Traditional Shar Pei. Really? Indulge me!

Sparrow

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#1
So my whole plan was that when I get another dog, it would be an easy one. Not easy care - I want a dog that is up for running and hiking and all sorts of training... But I mean biddable. No likelihood of DR/DA. Excellent agility prospect was my main idea. Something likely to have great health and an exceptional lifespan. I'll probably still go that route (going to make another thread about the breed I'm actually seriously considering,) but I'm on a big time Shar Pei kick for some odd reason. WTH? I love researching different breeds, so I figure I might as well read up on them while I'm at it.

I don't like the overdone Americanized dogs, though some of the slimmer meat mouths are alright... but OMG the traditional ones are gorgeous! I'm not sure why I wouldn't just go with an APBT or similar if I was going to take on the potential for things like DA again, but I can't get over how awesome some of these dogs seem to be.

There's someone in Greece doing IPO with at least one of hers, and it's really impressive. That's not something I was interested in before, but it might be if I learned more about it first, if there's even a reliable club in AK (though I may be living in Oregon by the time I get Next Dog.)

I like the idea of taking the breed back to its roots, and I'm sick of Americans ruining every animal they get their mits on until they are seen as teddy bears rather than serious working dogs.

Anyone met a traditional Pei? Comparisons of health and temperament? Know of any good breeders in the US?

I really enjoyed this article: http://www.kynon.gr/en/node/70

And check out this guy! He is GORGEOUS! Like a bronze statue: http://kennellonfumun.kotisivukone.com/7
 
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Flyinsbt

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#2
I haven't met any, but those dogs still don't have rear angulation, so I don't think they'd be very suitable for agility. While the type looks overall more healthy that the exaggerated show dogs, the structure doesn't look very sound.
 
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#3
Wow they really don't have any rear angle at all!!!!

Yeah, I would be worried about torn ligaments and psoas injuries in a dog like that.
 

milos_mommy

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#6
Romy knows some about bonemouth shar peis, I think her brother had one? I really like them, but doubt they're the dog for me. Or the dog for someone pursuing agility, but they can certainly participate in other sports, if you're flexible.

Adrienne, I wasn't under the impression she thought a more traditional shar pei would be less prone to DA, just that it might be worth dealing with in such an interesting working breed.
 
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#7
I have met one, i wouldn't call them biddable though, some can be convinced that what you want is what they want, some of the time, but for the most part they tend to be more like Chows and Shibas, it could happen today...then tomorrow nope.
 

Moth

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#8
There is a Traditional Shar Pei group on FB and you can go ask the folk on the Shar Pei forums about them if you like there are quite a few knowledgable people there (also I believe there may be a few traditional shar pei threads around there).

I do not think that temperament wise the traditional dogs differ very much from the westernized ones.

I love my Pei but she definitely has a head of her own at times. She is actually a lot more willing to humor me on the training front than most of her kind I think ;)

They are characters... I love their quirky personalities.

Be aware the traditional lines are not free of some of the serious health issues that are prevalent in the breed any more than the western dogs.
 

Fran101

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#9
and I'm sick of Americans ruining every animal they get their mits on until they are seen as teddy bears rather than serious working dogs.
Really?
Every animal?
THOSE DARN AMERICANS! THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS AMERICA! :rofl1: :rofl1:
come on now. seriously. Yes, breeds change, the AKC has a large hand in that, but it's hardly all negative and it is hardly the fault of all the "americans" for making it so lol sorry, just kind of made me laugh.

That said, taking back "to their roots" from the very little that I've read, means a sharpei with a more traditional/territorial temperament (read: potential for aggression) and perhaps more likelyhood of DA/DR..

I would also, just looking at the dog you linked, perhaps proceed with caution when it comes to agility and a dog of that structure..

that's really all I know. Good luck on your pup search!
 

AdrianneIsabel

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#10
- I want a dog that is up for running and hiking and all sorts of training... But I mean biddable. No likelihood of DR/DA.
That would tell me a pei, while possible, isn't the ideal fit.

That's all I meant, further I actually expect a pei at its roots to be more aggressive, we Americans have a fancy for watering down and lessening the aggression. ;)
 

Moth

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#11
That would tell me a pei, while possible, isn't the ideal fit.

That's all I meant, further I actually expect a pei at its roots to be more aggressive, we Americans have a fancy for watering down and lessening the aggression. ;)
Actually horsecoat shar peis can be quite athletic :) Menchi also likes to go for extended hikes right along her basenji brother from another mother...but yes, that is not the norm you see in the breed.

You are right though they are a guard breed and were used for fighting...those are their roots. Even Menchi is a guard dog at heart!
 

