. - Shar-Pei History

History and Origin of the Shar-Pei

Pronounced ‘shah pay’, this dog’s name means ‘sandy paper’ or ‘sand skin’ and should have a bristle feel to its coat. Affectionately called ‘a Rollie Dog, the Shar-Pei has been likened to a dog wearing very baggy clothes. Regardless of whether one is referring to one dog or to several, the word is still the same ‘Shar-Pei’ since the Chinese language has no plurals.

The Shar-Pei breed of dog has an uncertain history, but there are several guesstimates and suggestions about their past and the reason for their current behaviors. Due to the fact that they were the aim of the Chinese revolution, it is a miracle that they are still here to bless our homes with their loyalty and protectiveness. It was only some centuries ago that they were becoming extinct, and were once considered the rarest breed of dog in the world, due to the fact that

Known in China for the past two thousand years, the Shar-Pei is a hunting and watchdog, originating in a region near Guangzhou (Canton) in the village of Dai Lek.

It is interesting to note that the Chinese call any dog which is used to protect property or people as ‘fighting dogs’ unlike AUS, UK or US designation as ‘working dogs’. These dogs were, however, at one time bred and used mainly by the working class Chinese and gamblers for the fighting ring. Fighting for these dogs was fortunately stopped after other fighting breeds were brought into China from the West.

Prior to the mid-1960’s there were sufficient numbers of the traditional type of Shar Pei in Hong Kong.

Shar-Pei were at one point listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the rarest dog in the world, forcing loyal readers of the annual edition to take pity in the Shar-Pei situation, and encouraged them to breed the dogs that were left and make it so they were no longer extinct after several years. Luckily, they were saved and are available for making great pets and precious additions to a family.

The Beginnings of a Shar Pei
The Shar-Pei was originally from Guangzhou province of China

The shar-Pei has had the reputation of being a fighting and guard dog for the royal family of Chinese dynasties. While their loyal and devoted characteristics make them a wonderful guard dog and family pet, they are not naturally built for fighting. It is said that because Shar-Pei have such a natural laid back and calm demeanor, their breeders and owners were forced to administer drugs or alcohol to them in order to get them to fight.

It should also be noted that during the height of "Fighting" Dogs in China during the 50's and 60's, there was a misconception that the majority of these dogs were shar-Pei, when in fact 7 out of 10 of these dogs were "Tang" Dogs, having very few Sha-Pei being used in the fighting ring in Hong Kong. Tang Dogs translates to "Street Dogs", and are deceptively similar to the Shar-Pei and were probably bred together for the purpose of fighting. Many people are aware of the similarity between Shar-Pei and Chow Chow but what are their connection?
With an understanding of Tang dog, then the similarity can begin to make sense because both Chow Chow and Shar-Pei belong to the same Tang dog family. It is also widely believed that the Australian Dingo also belongs in this family of dogs.

Over 2,000 years ago the Shar-Pei was prized as the all-purpose, general utility dog kept by peasant farmers in the southern Provinces of China, bordering the South China Sea. The Shar-Pei was used for hunting wild boar, and protecting the livestock from predators, but mostly he served as guardian of his master’s home. He was bred for intelligence, for strength, and for the valued "Warrior Scowl" that increased his menacing appearance and helped to frighten the barbarian thieves, against whom the farmers were always at war.

This suggested that they were designed to be family and companion dogs rather than fighting dogs, and from that point were most likely bred to maintain their gentle nature. Because the act of fighting dogs is presently illegal, the Shar-Pei is no longer used for any sort of fighting, and they reside in many homes as a loyal addition to numerous families.

Physical History of the Shar-Pei

One of these characteristics is their extremely wrinkly and prickly skin and fur; it is difficult for their opponents to grab and hold on to, giving them a defensive advantage. The face that so many people find so adorable to look at, was once considered a deterrent from the other dogs, as it appeared as a scowl and frightened their competitors. this dog is a great family pet. Getting a Shar Pei guarantees a lifetime of loyalty, love and protection.

