Groups and Classifications Among Shar Peis

There seem to be some indication that no single and solid shar pei dog breed proliferated in China. As of now, it is possible that the breeding of this very ancient dog breed actually varied according to the Chinese regions. In central China, where the main preoccupations were about farming and herding, shar peis were known for its herding instinct and vermin-hunting skill. The legs of the central Chinese variety were a tad shorter compared to those from south, and their coats were sparser against those of the north.

In the upper regions of China, where smaller communities battled winters in far flung outposts, the shar pei was a level-headed animal not given to sounding out. These qualities were essential for an animal that will need to share long hours with its family in a cramped space.

But at this point, those who are expecting the origins of the game fighter shar pei to be discussed will be disappointment. In fact, fighting is one of the qualities of this dog that has been discussed out of proportion. This further implies that there seems to be not much sense in arguing for the preservation of the fighting quality, which history may show to be essentially unsubstantiated at all!

And since we are discussing general categories and classifications here, it may also help to talk about the two groupings of shar pei according to coat: the horse coat, and the bear coat. All shar pei will of course benefit from dog training, but the one in most need of it must be the horse coat. Its training can come in the form of early socialization with children, strangers, and even animals. Deprived of early training, the horse coat may grow into an obstinate, strong-willed, and highly territorial canine that may be a ticking timebomb of more behavior and personality quirks.

The brushcoat type is the second most important coat type, and it is capable of maturing into a robust, powerful dog. This alone is overwhelming reason for the dog to have early socialization and shar pei training! The brushcoat is not as interested in the physical interests of the horsecoat, and would rather spend the better portion of the day lazing indoors. In general, the brushcoat exhibits a strong will, stubbornness and territorial instincts to a lesser extent compared to other coat types.