Chinese Shar-Pei  Standard

General Information
Size, Proportion, Substance
Head
Neck, Topline, Body
Forequarters, Hindquarters
Coat
Color, Gait, Temperament, Ring Presentation
Coat Colors
Tail
Major Faults, Disqualifications

General Information

An alert, compact dog of medium size and substance; square in profile, close-coupled; the well proportioned head slightly, but not overly large for the body. The short, harsh coat, the loose skin covering the head and body, the small ears, the "hippopotamus" muzzle shape and the high set tail impart to the Shar-Pei a unique look peculiar to him alone. The loose skin and wrinkles covering the head, neck and body are superabundant in puppies but these features may be limited to the head, neck and withers in the adult.

The harshness of the coat is imperative.

Size, Proportion, Substance

Size
The height is 18 to 20 inches at the withers. The weight is 45 to 60 pounds. The dog is usually larger and more square-bodied than the bitch but both appear well proportioned.

Proportion
The height of the Shar- Pei from the ground to the withers is approximately equal to the length from the point of breastbone to the point of rump.

Head
Head Large, slightly but not overly, proudly carried and covered with profuse wrinkles on the forehead continuing into side wrinkles framing the face.
Eyes Dark, small, almond-shaped and sunken, displaying a scowling expression. In the dilute colored dogs the eye color may be lighter. 		Ears Extremely small rather thick, equilateral triangles in shape, slightly rounded at the tips, edges of the ear may curl. Ears lie flat against the head, are set high, wide apart and forward on the skull, pointing toward the eyes. The ears have the ability to move. A pricked ear is a disqualification.
Correct ear set can best be assessed when the dog is fully animated. When he is alert, the ears should lie flat against the head. The ears can be quite mobile and be used independently to locate sounds. When gaited, the Shar-Pei may carry his ears away from the skull (toward the sides).
 

Skull Flat and broad, the stop moderately defined.

Muzzle One of the distinctive features of the breed. It is broad and full with no suggestion of snipiness. (The length from nose to stop is approximately the same as from stop to occiput.)

Nose Large and wide and darkly pigmented, preferably black but any color conforming to the general coat color of the dog is acceptable. In dilute colors, the preferred nose is self-colored. Darkly pigmented cream Shar-Pei may have some light pigment either in the center of the nose or on the entire nose. The lips and top of muzzle are well-padded and may cause a slight bulge above the nose.

 

Tongue, Roof of Mouth, Gums and Flews Solid bluish-black is preferred in all coat colors except in dilute colors, which have a solid lavender pigmentation. A spotted pink tongue is a major fault. A solid pink tongue is a disqualification. (Tongue colors may lighten due to heat stress; care must be taken not to confuse dilute pigmentation with a pink tongue.)

Teeth Strong, meeting in a scissors bite. Deviation from a scissors bite is a major fault.


                    

Tongue colors should conform to the general pigmentation of the dog. In dilute-colored dogs, there must be no black pigmentation. A spotted pink tongue is a major fault, and a solid pink tongue is a disqualification. Fawns, reds and blacks should have solid black noses. In dilute-colored dogs, the nose is self-colored. Cream colored dogs with black pigment may have a lighter nose.

Neck, Topline, Body
Neck Medium length, full and set well into the shoulders. There are moderate to heavy folds of loose skin and abundant dewlap about the neck and throat.
Topline The topline dips slightly behind the withers, slightly rising over the short, broad loin. A level, roach or swayed topline/backline shall be faulted.		 Chest Broad and deep with the brisket extending to the elbow and rising slightly under the loin.
Back Short and close-coupled.
Croup Flat, with the base of the tail set extremely high, clearly exposing an up-tilted anus.

Forequarters, Hindquarters

FOREQUARTERS

Shoulders Muscular, well laid back and sloping.

Forelegs When viewed from the front, straight moderately spaced, with elbows close to the body. When viewed from the side, the forelegs are straight, the pasterns are strong and flexible. The bone is substantial but never heavy and is of moderate length. Removal of front dewclaws is optional.

Feet Moderate in size, compact and firmly set, not splayed.

HINDQUARTERS


Muscular, strong, and moderately angulated. The metatarsi (hocks) are short, perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. Hind dewclaws must be removed.
Feet as in front.

When judging the Shar-Pei, it is well to remember the old saying, "All things in moderation." The Shar-Pei should be of medium size and substance with moderate boning. This emphasis on moderation does not, however, preclude the need for an impression of strength through well-conditioned and muscular shoulders and rear.

Coat

The extremely harsh coat is one of the distinguishing features of the breed. The coat is absolutely straight and off standing on the main trunk of the body but generally lies somewhat flatter on the limbs. The coat appears healthy without being shiny or lustrous. Acceptable coat lengths may range from extremely short "horse coat" up to the "brush coat", not to exceed one inch in length at the withers. A soft coat, a wavy coat, a coat in excess of one inch in length at the withers or a coat that has been trimmed is a major fault. the Shar-Pei is shown in its natural state.

The "brush coat", while not as short as the "horse coat", should have harsh texture. Although Shar-Pei means "sandy coat", the "brush coat", up to one inch in length at the withers, is as acceptable as the "horse coat". One coat should not be preferred over the other.

Color, Gait, Temperament, Ring Presentation

COLOR

Only solid colors and sable are acceptable and are to be judged on an equal basis. A solid color dog may have shading, primarily darker, down the back and on the ears. The shading must be variations of the same body color and may include darker hairs throughout the coat. The following colors are disqualifications: Albino; Not a solid color, i.e.: Brindle; Parti-colored; Spotted; Patterned in any combination of colors.

