Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Summary
The Shar Pei is an ancient aboriginal Chinese breed originating from the southern provinces, where it was used as a guard, watchdog, and farm dog. Its characteristic skin folds and dense body type developed through natural selection and adaptation to work in hot climates. Throughout history, the breed was employed to guard homes, accompany people, and perform various working tasks. In the 20th century the Shar Pei was brought to the brink of extinction, but was saved by the efforts of Chinese and international enthusiasts. Today the breed is known worldwide, preserving its unique appearance, stable temperament, and traditional national type that distinguishes it from all other breeds.
General Appearance
The Shar Pei is a medium-sized dog with a strong, compact, slightly square body and characteristic skin folds, especially pronounced on the head, neck, and shoulders. The head is massive, the muzzle broad, with full lips forming the breed’s recognizable profile. The ears are small, triangular, and close-fitting. The chest is deep, the back strong, and the loin short. The tail is high set and carried in an arc or loose ring. Limbs are straight, strong, well balanced, ensuring stable movement. The coat is short, harsh, and bristly to the touch. The overall type combines strength, compactness, and calm confidence, emphasizing the breed’s ancient origin.
Important Proportions
The Shar Pei has a compact, slightly square format: height at the withers is almost equal to body length, ensuring stability and balance. The broad skull corresponds to the strong muzzle, maintaining harmony. The muzzle length is approximately half the length of the head. Chest depth is about half the dog’s height at the withers, providing sufficient respiratory volume. The croup is short and strong, with a high-set tail forming a characteristic silhouette. Limbs are medium-length and proportional, ensuring stable movement. Wrinkling is most pronounced in puppies; in adults, moderate folds on the head and neck are permitted as long as they do not impair function.
Behavior and Temperament
The Shar Pei has a calm, balanced, independent temperament and strong attachment to its family. The dog is attentive, intelligent, cautious with strangers but not aggressive without cause. Its guarding instinct is expressed naturally: the Shar Pei assesses situations quickly and acts thoughtfully. At home it is reserved, clean, and dignified, rarely seeking conflict. It learns well under respectful, consistent training and does not tolerate harsh handling. Despite independence, the Shar Pei is owner-oriented and forms a deep emotional bond. The temperament combines inner strength, composure, and readiness to protect its family.
Head
The head of the Shar Pei is large, massive, with characteristic folds, especially on the forehead and cheeks. The skull is broad and flat, with a noticeable but not abrupt stop. The muzzle is wide and deep, with strong jaws and a typical “hippopotamus-like” appearance. Lips are full and thick, forming natural folds around the mouth. The nose is large, well pigmented, with wide nostrils. The bite is scissor or level, with strong, even teeth. The expression is serious and thoughtful, emphasizing independence and composure. Wrinkling on the head must be present but not excessive, and must not impede vision or breathing.
Facial Region
The facial region defines the breed’s unique profile. The muzzle is broad, massive, slightly shortened, with a straight or slightly convex bridge. Lips are thick, fleshy, slightly overhanging, forming deep natural folds. The nose is large and dark, with wide nostrils for unobstructed breathing. The chin is strong and well defined but not protruding. Cheeks are pronounced but not coarse, harmonizing with the powerful muzzle. The facial region should emphasize the breed’s calm, attentive, and confident expression. Excessive folding that interferes with vision or causes skin irritation is unacceptable.
Eyes
The eyes of the Shar Pei are small, almond-shaped, and deep-set, giving an attentive, slightly cautious expression. Eye color is dark and harmonizes with the coat. Eyelids are tight, well pigmented, and should fit correctly without inward or outward rolling. Skin folds must not cover the eyes or restrict vision. The gaze is calm, confident, and observant, reflecting the breed’s independence and composure. Round, protruding, light-colored, or asymmetrical eyes are faults. Correct eye shape ensures proper sight and supports the stable expression characteristic of the breed.
Ears
The ears of the Shar Pei are small, triangular, with thin cartilage, set high and lying flat against the head. The tips are slightly rounded and oriented toward the eyes, creating a distinctive silhouette. Ears must not be large, erect, or turned outward—such deviations break breed type. Together with the massive head and deep muzzle, the correct ear shape enhances the unique appearance. The ear canal must remain open and clean, and the ear leather must not be excessively burdened by folds. Proper ear placement contributes to the calm, composed expression typical of the Shar Pei.
Neck
The neck is strong, of moderate length, well muscled, with characteristic skin folds forming loose skin under the throat. The neck is carried confidently, blending smoothly into the shoulders. It must allow natural head movement and should not be overly long or too short. Skin in the neck area must be elastic, but folds may not be so deep as to interfere with breathing or cause irritation. Musculature is well developed, emphasizing strength and stability. A correctly formed neck enhances the impression of compactness and functionality while maintaining body harmony.
Body
The body of the Shar Pei is compact, strong, balanced, with a slightly square outline that emphasizes stability and power. The topline is straight and firm, with a moderately pronounced wither. The back is strong and broad, flowing into a short, powerful loin. The chest is deep and well developed, reaching the elbows; ribs are moderately sprung. The abdomen is slightly tucked up, highlighting dryness. The croup is short, slightly sloped, and well muscled. The high-set tail creates a distinctive outline. The body must appear harmonious, stable, and functional, without looseness, weakness, or excessive mass.
