The Chinese Shar-pei’s Ancestry
Much of the history of the Chinese Shar-Pei is unknown, and a great deal of what has been written is conjecture. While there are ancient Chinese statues that resemble the Shar-Pei, they could also be of the Chow Chow or the Pug. Since Chinese culture has not historically valued the dog, there are no reliable pedigree records available to trace the genealogy of this breed prior to its arrival in the United States. Most Shar-Pei in the United States were exported from Hong Kong, Taiwan or Macao, but because of the lack of interest in organized kennel activities and because of the internal struggles in China, most of the Shar-Pei were non-pedigreed, and little was known of their history.
There is no strong evidence to prove either that the Shar-Pei is an ancient breed or a more recent combination of breeds, only hints at both possibilities. While the blue-black tongue suggests a connection with the Chow Chow, the rest of the Chinese Shar-Pei’s genetic makeup is conjecture.
Original Purposes of the Breed
It is believed that the Shar-Pei was originally a peasant dog, and its strong, muscular build indicates that it may have been used for guarding and hunting and later, for pit fighting in the southern regions of China. I have been told by a Chinese gentleman who immigrated to this country that when he was a child, his father took him to a dogfight in Beijing where he saw his first Shar-Pei. The incident made him sick. (Today, that gentleman is a respected AKC judge, Mr. Richard Tang.)
Bringing the Breed to the U.S.
We do know that in the late 1960s, a young Chinese man named Matgo Law took on the difficult task of trying to save an almost extinct breed that had been decimated by famine, high taxes, prejudice and the sport of dogfighting. Chinese gamblers, who recognized and wished to improve the dog’s value as a pit fighter, had crossbred other champion combatants with the Shar-Pei, thus mongrelizing the breed. Matgo Law had to travel far and wide to try to find specimens who resembled the Shar-Pei, and he faced the considerable task of trying to purify the breed.
In answer to Matgo Law’s plea, a few Shar-Pei began to trickle into the U.S. The first Shar-Pei to be registered with the CSPCA was Down-Homes China Souel, owned by Ernest and Madeline Albright of California, as was the first registered litter.
The breed’s registration was established in 1974 with the Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America, Inc., when a group of owners and fanciers held its first organizational meeting, with Ernest Albright elected as president.
Without question, Down-Homes Kennels played the biggest role in promoting and establishing the Chinese Shar-Pei in the United States and indeed, in the world, but other names played an important role in early imports as well. Chinese Diamond Kennels, owned by Yu Ying Wai, and Gun Club Kennels, owned by Robert Horsnell, were also integral in establishing the Shar-Pei in this country.
Growth and Popularity in the U.S.
Since the arrival of the first few Chinese Shar-Pei on our shores, the breed has experienced a most phenomenal growth in popularity and consequently, in population. Because of its unique appearance, it has been sought after by the American public, often as a fad item. Neither price nor quality seem to deter the fanciers of this breed. We see Shar-Pei in commercials for perfume, cosmetics that tout a non-wrinkling agent, clothes, cards, steam irons, dog food and bleach. In magazines, the list of commercial advertisers who use photographs of the Shar-Pei to sell their products is even more lengthy.
Its faddish popularity has encouraged those who would be breeders to produce puppies at an alarming rate. The American Kennel Club reports that as of February 28, 1995, there are 127,666 Chinese Shar-Pei registered, and an average of 1,300 new Shar-Pei are registered every month. If you consider that not every puppy born is registered, a conservative estimate of the Shar-Pei population in the United States would be twice the number of registered Shar-Pei.
With these numbers, the Chinese Shar-Pei can no longer be considered a “rare” breed. On August 1, 1992, the breed was allowed to compete in AKC licensed events, taking its place as the 134th breed to be recognized by the American Kennel Club. Its rapidly growing population is evident in the fact that it is not uncommon to find a Shar-Pei in an animal shelter either picked up as a stray or turned in by its owner. Shar-Pei rescue groups have organized all over the country to help place the unwanted, abused and neglected members of the breed. In our area of Washington, D.C., we have placed over 300 rescue Shar-Pei in the last five years.
The Price of Being a Fad
The popularity of an item does not ensure its quality. Actually, quite the reverse is usually the case. A larger quantity of that item is produced to meet an ever-growing demand, and unfortunately, mass production tends to reduce the quality of a product This maxim is particularly true when one is dealing with living beings rather than inanimate objects. Some breeders do not take the time or the effort to educate themselves about the background of their breeding stock, investigate the lineage of potential studs, or learn about genetics. Health and temperament problems can result from such poor planning.
Fortunately, as time has passed and the fad factor has diminished, many of the entrepreneurs have moved on to “richer pastures,” leaving a solid core of dedicated breeders who are determined to eliminate some of the health problems that have plagued the Chinese Shar-Pei. Today, the new Shar-Pei owner has a better of chance of purchasing a healthy, well-tempered dog.
When I first began showing my Shar-Pei in the conformation ring, it was not unusual to see one or more dogs excused from the showring for temperament problems¡ªgrowling, snapping at the judge or threatening another Shar-Pei. Today this behavior is an extremely unusual occurrence. Most judges will tell you that the Shar-Pei is one of the better-behaved breeds in the showring today. This can be directly traced to careful breeding practices.