The following excerpt from the book The Chinese Shar-Pei by Paul Strand and Eve C. Olsen, in 1980 has this to say about the history of the Shar-Pei:

"During the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-A.D. 220), artistic fired-clay statues and statuettes depicting the life of the era were very popular, and the dog was a favorite subject.

Fortunately, many of these Han statuettes have survived to this day and may be seen in such places as the Louvre and the British Museum. One such statuette is on display in the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, Avery Brundage Collection, as the "Chinese Tomb Dog." And there are others in private collections. Anyone who harbors a tendency to doubt the antiquity of the Shar-Pei has but to examine the Han dog figurines. These dogs portray, unmistakably, the same breed we know today. Although then not quite so wrinkled as now, the rugged, foursquare look, the tail wheeled over the back, and the celebrated warrior scowl are lifelike to an amazing degree.

It is interesting to note that the time of the Han Dynasty in China corresponds rather closely to the time of the Roman Empire in Europe. Under the Romans, European dogs were often trained as fighters, matched either against others of their kind or against bears and lions. But in China there is no record of the dogs of the Han Dynasty ever being used in such fashion.

Since that time manuscripts have been studied from ancient China showing that the Sharp-Pei's original purpose was for use as hunting dogs and that their principal quarry was the mongoose. Nevertheless, because of their strength and appearance, these dogs were introduced to a combat role at a later time in history.

The village of Dai Lek, in Southern China's Kwangtung Province near Canton, was at one time known as a gambler's haven. Betting on dog fights was a popular pastime and the Han dog became a favorite contestant. Dah Let dog breeders, anxious to improve the breed's ability and its chances in the ring, set out to perfect some of the main characteristics we know today. The bristly coat was developed to make it distasteful in an opponent's mouth; the very loose skin to enable a dog to turn and twist in the grasp of his opponent, making it difficult for the enemy to get to the Sharp-Pei's flesh; and their curved canine teeth to provide a hook-like hold on the antagonist. He possessed stamina and determination, but before a battle, the canine contender was given wine and stimulating drugs to heighten his aggressiveness.

But while these developments were taking place in our breed, other fight promoters and gamblers were proceeding along a different line. Mastiffs, Bulldogs, and other breeds were brought to China from the West, crossbred, and selected for vicious temperament. The native fighting Han dog of Dah Let proved to be no match for these bigger, stronger, more ferocious dogs. No longer in demand, their breeding was neglected and the numbers of the Dah Let fighting dogs rapidly decreased. But what was to be the near fatal blow to the breed occurred when the Chinese Communists came to power. One of their first moves was to impose such a heavy tax on dogs that only the extremely wealthy could afford the luxury of canine companionship. And then a further edict declared dogs a "decadent bourgeois luxury" and banned dog breeding. In 1947 the tax on dogs that still survived was sharply increased. As a result of all this Communist Party pressure, by 1950 only scattered specimens of the noble dog of the Han Dynasty were left. From isolated South China villages, fanciers in Macao (Portuguese China) and Hong Kong were able to secure an occasional specimen, but the breed was on the brink of being lost forever."

Just how close the Shar-Pei came to losing its battle for survival is mirrored in the May 1971 issue of the magazine "DOGS" (published in New York). This issue carried an article on rare breeds and included a picture of a Shar-Pei, describing it as "possibly the last surviving specimen of the breed".

The article came close to the truth and if a copy of the magazine had not accidentally fallen into the hands of a Mr. Matgo Law in Hong Kong, the Shar-Pei might well have been lost forever.

Matgo Law, a young, energetic Hong Kong dog fancier owned several Shar-Pei. He and Mr. Chung Ching, another fancier, had already conceived the idea of a rescue operation. They feared that Hong Kong might someday become a part of the People's Republic of China and that the wholesale destruction of dogs would be repeated in Hong Kong. The odds seemed hopeless, but reading the "DOGS" article gave Mr. Law an idea.

