Shar-Pei Types and their Differences

The truth is that there is a lot of confusion regarding the number of shar-pei types. Very few know the differences and even fewer care to separate them in groups, in order not to participate and compete all these different types with the same criterion, into one single ring. It is simply unfair and silly, wile other breeds are showed in different rings only because of their different length of coat or texture.

And while the traditional shar-pei or Chinese has one single version, (that means one type and a specific morphology and anatomy), the western shar-pei (or American), has many more and it makes sense, since it is a new creation of the canine world (only 50 years, wile the traditional as a dog, has a history of 2000 years), that constantly mutates to satisfy the market.

So there are two basic types, the Chinese and the American with the latter divided into subcategories depending on the type of coat and the morphology of the mouth:

Classic type (meaty bone mouth). Is something between the bony and fleshy mouth. This type has its DNA from both Chinese and American shar-pei and is a dog without exaggeration. The muzzle has not much pudding and cheeks, but is not completely bony. It can be horse coat or brush coat.

The problem of the most people that want to own a traditional shar-pei, is how they will manage to get a pure breed Chinese type, without becoming victims of some opportunists who will sell them a mixed dog as a traditional only because it has no puddings in its muzzle. So there are some very basic differences between Chinese shar-pei (traditional) and all other types of Western or American shar-pei and also in a mixed shar-pei.

The most striking difference as always refers to all articles, is the muzzle. The Chinese shar-pei (traditional), always has a ”dry” muzzle (bone mouth), and has no pudding over its nose and should not be with fleshy cheeks. We do not want anything between the jaws and teeth of the dog, that will prevent a good bite or make it less effective and powerful, because this type is a pure working breed for hunting purposes.

The muzzle is always thinner than the width of the skull, looking from above and slightly wedge. The length of the skull is almost equal to the length of the muzzle, which should not be snippy but squared and straight to the line of the skull. When its mouth opens, the dog gives the impression that smiles, opening wide in a typical Chinese called ‘’toad mouth’’.

The nostrils are large and open and gives the animal the necessary dose of oxygen that is needed, while the mouth is closed for stopping and killing the game. The eyes are large, almond and as dark as possible. Never should be placed too deep in the skull (and that’s how they avoid entropion and eyes are always healthy). Few tight folds are only on the forehead and elsewhere on the head or body of the dog. The ears can be upstanding or not, small or a little bigger.

The American or Western type of meat mouth shar-pei that is most desirable for shows and breeding, has a squared head (skull-muzzle). The width of the head is almost the same as the width of the nose, looking from above. It always has padding over its nose and thick, fleshy cheeks and mouth. This is its hallmark as ‘’hippopotamus’’ head, which gives sweetness and attractiveness in this type and make it a perfect ‘’show’’ and impressive ‘’pet’’dog. The nostrils unfortunately are too small and difficult in most cases for the dog to breath wile is playing, sleeping or has his mouth closed for a reason especially in a warm day. The eyes are placed too deep in the skull and almond in shape. Has a lot of fold skin in the head, around mouth and throat. Sometimes it has fold skin in all around its body (although this tends to be undesirable in recent years in the show rings). The ears are always down and as small as possible.

Comparing now the body and the construction of two types, we see the following differences. The Chinese shar-pei (traditional) is always taller compared to the American and the highest the best (some reaching the 55.88 cm- Wither height). The body is athletic, with ”light” body structure, never seems ”heavy.” The legs are straight, strong and long. Very important, is the shape of the feet, in the traditional type, which should be flattened with obvious long fingers, which the dog uses for climbing, digging, and even to catch something. The coat is strictly short (1 cm or less) and is unusually hard to the touch, so that causes irritation to human skin. The colors of the Chinese Shar-pei is brown, cream and rusty black (not pure black as labrador). There are no bleu, lilac, chocolate, flowered or sable Chinese Shar-pei. And last characteristic of this type is the bolt ‘’sharp’’tail. The tail begins thick rounded and tapered to a fine point (while in the American type, is just a little bit thinner in the edge)

The American type of shar-pei (or western type), tends to become increasingly short and small in size, and preferred that way, with a height reaching with difficulty the 51 cm. In fact they have created a miniature and mini shar-pei also, that barely touches the 35-40cm. In general opinion, it is compact, heavy structure dog ,with short legs and tight ‘’cat’’ feet. The coat has several varieties, horse coat, brush coat (up to 2,5 cm) and bear coat (like chow-chow). The texture of the coat is hard but not enough to compete this of a traditional. It has a lot of color varieties, from black, fawn, red, cream, chocolate, blue, blue black, lilac, even flowered(not show quality). The tail is thick and short, tapering slightly, but with no bolt edge.

