. - Colours and Coats

Colors and Markings

Chinese Shar-Pei
COAT
There is a big variation in Shar Pei coat lengths, but we generally refer to three coat lengths:

1. Horse Coat (very short coat)

2. Brush Coat (Longer than horse coat but shorter than 2.5 cm)

3. Bear Coat (Longer than 2.5 cm)

(Brush Coat or Horse Coat) Coat is harsh, straight and off-standing on the body but flatter on the limbs. No undercoat. Length varies from short and bristly, under 1.25 cm ( half an inch) or longer and thicker, between 1.25 cm ( half an inch) and 2.5 cm (one inch), but still off-standing and harsh to the touch.
Note: No particular coat length within the accepted length should be preferred above the other and coats should never be trimmed. (Also note the Bear coat is a disqualification in the breed standard and from the Australian show ring).

Colors:
Colours
Shar Pei colours are divided into three groups:
Group A: Basic Colours

Basic coloured Shar Pei have black or charcoal pigmentation (i.e skin, nose, tongue, mouth/flews and footpads).

Group B: Dilute Colours

Dilute Shar Pei have no black (charcoal) pigmentation and no black hairs anywhere on their bodies. The skin, nose and nails are self coloured - conforming to the coat colour of the dog (i.e. cream dilute dogs will have pinkish noses and skin, chocolate dogs will have chocolate noses, etc.).

Group C: Not a Solid Colour

Shar Pei that are not a solid colour are generally referred to as Flowered Shar Pei. This will include all Shar Pei that have colour markings (i.e. spots, patches, etc.). This does not include the shading often seen on Shar Pei (the darker hairs on the back, lighter under the tails or rustiness/ashy shine on black Shar Pei).

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Group A: Basic Colours

Fawn Shown

Cream: These Shar Pei usually have a darker shading (apricot) on their dorsal line, ears and hocks and include light and dark cream.

Fawn: Is the most common Shar Pei colour and can include Light Fawn, Dark Fawn and Red Fawn.

Red: Shades of Red may vary from red to mahogany to chestnut red.

Brown: Is often confused with chocolate. Brown Shar Pei will have black pigmentation - chocolates are dilute.

Sable: Sable is one of the most difficult colour classifications in the Shar Pei. A TRUE sable will have a lacing of black hairs over a lighter ground colour (not white). The coat colour is uniform over the body, neck, head and legs. A true sable does not have a lighter butterfly pattern on the chest nor Doberman points on the head. Legs are laced evenly. A saddle pattern is also not a true sable.

Silver: These dogs are a light even silver with a charcoal mask. They cast a platinum shade, light like a cream but without the darker dorsal stripe.

Black: Most black Shar Pei have grey, red, silver, brown or chocolate shadings.

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Group B: Dilute

Dilute Chocolate shown

Apricot: A distinct apricot colour ranging in shade from light to dark apricot.

Blue: Brush coat blues are usually very dark blue and horse coat blues will usually be a light silvery blue.
Chocolate: Often this colour is confused with brown. Chocolate Shar Pei can not have any black pigmentation. Noses, etc. are chocolate coloured and tongues are lavender.

Cream: The same as basic cream colour but without black pigmentation.

Isabella: These Shar Pei have a dusty rose colour coat with pale blue masking and shading and lavender tongues. The ears and dorsal line may be darker.

Lilac: A chocolately blue dilute colour giving the appearance of purple. Again, the colour is darker in brush coats than in horse coats. (Lilac is the same colour as a Weimaraner) Always found in dilute only.

5-Point Red (Red Dilute): The "5 points" are nose, eyes, skin, foodpads and anus. These dogs are a distinct deep red fawn varying to a dark red colour.

Sable (Dilute): A lacing of dark coloured (not black) hair over a lighter coloured ground colour (not white). The coat colour is uniform in the body, neck, head and legs. A true Sable does not have a lighter butterfly pattern on the chest nor Doberman points on the head. Legs are laced evenly. A saddle pattern is also not a true Sable.

Silver (Dilute): Silvers include blue, grey and taupe. Noses are slate and tongues lavender. This is a bluish/silverish smokey colour with very little variation.

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Group C: Flowered

Flowered Shown

Flowered can come in various colours. Flowered shar-pei are purebred Chinese Shar Pei dogs and possess the same unique qualities as all the relatives that are solid in color. The wacky color variation is an intrinsic part of the Chinese Shar Pei breed and the consistency of the color variation and type does not vary.
The recessive gene that produces the unique colour must be present in both the parents and not be overpowered by a more dominant genetic color. They might come from a litter of all Flowered Shar Pei puppies or they may be the only one with the unique colour in the litter.

The spotted / flowered color does not mean the Shar Pei dog has a tendency towards more health related problems, nor does it mean that they are not purebred.

The colour variation dates back to one of the very first Chinese Shar Pei sent over to the United States from China in 1973 named Down Homes Sweet Pea. Down Homes Sweet Pea was bred by Matgo Law.

Many Shar Pei Dogs that strongly influenced today’s lines can be traced directly back to Flowered Shar Pei lines or known carriers of the gene.

Flowered Shar Pei should have at least Ÿ solid head colour, having an inverted “ ^ ” design at the back of the head. The body should be at least 50% white with patches and ticking of the same color over the rest of the body. The colour can be any color that is associated with the solid color Shar Pei

The Flowered Shar Pei is an original breed colour and can be traced back to the 1st Shar Pei registered in the United States – Down Homes China Souel.

However the Flowered Shar Pei is a disqualification in the breed standard and from the show ring.

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION
Click on the link for more detailed information regarding the colouring of shar-peis