Pets and Animals Article | The Chinese Shar-Pei And Some Much Needed InformationMore Than Articles

The Chinese Shar-Pei And Some Much Needed Information

From the brink of possible obscurity the Chinese Shar Pei has made a wonderful comeback and today is a most popular and much sought after breed that because of its wrinkled appearance and hippo-like looks makes it a truly one of a kind breed. The Shar Pei is of course a breed that goes back a long time and in fact is also an inhabitant of the ancient land of China that is closely related to the Chow Chow as well as the Tibetan Mastiff.

Chinese Shar Pei's are very compact animals that have muscular bodies and a square appearance that along with a blocky head makes it a very unique looking breed, partly because its face is very much like that of a hippopotamus. The canine can weigh about fifty-five pounds at most and it moves with strength and balance and there is a good rear-end drive to it as well. The name is symbolic of the Chinese words for coarseness of coat that are of three main types including the bear coat, horse coat and also brush coat.

The Chinese Shar Pei is well loved by everyone that comes in contact with it, and because of a calm disposition and confident manner, these are characteristics for which the dog is best known for. In addition, it also appears very dignified though it is also very aloof and will not easily become friends with strangers, and in fact, can also be given to being very aggressive sometimes.

The Shar Pei is a breed that likes to be around humans and responds well to human contact, and also makes for a great watchdog. It can often even act like a clown when around others of its own breed, and may even show signs of arrogance as well. Thus, training the dog may prove to be harder than you bargained for, though once socialized, will make for an excellent and devoted companion.

Most recognized for its wrinkled looks, the Chinese Shar Pei is a most sought after breed and this is quite a change because the breed was once considered as being a rare one when it was in danger of becoming extinct, no thanks to the efforts of Chinese Communists in trying to end this breed. Still, because of good fortune, it is now possible to own this aloof breed that has a unique appearance, though such a breed is still not the best bet for a first time dog owner and because it needs a fair bit of maintenance, may not always be the easiest dog to keep at home.

The Shar Pei is also prone to certain health problems and will often require preventive care, which a prospective owner must be aware of and be prepared to do. Nevertheless, this breed is loved and because of its possessive nature, makes a good family pet, and to ensure that you get yourself a good pet, try and obtain it from reputable breeders who will ensure that its temperament is sound, and who will have assessed it as being worthy of making an ideal pet dog.

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For more information on the Chinese Crested or a complete list of dog breeds visit this Dog Behaviour website.

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