Moth

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Really?
Every animal?
THOSE DARN AMERICANS! THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS AMERICA! :rofl1: :rofl1:
come on now. seriously. Yes, breeds change, the AKC has a large hand in that, but it's hardly all negative and it is hardly the fault of all the "americans" for making it so lol sorry, just kind of made me laugh.

That said, taking back "to their roots" from the very little that I've read, means a sharpei with a more traditional/territorial temperament (read: potential for aggression) and perhaps more likelyhood of DA/DR..

I would also, just looking at the dog you linked, perhaps proceed with caution when it comes to agility and a dog of that structure..

that's really all I know. Good luck on your pup search!
Oh, Fran you make me smile and laugh with your posts :)

Quite correct though we are not the only ruiners of animals... The dog fancy got started with that way early in Europe already :D
 

AdrianneIsabel

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#13
Sorry I didn't delete enough from my quote, I just meant the potential for aggression. If someone is trying to completely avoid it a pei may not be the best choice (just as a pit bull may not).
 

Moth

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#14
Yeah, that is unfortunately in the breed...

I consider myself lucky to have one as mellow and laid back as Miss Menchi.
 

Sparrow

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#15
I know the angles, potential DA and my desires in general go against this breed. What I meant in my OP was that those are all things I'm looking for, which is why I'm surprised I'm so interested in something else entirely. :-D Pei seem to be contrary to what I am looking for, but I just love the older type. I doubt this is a breed I'd pursue because I'd want a traditional type despite the fighting instinct. If I go that route (potential DA) I'd likely get an APBT.

I know it's not just Americans ruining critters, and I know we don't do it to them all, but when we set about the task, we can certainly get the job done! I know there's still nice Pei here, but there are some really sad lines as well because we want OMGTEHWREENKLZZZ!!!

Pibbletypes are my favorite, but I told myself never again. I think indulging in the what-ifs of equally unsuited breeds (due to DR/DA) is my way of trying to getting around that.

Thanks, everyone, for your input. I just really enjoy learning about the different breeds. If my main goal is an agility partner when decision time comes, this definitely wouldn't be the dog, but they are so fascinating. I know the traditional ones are more athletic, but not super biddable. Their temperaments come across as similar to Shiba Inu to me, and the two in my nosework class are just awesome to watch train. So different, but I have a lot of respect for them and their attitudes.

I've been through a TPLO on my straight-kneed Zoe, and will be looking for a dog with less likelihood of that happening again, but not EVERY dog I end up with has to be an agility star. :)
 

Pops2

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#16
Really?
Every animal?
THOSE DARN AMERICANS! THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS AMERICA! :rofl1: :rofl1:
come on now. seriously. Yes, breeds change, the AKC has a large hand in that, but it's hardly all negative and it is hardly the fault of all the "americans" for making it so lol sorry, just kind of made me laugh.

!
It makes me laugh because there is too much truth in the statement
 

Aleron

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#17
When I was in 4H in the early 90s, a family was in that had two bone mouth Shar Pei. Those dogs were definitely not all that biddable and they seemed to have little interest in working with their kids at all. They were also both definitely dog aggressive. I have had a few meat mouth Peis through classes over the years and they have been equally biddable (as in...they really weren't) but had a more "happy" and personable disposition, at least with their people. They aren't a breed that I'd suggest getting to do stuff with, any sort of stuff. Sure some might enjoy obedience or agility or even IPO but I don't think it's the norm. IME they're much more Chow-like than APBT-like.

Really?
Every animal?
THOSE DARN AMERICANS! THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS AMERICA! :rofl1: :rofl1:
come on now. seriously. Yes, breeds change, the AKC has a large hand in that, but it's hardly all negative and it is hardly the fault of all the "americans" for making it so lol sorry, just kind of made me laugh.
:rofl1:
 
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#18
A neighbor of mine had a dog, "Chin" that looked like a darker colored twin of "Maxim". He lived to be almost 15, and wasn't exactly a friendly dog, he was pretty DA. He liked me pretty well, and tolerated King and another neighborhood dog, George, who looked a lot like a Hyena, I wish I could have gotten a pic of him, he was sure "different looking". Tolerated means there was never a fight, but they weren't friends at all. To most other male dogs, he was pretty aggressive. He was one of a litter of a bunch of pups that was born in a small town East of Toledo. Not far from where my dogs King and Molly were born. Like their littermates, I kept running into Chin's littermates too. They were supposedly "Shar Pei mixes", but they all looked just like Maxim and a lot of the dogs in the other pics on that site. They could run very well, and Maxim aged well too, not showing much grey until he was pushing 12. About 3 months before he went, I saw him being walked for the last time, and it was the only time I saw him on a walk where he wasn't pulling like hell on the leash. I thought, "Well, he's probably ready to go!", and it wasn't too long before he did. His owner told me he had never been sick a day in his life until just before the end. Not a bad life.
 

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