The classic type or meaty bone mouth as they call it, can have any of these features from the one or the other type and some times from both of them together, but always with the characteristic meaty bone mouth that we mentioned above.

All these different types of shar-pei, are all suitable for family, apartment in the city, or countryside. Choose the type that attract you more in appearance, but if you are athletic and energetic guy, prefer the Chinese, if you are calm and languid, is better to choose the American one.

Both types have great versatility and if you really know about dogs, you can easily make them follow your lifestyle, since dogs are imitating animals, which means that learn and keen to make the lifestyle that you follow in your life!.

Έλενα Τσαλικίδου

Treatise on FCI standard for Shar-pei

By Eric T. Omura

Introduction

FCI initially adopted Standard Nr.309 on 25th January 1994 (hereafter referred to as Nr.309/1994) based on recommendation from the Hong Kong Kennel Club. In this original standard, it clearly stated that Shar-pei has its origin in China and its ¡§Patronage- Hong Kong¡¨. This standard clearly reflects a traditional type Chinese Shar-pei, commonly referred to as the ¡§bone-mouth¡¨ in the Chinese canine world.

For reason and process of decision not clearly understood, FCI changed this original standard (Nr.309/1994) to another version on August 9, 1999 (hereafter referred to as Nr.309/1999) which is basically similar to the American Kennel Club standard for Shar-pei. This is the standard for Western ¡§meat-mouth¡¨ type Shar-pei.

It is a widely known fact in Hong Kong that the recommendation presented to FCI by Hong Kong Kennel Club was the result of consensus reached after numerous meetings organized by the Sharpei Club Hong Kong. Members to this club in those early days included many prominent breeders of traditional type Chinese Shar-pei in Hong Kong. Therefore, for reason self-apparent, the Nr.309/1994 standard is the closest representation of a traditional type Shar-pei.

Clarification on the standard

Before going into the particulars of the FCI standard for Shar-pei, we should first examine a few basic issues as follows:

• Nr.309/1994 clearly stated that Hong Kong is the country of patronage.
• What was the reason that caused the change to Nr.309/1999 standard?
• If the Hong Kong Kennel Club (HKKC) representing the place of origin did not initiate any revision of the Nr.309/1994 standard, under what circumstances did FCI unilaterally change the standard without first opening a dialogue with HKKC?
• The Nr.309/1999 standard stated that FCI is the patronage.
• FCI is an international organization and not a country. Can FCI take its member¡¦s place and surrogate as ¡§country of patronage¡¨ when a member clearly representing the place of origin (HKKC) is present?
• If the Nr.309/1999 standard stated that the valid original standard was first published on April 14, 1999, then where did this original ¡§valid original standard¡¨ of Nr.309/1994 disappeared. The Nr.309/1994 standard stated that the ¡§valid original standard¡¨ was concurrent with the date of issue of FCI standard which was January 25, 1994. An official document can not just disappear without explanation.
• If the Nr.309/1999 standard was meant to be a separate and independent standard from Nr.309/1994, then shouldn¡¦t it be filed under a different number instead of occupying the same Nr.309?
• If Nr.309/1999 standard stands for a different breed standard overriding the previous ¡§wrong¡¨ standard, then what is the reason for this error? How can a Shar-pei standard be based on American and not the place of origin?
• If Nr.309/1994 was filed in 1994 when Hong Kong was still under British rule, then on July 1, 1997 when sovereignty of Hong Kong reverted back to the People¡¦s Republic of China and became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, HKKC became a qualified organization representing the country of patronage. How could have the Nr.309/1999 standard issued two years after 1997 without any HKKC involvement?
• HKKC wrote an official letter to FCI two years ago (2006) enquired about this matter. In short: ¡§What happened to the Nr.309/1994 standard?¡¨ So far as at this date (December 2, 2007) Chairman of the Hong Kong Kennel Club, Mr. Nelson Lam said that FCI did not give any reply to this enquiry so far.
• FCI may be waiting for People¡¦s Republic of China to join FCI but this future issue should not complicate the current issue. For many Chinese breeds, Hong Kong has no geographical connection, but for Shar-pei, it is right within the geographical place of origin.
• Recently in its General Assembly held in Acapulco on May 22nd, 2007, FCI reconfirmed its organizational principle. Article 7, item 4 of Standing Orders adopted by the FCI clearly stated that ¡§New breed standards shall be based on the standard from the country of origin or country of patronage.¡¨ This is the latest official reconfirmation of FCI long standing organizational principle.

