neighbor when I was in high school raised them and still does. Most of theirs are sold before they are born and quite a number have championships in multiple countries.

Every single one that I recall had to have their eyes and face folds tacked as puppies and some even retacked once or even twice more. They were also dog aggressive, leash aggro, and just to me seemed like a waste of space as a dog. They never really seemed into their owners - and were about as biddable as stumps.

At the boarding kennel we had a couple very attractive blues come in occasionally. They were nice dogs - not friendly - but not overly aggressive either. Both had serious medical issues with their eyes as well. The one also had skin issues and allergies that were pretty amazing.

You couldn't pay me to own one.

Shar Pei are a breed that never appealed to me but that I have grown to like. I wouldn't have a Shar Pei because dogs who aren't at all biddable are just not my thing. But I still like them. Actually one of the two most difficult dogs I have ever worked with was a Shar Pei. I liked the dog but she had no interest in food as a reward if she didn't feel like it, no interest in toys or praise either. Teaching her even the most basic cues was a challenge. Her owner had owned many Shar Pei and said she was pretty typical of the breed in her experience. She also said she doubted she'd have another after her because of the widespread health issues and none of her's really lived to be old dogs. I think they also have a pretty high risk of HD and possibly knee issues.

When I was in 4H, a family with two of the old style Shar Pei were in the club for a couple years. Those dogs did look quite a lot like pit bulls and I remember the parents talking about how they were the correct Shar Pei. The two dogs usually got along ok with each other, they were good with the kids but would fight other dogs without question and I think in the end, they had to quit because the dogs were too "iffy" with other dogs to participate.

Someone had a long haired one at a recent dog event I went to and that dog was well behaved and lived with a toddler. Very aloof and disinterested in everything/everyone though. Their temperaments to me seem similar to chows, almost cat-like aloofness.

There's also Shar Pei mixes - most have a very Shar Pei look to them but I think you have better chances of avoiding some of the Shar Pei specific health issues.

Agreed on pei mixes, they are adorable and I have met a few that I would definitely consider owning and they didn't seem to have all te issues of the pure bred ones.

There's one (I believe purebred) that comes into my store regularly that is an absolute doll. He does, however, have a lot of skin issues.

Where do I start...

...I have found them to be one of those breeds that once you fall for them they take a hold of you.

There are things about this breed that are sad and scary. They can have serious health issues. If you are seriously interested look into learning about Amyloidois, Shar Pei Fever, Mucinosis to mention the most serious things that can go wrong.
The Shar Pei community is very dedicated to working on the betterment of the breeds health...currently a genetic test is in the works that will help determine a dogs risk for developing Shar Pei Fever.

They can also have a tendency to skin problems and allergies. They eyes can be an issue as well. It is not uncommon for puppies to need to have their eyes tacked and it is not unusual for a Shar Pei to need surgery for entropion

They are a guard breed and extremely loyal to their people.

They can be DA, but in Menchi's case so far she is mostly just disinterested in most other dogs.

They are stubborn...Menchi is a real little cow that way sometimes

Personally I also think they are pretty sweet, and bright, and clever, and funny.

There are different coat types... Menchi is a brushcoat, which means that her coat is about an inch in length and not as harsh as the shorter horsecoat.

Bonemouth Shar Pei are also called traditional and are a little more difficult to find here in the US. Our breeding is what actually produced the wrinkly, big-muzzled Shar Pei that everyone knows.

I could go on if you want to know more... I love this breed despite it's health shortcomings I think they are amazing characters that will reward you in many ways if you take the time to get to know them

They are the only dog breed that I'm allergic to. Every time I touch one, I break out in a rash at the contact point.
That being said, though, we had a beautiful long haird one at the shelter who did not cause that reaction.
I've never met a well bred one, so I can't say much about temperment.

People that have reactions usually react to the horsecoat...

Most folks are fine with brushcoats and bearcoats (the fluffy ones which are not accepted in the standard).