The Chinese Shar Pei Temperament

The Chinese shar pei is known for its wrinkles, scowling expression, and hippo head. It's a calm breed that's confident, and not afraid to stand their ground. They are a dedicated, reliable, and predictable breed.

The shar pei is medium in size with a very sturdy build. Their unusual appearance draws a lot of attention. They are clean and easy to housebreak, and are not barkers. They are impressive companions building relationships on mutual trust and respect. However they are a dominant and stubborn breed that needs a strong pack leader. Being a strong pack leader doesn't mean you are a bully!

You may read things like "Chinese shar pei are not good for a first time dog owner," or " Chinese shar pei are too much dog for most homes" and I'm here to tell you that is a load of bunk! I could name a hundred other breeds that these statements are more fitting to, and the people who are making these statements are doing the breed a disservice.

There's no question that this can be a very stubborn and pig headed breed but (and this is a BIG BUT) this is a breed that is extremely loyal and it also is a breed that learns quickly through praise and reward. As long as you are a strong pack leader that is kind, patient, and caring you and the shar pei will get along just fine. Now don't mistake this for being a big softy because they (like any dog) will take advantage of that. Be consistent - it will make training much easier.

In fact, you'll find many shar pei owners that will tell you that after having this breed they simply don't want any other breed. Some have even gone to other breeds after the loss of their pei, only to find there's just no comparison. There's a bond that is created with the shar pei that just can't be explained until you experience it.

Like any dominant breed without proper socialization there can be the potential for aggression but with the right leadership and socialization this is not a concern. Don't be surprised if your shar pei is aloof with strangers. You should socialize your puppy lots when young so that they learn to properly discriminate their natural territorial instincts.

You should expose your shar pei to children early. They love kids, but like other breeds the sooner they are exposed to them the sooner they will learn what is acceptable behavior around them. This is a very loyal breed that makes an excellent family pet!

Get used to all the great sounds your shar pei will make – they are definitely a chatting breed - they snort, they grunt, they growl, they even purr - yes that's right they purr! When a shar pei is happily being petted you will hear them purring. Sometimes their vocalization scares people. As a pei owner I find it comical sometimes. I love the communication skills of my pei and I love that they have such an expressive vocabulary. In fact, the shar pei personality is one of the things that attracted me to the breed in the first place, that and that big ole hippopotamus head.

Ask any pei lover what they love best about their shar pei, and the list will be long, but their language skills are definitely on the top of that list. Okay, sure they don't speak English, but they certianly have not problem sharing with their owners what it is they need or want. That includes telling you it's feeding time, that they want to go for a walk, that they need a treat, or it might be that it's bedtime, or that you need to look at something. The list is endless. It's all part of the shar pei temperment and charm. They really have a personality like no other breed.

Which brings up something else that needs to be mentioned. As puppies they have all those adorable wrinkles. As adults they are often left with few wrinkles except for those around the neck area. Of course, this does depend on the breeder. Some breeders breed more wrinkles into their peis and some breeders breed excessive wrinkles, which is not natural and are more likely to have skin conditions. Your focus should be on that big beautiful head.

If you are looking for an outside dog you should not be looking at a shar pei. This is an indoor breed. Shar pei that spend all their time outside do not develop these personality traits. These are people dogs that don’t do well without a family interacting. They also do not have the type of coat to endure weather conditions.

The Chinese shar pei temperament is excellent. It's truly one of the best breeds as far as personality. Of course, like with any breed, you need to do your research on your breeder. Some breeders really focus on breeding shar pei with excellent temperament, watch for this - it's important. Poor breeding can lead to an unstable shar pei temperament.

The Chinese shar pei makes a terrific family member. So, if you are looking for a dog that will be seen and not heard, and that will be happy with a little bit of attention, this is not the breed for you. The shar pei wants and needs to be a member of your family and they are excellent family members!