With the typical Hong Kong flair for intelligent planning and superior execution, Matgo Law composed a letter to Margaret Fansworth, editor of "DOGS". In his letter Law outlined their plans and enclosed pictures of the few Shar Pei they had been able to rescue. He ended with a plea for help and co-operation from interested American fanciers.

Publication of his letter in the April 1973 issue rocketed the Shar Pei from obscurity and possible oblivion to instant fame and star-status. More than 200 letters poured in - most from buyers anxious to obtain puppies or breeding stock. But, the entire number of Shar-Pei known to exist at that time totalled only a dozen or so individuals and it was some months before any orders could be filled.

Matgo Law managed to discover a few more isolated dogs in Macao and Taiwan and eventually American enthusiasts began to receive a trickle of pups from him. Within a couple of years of the Shar-Pei premature obituary, kennels had been established in various parts of America and today the breed is loved and owned worldwide.”

Recent History In 1978, listed in the World Book of Guinness, the Shar Pei fortunately no longer holds the dubious honor of being designated as the world’s rarest breed.

Despite the fact that they have evolved and changed slightly as do most animals, they are still very similar to the original Shar-Pei that were discovered in China, and their behaviors are comparable to those of the predecessors. Recent DNA discoveries have afforded scientists the opportunity to label Shar-Pei as one of the most ancient breeds of dog.

Below is some information regarding the first Shar-Pei imported to America by Matgo Law. Almost all Shar-Pei today within the Western world, can be traced back to one of these dogs;

DOWN-HOMES ANNE REVIVAL
BREEDER: Matgo Law OWNER: Lois Alexander
Anne Revival (Annie) shares the same honor as Sweet Pea being a foundation dog of Down-Homes Kennels. She was also thought to be the source of the bear coat gene scattered throughout the Western Shar-Pei gene pool as her litter mates had long coats.

DOWN-HOMES MUI CHU
BREEDER: Matgo Law OWNER: Ernest & Madeline Albright
Mui Chu was the second Shar-Pei to be imported to the United States by Matgo Law. This Fawn Female arrived on August 20, 1973 in very poor health to new owners The Albrights. She was able to be saved but lost her litter she was to have after being bred in Hong Kong prior to her arrival to the U.S.A. Mui Chu became the first dog shown in the United States when she appeared in December 1973 at the Golden Gate Kennel Club Show. She was born in 1971 and died in January 1976. She was given CSPCA registration #2.

DOWN-HOMES SWEET PEA
BREEDER: Down-Homes Kennels OWNER: Matgo Law
Sweet Pea holds a special place in Western Shar-Pei history. You would be very hard pressed to "not" find him as an ancestor to every Shar-Pei known to exist today as he was a primary foundation stud dog of Matgo Law's Down-Homes Kennels. Oddly enough he was a flowered Shar-Pei which now disqualifies a dog from entering the show ring and stranger yet it was Matgo Law that helped promote this disqualification.

DOWN-HOMES KUNG FU
BREEDER: Y.K. Leung OWNER: Mr. & Mrs. Victor Seas
Kung Fu was the first dog to be imported by Matgo Law. The breeder however was not Mr. Law but Y.K. Leung. The honor went to Mr. & Mrs. Victor Seas, of Walnut Lane's Kennels, Claridon Ohio, on July 6, 1973. Kung Fu was a black male whelped on May 28, 1973 by Luck-Son ex Kay-Fay and passed on Thanksgiving Day in 1979. He was given CSPCA registration #6.

DOWN-HOMES LITTLE PEA
BREEDER: Matgo Law OWNER: Lois Alexander
Little Pea was the third Shar-Pei imported from Matgo Law to the U.S.A. She went to Lois Alexander of Siskiyou Kennels. Little Pea was the offspring of Down-Homes Sweet Pea ex Down-Homes Anne Revival and was whelped on November 17, 1971. She had been bred to her father, Sweet Pea, prior to leaving Hong Kong and produced the first litter of Down-Homes pups in the U.S.A. on December 29, 1973 however none lived past the age of three years old. She was given CSPCA registration #100.