Bruce came to us with his litter mates after the owner could not find them all homes. The owner wanted to keep Bruce but soon surrendered him back to us after he had been attacked by 2 large dogs. He couldn't afford the medical care. Bruce is all better now but is now looking for a forever home that will love him and keep him safe!

 

Are you familiar with the Shar-Pei breed? According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, the ancestry of the Shar-Pei is uncertain. It may be a descendant of the Chow Chow, however, the only clear link between these are the purple tongue. However, pictures on pottery suggest the breed was present even in the Han Dynasty (206bc). For many years the Shar-Pei was kept as a general-purpose farm dog in the Chinese countryside, used for hunting, protecting stock, and guarding the home and family. During that time the Shar-Pei was bred for intelligence, strength and scowling face. Later, it was used in dog fighting. The loose skin and extremely prickly coat were developed to aid the dog in fighting, making the Shar-Pei difficult for the opponent to grab and hold on to. During the Communist Revolution, dogs were rescued by a Hong Kong business man named Matgo Law, who appealed to Americans in 1973 though a dog magazine to save the breed. From those few specimens, the Shar-Pei fancy has grown tremendously over the past decades. The Shar-Pei is very loyal to his handler. It is an intelligent dog that does not always follow orders slavishly. Playful, active, dominant, and brave, they bond with their family, but are not unfriendly toward strangers. They make a delightful companion and good watchdogs. The Shar-Pei needs a confident handler. If you are too uncertain, too inconstant, too soft, or too mild in the dog's eyes, it will take over as the boss. These dogs are very clean and almost housebreak themselves. Famous for their wrinkles, Shar-Pei slowly loose their wrinkles as they get older. They generally hate water and try as hard as they can to avoid it. The Chinese Shar-Pei will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. It is moderately active indoors and will do okay without a yard. Because of their padded head, the Shar-Pei is very sensitive to heat. Shade and water must always be available. Provided they get enough exercise, they will be very peaceful indoors. They have a life expectancy of about 10 years.