Shar Pei

　　The Shar Pei (detailed introduction), English name SharPei, originated from the Dali Town area in Nanhai, Guangdong, China, and is one of the world-famous fighting dog breeds. Its body shape is unique, with a head resembling a hippopotamus, a mouth like a tile cylinder, triangular eyes, and a bluish-black tongue. The skin is full of wrinkles during puppyhood. Hence it is called the Shar Pei dog. Although its appearance seems melancholic, sorrowful, and serious, the Shar Pei’s actual mood is very cheerful, lively, mischievous, and playful. The Shar Pei’s coat is short and rough, which is one of its most distinctive features. When you touch the Shar Pei’s coat in the direction of the hair, it feels like velvet, but when you stroke it against the direction, it feels like sandpaper, with a burning itchy sensation. There are also many colors of Shar Pei’s skin and coat, mainly classified as follows.

　　The Shar Pei generally has seven colors, such as black, fawn, white, red, gray, cream, and chocolate. Some believe that the Shar Pei is the result of long-term selective breeding by local residents after northern Haba dogs were brought to Nanhai County, Guangdong. It has a history of more than 2000 years. It is said that traces of the Shar Pei were found in Han Dynasty paintings and calligraphy. At that time, this type of dog was mainly used as a hunting dog to attack wild boars.

　　Of course, some people believe that the development history and origin of the Shar Pei remain unclear to this day. Nonetheless, the Shar Pei remains a popular pet dog today. It has naturally loose, thick, wrinkled skin that acts like “armor” covering the whole body, making it look even more special. Therefore, the Shar Pei is known as "China’s number one fighting dog" and is a very beloved pet dog.