History of the Chinese Shar-Pei

History of the Chinese Shar-Pei
by Lorraine Jones

The Shar-Pei is a breed that has existed for at least 2000 years. It's origins lie in the southern provinces of China that border on the South China Sea. It was a dog that was kept by the peasant-farmers for hunting such animals as the wild boar, or to protect the livestock from predators, but most of all he served as guardian of his master's house.
The Shar-Pei was bred for intelligence by the peasant-farmer in a simplistic manner. If the individual dog does not show a high degree of intelligence, he was slaughtered and eaten. The poverty of the peasant farmer dictated that an animal either earned its keep in life or it would give its life for others.
The Shar-Pei also needed strength and the valued "warrior scowl", that would increase the dog's menancing appearance. This appearance would help to intimidate the barbarian thieves, against whom the farmers were always at war.
It is interesting to note that the time of the Han Dynasty in China (206 BC - 220 AD) corresponds rather closely to the time of the Roman Empire in Europe. Under the Romans, European dogs were often trained as fighters. But in China, during the Han Dynasty, there is no record of dogs being used in such a manner. The Shar-Pei was introduced to combat at a later time in history. The Shar-Pei possessed the stamina and determination for battle, but the canine contender still had to have the aggressiveness heightened by being given wine and stimulating drugs. The Shar-Pei did not have enough of a vicious temperment to succeed against the other breeds of dogs that were being brought in to China from the West. It was after this period that the Fighting Dog of China started to decline in numbers due to their breeding being neglected.
When the Chinese Communists came into power in 1949 one of their first acts was to impose a heavy tax on the "decadent dourgeois luxury" of owning, or breeding, a dog. From a practical point of view, owning a dog was a drain on the food supply and resources of a country already over populated and behind in production. Dogs were ordered to be destroyed and their hides were used for clothing. Those that survived, fled the cities and were scattered and hidden. Their numbers dwindling year by year. In 1973, Mr. Matgo Law, wrote a now famous article to "Dogs" magazine. He realized how few Shar-Pei were left and appealed to the American dog lovers to help him save the breed.
A slow, steady trickle of dogs entered into this country from the Far East until 1980. The American registry was closed to foreign born dogs whose sire and dam were not registered with the Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America, except through a complicated, time consuming procedure. Almost one hundred dogs had been imported, even so these dogs were not consistent in style, quality, nor the contribution they would make in the developement of the breed.
There was a lot to learn about the Chinese Shar-Pei and many of these early breeders had to learn on their own or from trading information with others. A stud book was finally available in 1980.
Slowly, the American public became educated and familiar with that dog with all those wrinkles.

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