It is fortunate that FCI has already a good prior experience in dealing with the case of Akita breed. In reality in future, there are many other breeds around the world outside of Europe and North America that may encounter the same breed dichotomy. For Shar-pei, the western meat-mouth type is already a fact of life that we can not turn back in time. The FCI Nr.309/1999 standard is a good representation of this. If FCI upheld its principle of ¡§standard from the country of origin or country of patronage¡¨, it is necessary that the name ¡§Chinese Shar-pei¡¨ must be represented by FCI Nr.309/1994 as initially proposed by the Hong Kong Kennel Club. To draw the case of Akita as a reference, FCI can name Nr.309/1999 standard as ¡§American Shar-pei¡¨ and Nr.309/1994 as ¡§Chinese Shar-pei¡¨.

Comparison between 1994 and 1999 FCI Shar-pei standard

To clarify the difference between FCI Nr.309/1999 and Nr.309/1994, a table of summary is listed below for easy comparison. Similar features of the two standards are rearranged and grouped together for easy comparison. The writings in red are notes for clarification and not part of the wordings in the standards.

Summary

FCI Nr.309/1999 standard is basically a standard for Western type Shar-pei which the breeders here in China and Hong Kong refer to as the ¡§meat-mouth¡¨. On Jan. 12, 1998, AKC approved second edition of Chinese Shar-pei standard, and the FCI issued the Nr.309/1999 standard one year later. This Nr.309/1999 standard is actually quite similar to the American AKC standard.

The fact of life is that the Western type Shar-pei (meat-mouth) are already well accepted by many breeders around the world. Any attempt to replace it with a separate traditional Chinese Shar-pei standard is not practical and do no justice to the already existing type of dog. For FCI, the case of Shar-pei is intrinsically the same as the case for Akita. To solve this issue, one option is to let Nr.309/1999 remains as a standard for Western type Shar-pei and FCI Nr.309/1994 revived as the standard for the original traditional type Chinese Shar-pei.

In summary, the most distinctive differences between the traditional type (bone-mouth) and the Western type (meat-mouth) are the head, coat and tail. The difference in features between to two types is summarized below:

According to the Nr.309/1999 standard, a meat-mouth requires a heavy head, rather large in proportion to body. This description has cause breeding of more and more heavier head costing the dog speed and agility.

If Shar-pei is a ¡§hunting and watchdog¡¨ as the standards claim it to be, then the performance of bone-mouth is outstanding when tested side-by-side with a meat mouth. Therefore, ¡§active and agile¡¨ are the keywords which have been taken out from the Nr.309/1994 standard to produce the Nr.309/1999 standard.

The heavier head of meat-mouth naturally cause the back to dip to balance the weight.

Height 23 inch at the withers is indeed a good and reasonable size for a rural ¡§hunting and watchdog¡¨. Although 23 inch is uncommon nowadays for a Shar-pei, many old memories in Hong Kong and China pointed out that they have seen larger dogs than what we commonly see today. With today¡¦s better nutrition and exercise, it is easier to obtain a larger structure. It is true that some traditional Shar-pei breeders in Hong Kong also think that 20 inch is the right size, meaning this is the statistical mean (the right size) for Shar-pei but it must not be confused with the maximum. If one set the height at maximum to be 20 inch, then in actual breeding the end result will be producing a dog on average of below 20 inch. Therefore 23 inch is a reasonable maximum limit for the dog, meaning the average height will be below this maximum limit.

