Chinese Shar-Pei

The Shar Pei, or Chinese Shar-Pei, is a breed of dog known for its distinctive features of deep wrinkles and a blue-black tongue.
The breed comes from China. The name ( pinyin: shā pí; English name probably derived from British spelling of the Cantonese equivalent, sā pèih) translates to "sand skin" and refers to the texture of its short, rough coat. As puppies, Shar Pei have numerous wrinkles, but as they mature, these wrinkles disappear as they "grow into their skin". Shar Pei were once named as one of the world's rarest dog breeds by Time magazine and the Guinness Book of World Records, and the American Kennel Club did not recognize the breed until 1991.

Other names : Chinese Shar-Pei, Chinese Fighting Dog
Country of origin : China Patronage F.C.I.
 

Weight :
40-65 pounds

Male : 55-65 lbFemale : 40-55 lb

Height :
18-20 inches

Coat :

Horse-coat (unusual but regaining ground), rough to the touch, extremely prickly and off-standing, like a shark: soft in one direction and harsh in the other; Brush-coat, with longer hair and a smoother feel; and Bear-coat (rare, and not recognized by the AKC; Bearcoats are not due to the addition of other breeds), Bearcoats were actually the part of the breed owned mostly by wealthy
aristocrats in China prior to Mao's cultural revolution and the first to be exterminated by the regime for being considered bourgeois. Short haired examples of the breed were owned by the peasant class, and were used for working dogs and fighting due to their loose skin (although the breed did not have the heart for fighting and was soon replaced by more aggressive breeds). Bearcoats can be seen in Chinese art throughout history, and are considered to be one of the oldest breeds on earth.

Color :
red, red fawn, five-point red, black, black silver sables, black bronze sables, sables, cream, blue, cream dilute, apricot dilute, chocolate, chocolate dilute, lilac, isabelle (silver shading on a dilute-colored dog)

Litter size : 4-6 puppies

Life span : 7-15 years