Not many dogs have the curb appeal of a wrinkly Shar Pei puppy proudly bundling its short little legs down the street. That popularity has only grown since a few celebrity dogs have taken Instagram by storm.
Their puppies are in demand, litters are sold before they’ve even been conceived, and people cannot stop talking about these wrinkly balls of fluff.
But there’s more to Shar Pei’s than just a statement. They’re great dogs and have some quirks that all dog lovers should be aware of.
6 Specialities About Shar-Pei Puppies
#1. They’re so stubborn.
Shar Pei’s are ridiculously stubborn and get very agitated by this stubbornness.
If they jump on the sofa they’re not allowed on and get caught, you can be sure you’ll be met with a growl or huff when you coax them off it.
Or, on some occasions, they might knuckle down and ignore your cries of ‘off’, only to force all their weight to grip onto the sofa with every last limb. But those with a Shar Pei will tell you this is positive.
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It’s character-building, and it’s fun. It adds some humour to their personalities and keeps you on your toes.
Though usually very obedient, they do like to push the boundaries, especially when there is a nice warm patch on the sofa on offer, thanks to a human vacating it.
#2. They smell like popcorn.
I love popcorn, and maybe this has more to do with my love rather than being wholly factual, but when my Shar Pei’s wake after a long snooze, the oil on their skin causes a very sweet toffee-like smell that reminds me of popcorn.
#3. They are not ‘big pugs’
Despite their growing popularity, Shar Pei’s are still fairly rare, so when you’re walking down the street, you will get some weird questions.
#4. Like “why is your pug so big” or “is that a fat staff?”
I like those questions, though. People are interested and have probably not seen a staff shape bag of wrinkles walking down the street looking all proud and snuffling like a pig before.
The rarity only adds to the popularity and is a great plus for me.
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#5. They’re forever playful.
I have a nearly 1-year-old bear coat and a 6-year-old brush coat Shar Pei.
Although the younger is more playful, the older dog is still full of energy, loves to play, and will encourage the puppy to run around with her and play, fighting constantly.
In my mind, she plays more because she’s too stubborn to let the younger pup be dominant. Whatever the reason, every Shar Pei I have met is still full of energy and joy at every age.
Great for younger couples and families. After a big workout, ensure they have plenty of rest before the next play, or that stubbornness will return in abundance.
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#6. They leave you a fuzzy blanket.
When moulting, Shar Pei’s are a pain in the bum. They curl up in very small balls, usually at the top of the stairs, and upon waking up, leave a circle-shaped thick bed of hair in a big clump for you to deal with.
Shar-Pei’s shouldn’t be clipped because of the protective oils in their skin and hair so put away those dog clippers and get a good hoover.
A bunch of hair may seem like a bad thing, but for me, all the traits of Shar Pei’s are character-building.
They have strong personalities and little quirks that would be a problem in other breeds. I, for one, wouldn’t have my dogs any other way.
