Chinese Shar-Pei Versatility
I would be remiss if I did not mention the many events and activities in which the Shar-Pei excels. Shar-Pei take to obedience training like Border Collies to herding. They excel in Agility; many are registered with Therapy Dogs International, where they visit nursing homes, schools and other groups, spreading their special brand of cheer. Some are excellent Tracking dogs, and others have proved capable as “hearing-ear dogs.” I have yet to hear of a Shar-Pei who was successfully trained as a seeing-eye dog, but Fm sure there must be at least one out there; they have the intelligence and devotion needed for this task. There is at least one Schutzhund-titled Shar-Pei: Ling Chiu’s Mr. magoo. And Ann Nowicki of Phoenix, Arizona, has trained and used her Shar-Pei to herd sheep in addition to performing obedience and agility activities.
The first Shar-Pei to earn an obedience title was Hon. Ch. Linn’s Ping, who was awarded her CD (a CSPCA title) in 1981. At the age often, she earned yet another obedience Companion Dog title, this time under AKC auspices.
The first lady of training obedience-titled Chinese Shar-Pei is Rosie Lucitt, who titled the first honorary CDX Shar-Pei, Fritts’ Han-Ho-Yan. His daughter, Danros U-Woof-O, was the first Shar-Pei to receive an official CDX from the American Kennel Club and the first of her breed to be registered with Therapy Dogs International.
Now, our breed can boast of another “first” On September 4, 1994, Ch. Nantru’s First Emperor (“Bubba”), owned by Maria Gularte, became the first UDX (Utility Dog Excellent) Chinese Shar-Pei.
Even though the recorded history of the Shar-Pei is relatively brief, the breed came to our shores with a plea to save it from extinction, and save it we did, in good or American fashion. In turn, it has shown us it can be the most versatile and intelligent of dogs.