Shar Pei (Detailed Introduction)

　　When it comes to the Shar Pei, what is your first impression? Because its skin looks very loose, most people think it is somewhat funny, silly, and quite cute. But what if editor Boqi told you that it is honored as "China's Number One Fighting Dog"? Surprised? Moreover, as a native Chinese dog breed, the Shar Pei has a history of more than 2,000 years. Curious, aren’t you? Let’s follow editor Boqi to learn about this rare breed.
　　1. Introduction
　　The Shar Pei, also known as the Dali dog, originates from the Dali Town area in Nanhai, Guangdong, China. It is one of the world-famous fighting dogs and also one of the rarest dog breeds in existence. Its shape is square. The body is unique: the head resembles a hippopotamus, the mouth like a tile tube, triangular eyes, and a blue-black tongue. When young, its whole body is covered with folds of skin, hence the name Shar Pei dog. Due to its naturally loose and thick wrinkled skin, like a "armor" covering the entire body, during fights in the arena it won't be easily bitten through the skin or injured, often becoming the victor in fights. Therefore, it is deeply loved and welcomed by the Chinese people and bears the honorable title of "China's Number One Fighting Dog". It is also one of the popular companion dogs. Its short and coarse hair feels rough to the touch and looks like velvet. Indeed, when stroked along the hair, it feels like velvet, but stroking against the hair feels like sandpaper, with a burning and itchy sensation. This characteristic of the Shar Pei makes other animals hesitate to bite it.
　2. History
　　Tracing the record of the Shar Pei, it has a history of about 2,000 years. Although it is unclear who the ancestor of the Shar Pei was, there is no dispute about its origin being in Nanhai, China. Some experts believe this breed first appeared during the Han Dynasty in China. Figurines unearthed from Han tombs serve as evidence. These clay figures have short legs, curled tails, wrinkled skin heads, and a square body shape. Paintings from the Han Dynasty also show images very much resembling the Shar Pei. Therefore, the origin of the Shar Pei can be traced back to around 206 BC or 220 AD.
　　Shar Peis were formerly trained and bred as fighting dogs. At one time, this breed faced the danger of extinction. In 1947, due to a high dog tax in China, many people stopped raising Shar Peis as they could not gain significant profit, causing the population of this breed to steadily decline. Anti-dog campaigns after the founding of the People's Republic nearly led to the extinction of purebred Chinese dogs, including the Chow Chow, Tibetan Mastiff (Detailed Introduction), and Shar Pei.
　　Between 1970 and 1975, there was a rescue effort for the Shar Pei. A small group of people scoured to find surviving Shar Peis. The found dogs were transported to Hong Kong and bred with a plan. These early Shar Peis are the ancestral origins of Shar Peis worldwide today. They differ from the earliest Shar Peis that entered the US and the various Shar Pei types worldwide.
　　At that time, a Hong Kong Shar Pei enthusiast named Matgo Law decided to seek help from breeders in the United States. As a result, more than 200 people in the US wanted to raise a Shar Pei. After the breed was introduced to the US, its bizarre appearance made it instantly popular, triggering a Shar Pei craze. The "Chinese Shar Pei Club" spread across states in America. By 1988, there were 29,263 officially registered Shar Peis in the US. The American Kennel Club officially recognized the Shar Pei as a new breed in 1991.
　　Some traditional breeders in Hong Kong believe that the reproduction of the large-headed "meat-mouthed" Shar Pei likely began in the 1960s. The "meat-mouthed" Shar Pei, now popular on overseas markets, is visually delightful but heavy, prone to many diseases, and has long lost the Shar Pei's original traits as a fighting dog. Because the authentic "bone-mouthed" Shar Pei form is unpopular in the market, the number of purebred Shar Peis remaining in Nanhai Dali is also very rare.