Chinese Shar Pei
The Shar Pei breed was made to be general farm dog with a wide range of purposes. They were not limited to just simple farming dogs.
As this type of dog, breeders found the dogs’ fighting and protective skills to come out also as they would grow exceedingly protective of property and the family, loyal to those around when raised. Prized as agile hunters, the Shar Pei were soon known in the fighting rings not just because of their built, but also for their hunting qualities.
They were later used for things like fighting since the large amounts of excess skin and the prickly coat made it difficult for other dogs to keep a hold of. In 1973, the breed was introduced to the U.S. through a dog magazine, by a Hong Kong businessperson. It quickly grew in popularity and now has a registered foundation stock of more than 70,000 dogs.
The breed is recognized by the AKC, CKC, FCI, UKC, KCGB, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, and ACR organizations. It is a southern group and listed as non-sporting. The blue Shar Pei like other colors of its breed has some health concerns. These concerns include fevers, which do not appear to have any noticeable cause and swollen hocks. Occasionally there will be some Shar Pei that have skin problems, though this is not as some think because the dog has excess skin. However, it is more than likely caused by excessive uncontrolled breeding, which has created a hereditary weakness.
As with any pure bred animal there are a few things to look out for when it comes to the Shar Pei’s health. A good, reputable breeder will breed for health so these concerns should not pose a problem with your new pet. They are however, things to look out for. Some of the things to look out for are fevers. Shar Pei’s are prone to unexplained fevers as well as swollen hocks, which can be a sign of a serious medical condition. Some Shar Pei’s have issues with their skin due to hereditary weaknesses caused but excessive and unregulated breeding.
There are a few more things to consider when looking into a blue Shar Pei. The first is that these are not small dogs a Shar Pei can reach between forty and fifty-five pounds.
in the last few years before aggressive breeding and expansion measures of the breed was initiated in hopes to save the magnificent breed. Its popularity has expanded and registered in many of the known dog associations around the world, more than seventy thousand dogs in this foundation stock alone.
These dogs weight between forty and fifty-five pounds so they are considered medium sized animals be sure to check with your home owners’ association or apartment complex before purchasing one. Blue Shar Pei’s make a great addition to any household so why not consider one of these lovely dogs the next time you are looking for a pet to being into your home.