Tail
The tail of the Shar Pei is one of the breed’s most recognizable features. It is high set, thick at the base, and tapers toward the tip. In natural position, it may be carried in a high arch, loose ring, or vertically upward, but must not be straight and downward. The length is moderate; structure firm; coat short and harsh. The tail must not lie across the back or deviate to the side unnaturally. Correct tail set emphasizes the square format and contributes to a confident, expressive silhouette. A low-set, overly long, weak, or incorrectly formed tail is a serious fault.
Description of Exterior
Forequarters
Forequarters are straight, strong, well boned, set vertically and parallel. Shoulders are moderately sloped and close-fitting, ensuring stability. Upper arms are muscular; shoulder angulation should be evident but not extreme. Elbows point straight back and must not turn in or out. Forearms are straight, strong, and of adequate length. Pasterns are short, slightly elastic, without weakness. Forequarters must ensure stability and straight, balanced movement. Any deviation—bowing, weak ligaments, east–west feet, or cow elbows—is considered a fault.
Hindquarters
Hindquarters are powerful and well muscled, providing strong drive and stability. Thighs are broad and firm, with pronounced musculature. Stifle joints have clear angulation, neither overly acute nor straight. Lower thighs are moderately long, strong, and directed backward. Hocks are vertical, short, and strong, ensuring stability. Rear legs must be parallel, not too close nor turned outward. Deviations—such as cow hocks, weak ligaments, excessive angulation, or straight joints—compromise balance and functionality. Correct hindquarters allow the Shar Pei to move confidently and efficiently.
Gait and Movement
The Shar Pei moves with a confident, free, stable gait, showing good coordination and natural balance. Movement is straight and controlled, without body sway or excessive reach. Forelimbs move smoothly forward without crossing; hind limbs provide strong but controlled drive. The topline remains steady. The trot must be light, rhythmic, and even, without stiffness or discomfort. The Shar Pei should maintain stability on various surfaces and during tempo changes. Narrowness, paddling, rolling, insufficient drive, or lack of straight movement are faults.
Coat
The coat of the Shar Pei is unique: short, harsh, bristly, with little or no undercoat. The texture is straight, dense, and rough to the touch, often prickly. Three coat types are accepted: very short “horse coat,” classic “brush coat,” and a slightly longer but still harsh coat. All must retain harshness and density. The coat must not be soft, wavy, or long. Color must be even without fading. Proper coat emphasizes skin folds, forms the breed’s expressive outline, and is an essential characteristic.
Acceptable Colors
Acceptable colors include all solid shades: black, blue, fawn, red, cream, chocolate, lilac, and sable variations. The coat must be even and rich; slight darkening on the back and ears is acceptable. The tongue may be lilac or dark blue, which is characteristic of the breed. Minimal white markings on the chest or toes are permitted but undesirable. Spots, ticking, merling, or strong contrast are faults. The nose must be well pigmented and harmonize with coat color. Correct coloration reflects the breed’s national type and historical purity.
Size
The Shar Pei is medium-sized, compact, and strongly built. Height at the withers for both males and females is typically 44–51 cm. Weight varies with build, generally 18–25 kg. The dog must appear balanced, firm, and substantial without excessive heaviness or looseness. The square outline supports functional movement. Proportions of height and mass must adhere to breed type. Dogs that are too light, long-legged, or overly heavy deviate from the standard. Any departure from size parameters must be evaluated according to severity.
Faults
Faults include any deviations affecting breed harmony or functional appearance. Moderate faults include looseness, insufficient muscle, unstable topline, weak pasterns, east–west front, narrow or cow-hocked rear. Excessive folds causing vision obstruction or skin irritation are serious concerns. Incorrect coat texture—soft, long, wavy—is faulty. Irregular gait, insufficient drive, or toeing in/out diminish working ability. Minor deviations should be assessed in context of overall structure and functional impact.
Disqualifying Faults
Disqualifying faults include features that fundamentally violate breed type or impair function. Unprovoked aggression or pronounced fearfulness excludes a dog from breeding. Undershot or overshot bites, significant jaw deformities, absence of key teeth are unacceptable. Entropion or ectropion affecting vision, severe skin disease impairing normal life functions are grounds for disqualification. Non-solid colors, significant white patches, spotting, insufficient pigmentation of tongue or nose also disqualify. Any signs of crossbreeding, severe anatomical defects, abnormal gait, or clear health problems are disqualifying.
Important Notes
The Shar Pei requires attentive care of its skin, especially in the fold areas where irritation may occur. Evaluation must consider the age of the dog: puppies have pronounced wrinkling, adults moderate. Sexual dimorphism must be visible: males stronger, females lighter. No excessive grooming, alteration of skin or folds, or artificial pigmentation changes are allowed. Eye, skin, and respiratory health are essential to breed preservation.
Conclusion
The Shar Pei is an ancient Chinese breed that has preserved its unique appearance and calm, confident temperament. Its characteristic skin folds, strong build, and independent nature reflect centuries of natural selection. The breed combines guarding ability, family loyalty, and stable mentality, making it a reliable companion and protector. Proper care, attention to skin and eye health, and adherence to exterior standards ensure preservation of breed type. Breeding must prioritize soundness, functionality, and health, safeguarding the breed’s historical traits and uniqueness.