Muzzle is distinctively different between the two types. The Western type requires a ¡§Hippopotamus¡¨ look permitting a bulge at the base of the nose. Traditional type basically requires a ¡§Roof tile¡¨ look. One can imagine a roof tile which has a curved and smooth surface. Any bulge or padding or protrusion on the surface, it can not function and would not be a roof tile. A ¡§Toad Mouth¡¨ only suggests a very developed cheek like a toad but still the top of muzzle should be smooth and straight.

Coat is another distinctive feature separating the two types. It is easy to differentiate the coat between the two types, and totally different preference when judging the two types. In general terms, Shar-pei has horse coat and brush coat, and sometimes people even refer to a bear coat. They are only referring to the difference in length of the coat with horse coat being the shortest, followed by brush coat and the longest is the bear coat. A bear coat is too long to be shown in a dog show which means it is over 1 inch in length.

For a traditional type Shar-pei, the coat must be short and hard and therefore the judges should prefer the shorter horse coat over any other longer length coat. The Nr.309/1994 standard says ¡§Length must not be over 2.5cm¡¨ and this preference implies that the coat should be shorter and harder the better. Over the years, the judges in the Western world developed to prefer the brush coat over the horse coat. The horse coat was treated as if it is a fault because the Nr.309/1999 standard requires ¡§from 1 cm to 2.5 cm¡¨ which implies that below 1 cm can be a problem. This description is inferior than the AKC standard for Shar-pei coat which says ¡§coat lengths may range from extremely short ¡§horse coat¡¨ up to the ¡§brush coat,¡¨ not to exceed one inch in length at the withers.¡¨ In the U.S., although both ¡§horse coat¡¨ and ¡§brush coat¡¨ are within the standard, ¡§brush coat¡¨ is preferred without much explanation. The Nr.309/1999 went even one step further specifically excluding the ¡§horse coat¡¨ (below 1 cm) from the standard. At least, the FCI can take the credit that Nr.309/1999 standard is more specific than the AKC standard.

So the coat of the Western type Shar-pei has eventually become a short hair Chow Chow. If you look at a bear coat Western Shar-pei, it is already a step short of becoming a full Chow Chow. This is not a surprise at all because Shar-pei evolved from the Tang dog and Chow Chow is also a Tang dog.

Traditional Shar-pei breeders place important emphasis on ¡§Mou Ngan¡¨ meaning ¡§coat and eye¡¨. Coat in Cantonese is pronounced ¡§Mou¡¨ and eye is ¡§Ngan¡¨. This is definitely true as the name of this breed itself implies. The name Shar-pei literally means ¡§Sandy Skin¡¨ and this ¡§Sand¡¨ like texture is the result of very short and stiff standing coat on the body. ¡§Ngan¡¨ or the eyes give the Shar-pei its brave, daring, and confident look.

Without a proper ¡§Ngan¡¨ or eye set in the facial look, a Shar-pei can have all the correct features but still lacks a majestic look. An almond shaped eye means more specifically a triangular eye, which is an essential element in the facial expression.

The tail is another very distinctive feature which separates the traditional type from the Western type. In this case, it is unusual that Western judges tend to interpret the standard very broadly and at times close their eyes on the requirement of the tails. The key words are ¡§Thick and round at the root, tapering to a fine point¡¨. This ¡§tapering to a fine point¡¨ need to be strictly enforced if it needs to be a good Shar-pei. ¡§A fine point¡¨ means it is almost sharp and pointed and there can be no other interpretation for this.

This is written even in the Nr.309/1999 Western type meat-mouth Shar-pei standard but this is not strictly enforced. For the traditional type breeders here in China and Hong Kong, they refer to the different types of tail by object names such as spear, sickle, hook, and coin. Except for the coin which means a double coiled tail, all the other descriptions are sharp pointed objects. Western judges will not hesitate to select a Champion even the hair on the tail is quite long. ¡§Tapering to a fine point¡¨ is not upheld at all for Western type Shar-pei, but this is of utmost importance when referring to a traditional Shar-pei.

Finally the wrinkles. The word ¡§wrinkle¡¨ is the curse for Shar-pei from day one when it became known to the world. The skin happens to be loosely attached to the body but not to such extend as wrinkled and folded all over the body. Basically by appearance, the skin should be well fitted onto the body with a little fold at the withers and some decorative wrinkles on the forehead. Shar-pei originally has nothing to do with the wrinkles. The wrinkled image is mainly a Western market creation.