GAIT

The movement of the Shar-Pei is to be judged at a trot. The gait is free and balanced with the feet tending to converge on a center line of gravity when the dog moves at a vigorous trot. The gait combines good forward reach and a strong drive in the hindquarters. Proper movement is essential.

Shar-Pei should be gaited on a loose lead at a moderate trot.

TEMPERAMENT

Regal, alert, intelligent, dignified, lordly, scowling, sober and snobbish essentially independent and somewhat standoffish with strangers, but extreme in his devotion to his family. The Shar-Pei stands firmly on the ground with a calm, confident stature.

The Chinese Shar-Pei may be aloof with strangers.

 

RING PRESENTATION

When judging the Chinese Shar-Pei, as with all dogs, it is important to approach the dog from the front so that the dog is fully aware of the judge's presence. It is also important to remember that forehead, side wrinkles, and the desired sunken eye combine to limit Shar-Pei peripheral vision. A sudden approach toward a dog from outside his field of vision may startle the Shar-Pei. The dog should recover quickly and resume his confident stature.

Coat Colors
In relation to the Standard of the Breed, no one solid coat color is preferred to any other solid color.  The variations in coat colors, as described below, do not alter the color requirements/preferences as described in the Standard of the Breed.

Group A

Basic Colors. Has black (charcoal) pigmentation, i.e. skin, nose, tongue, mouth/flews and foot pads. Nails may be lighter.
Cream An "offwhite" color. May have darker ears and shading along the dorsal line. May be described as light cream, cream or dark cream. Sable A lacing of black hairs over a lighter ground color. Two separate colored hairs - one black and one a lighter color (not white). The coat color is uniform over the body, neck, head and legs. Very little variation.
Fawn A very light tan/golden color ranging to a dark tan/golden color. Some fawns with dark fawn coats have a pronounced red tinge. May have darker shading along the dorsal line. Red fawns may have lighter colored skin, eyes and toe nails. They should have a solid colored nose and foot pads. May be described as light fawn, fawn, dark fawn or red fawn. Silver Includes blue, grey and taupe. A bluish/silverish smoky color. The coat color is uniform over the body, neck, head and legs. Very little variation.
Red Mahogany to rich chestnut red (example: Irish Setter). The coat color is uniform over the body, neck, head and legs. Very little variation. Black True black. May have a blue, grey, brown or red tinge on the sides. The coat color is uniform over the body, neck, head and legs. Very little variation. May bleach, fade or brown from exposure to the sun.
Brown A medium to dark brown color. The coat color is uniform over the body, neck, head and legs. Very little variation.

Group B

Dilute Colors. No black (charcoal) pigmentation anywhere on dog. Skin, nose and nails are self-colored blending with the coat color. Eyes may be light or dark. Tongues may vary light to dark lavender.
Cream (Dilute) An "offwhite" color. May have darker shading on the ears and along the dorsal line. May be described as light cream, cream or dark cream. Chocolate (Dilute) A medium to dark color (example: Hershey milk or dark chocolate). The coat color is uniform over the body, neck, head and legs. Includes liver..
Apricot (Dilute) Similar to but lighter in color than a five-point-red (dilute). A distinct apricot color ranging in shades from light to dark apricot. Sable (Dilute) A lacing of dark colored hairs over a lighter ground color. Two separate colored hairs - one dark (red, brown, silver) and one a lighter color (not white). The coat color is uniform over the body, neck, head and legs. Very little variation. Nose is slate. Mouth/tongue is lavender. Skin, eyes, foot pads, and nails are self-colored.
Five-Point-Red (Dilute) A distinct deep red fawn varying to a dark red color. The coat color is uniform over the body, neck, head and legs. Very little variation. The "five points" are nose, eyes, skin, foot pads and anus. Silver (Dilute) Includes blue, grey and taupe. A bluish/silverish smoky color. The coat color is uniform over the body, neck, head and legs. Very little variation. Nose is slate. Mouth/tongue is lavender. Skin, eyes, foot pads, and nails are self-colored.

Group C

Not A Solid Colored Coat.
Albino Spotted Spots, ticked or roaning.
Brindle A fine mixture of black hairs with hairs of a lighter color, usually tan, brown, or grey with typical tiger stripe pattern. Tan-Pointed Pattern Such as commonly found in black and tan, liver and tan, etc. (Doberman Pinscher) or saddle pattern (German Shepherd). These patterns or variations may appear in other color combinations.
Parti-Color Variegated in patches of two or more colors.
Tongue Color 1. Black:
2. Flowered:
3. Pink:		 Tongue solid blue-black.
Tongue pink with blue-black markings.
Tongue solid pink.
Mouth Color 1. Black:
2. Flowered:
3. Pink:		 Roof, Flews, and gums blue-black.
Roof, Flews, and gums blue-black and pink.
Roof, Flews, and gums pink.
Coat Color No dog is eligible for registration which possesses those characteristics which designate an albino, such as light (or pink) skin over the body with white or cream-colored hair over the body and eyes of a bluish cast.

Tail

The high set tail is a characteristic feature of the Shar-Pei. A low set tail shall be faulted. The tail is thick and round at the base, tapering to a fine point and curling over or to either side of the back. The absence of a complete tail is a disqualification.

Major Faults, Disqualifications

MAJOR FAULTS:

Deviation from a scissors bite.

Spotted tongue.

A soft coat, a wavy coat, a coat in excess of 1" in length at the withers or a coat that has been trimmed.

DISQUALIFICATIONS:

Pricked ears

Solid pink tongue

Absence of a complete tail

Albino; not a solid color, i.e.: Brindle; Parti-colored; Spotted; Patterned in any combination of colors