Animal register · DogIn the app
Shar Pei
Chinese Shar-Pei, Shar-Pei, Sharpei
The Shar Pei — the Chinese Shar-Pei in the US — is an active, compact, square, medium-sized dog from China with a short, harsh, bristly coat in one solid colour (any except white), wrinkles on the head and withers and a broad muzzle. The Royal Kennel Club standard gives a height of 46–51 cm and the PDSA a weight of 20–27 kg; a dog of this size is fully grown at about 12–15 months (PetMD). The Royal Kennel Club and the PDSA give a lifespan of over 10 years, but a VetCompass study of dogs in the UK found a median of 7.3 years.
The Royal Kennel Club recommends up to an hour of exercise a day and brushing once a week, and lists the breed in Breed Watch Category 2 because of eyelid and skin-fold problems. The PDSA calls Shar Peis loyal, devoted family pets that do best with experienced owners and older children, warns of a high prey drive around smaller pets, and advises keeping the skin folds clean and dry and leaving a gap between eating and exercise.
Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).
Updated:
At a glance
- Size
- medium — The Royal Kennel Club S664
- Adult weight
- males 20–27 kg, females 20–27 kg — PDSA S660
- Daily exercise
- up to 1 hour a day — The Royal Kennel Club S664
- Brushing
- once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S664
- Shedding
- sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S664
Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.
Who it suits
Good for:
- family lifeS660
The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.
What it needs
From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.
Exercise
- Daily exercise: up to 1 hour a day — The Royal Kennel Club S664
Coat and grooming
Meals
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Lifespan
Life stages
- Reaches adult size at: about 12–15 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Size and weight
Training
Questions and answers
Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.
How much exercise does a Shar Pei need?
According to our sources, the Shar Pei needs this much exercise: up to 1 hour a day — The Royal Kennel Club S664.
How long does a Shar Pei live?
According to our sources, the lifespan of the Shar Pei is: median 7.28 years — Canine Medicine and Genetics S667; more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S664; 8–10 years — VCA Animal Hospitals S661. The sources give different values, so each one is listed.
How big does a Shar Pei get and how much does it weigh?
Size and adult weight of the Shar Pei, according to our sources: Size: medium — The Royal Kennel Club S664; Adult weight: males 20–27 kg, females 20–27 kg — PDSA S660.
How much grooming does a Shar Pei need?
Coat and grooming of the Shar Pei, according to our sources: Brushing: once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S664; Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S664; Coat: short — The Royal Kennel Club S664.
Who is the Shar Pei a good fit for?
Our sources describe the Shar Pei as a good fit for: family life — PDSA S660. Keep in mind: independent dog — better with older children — PDSA S660; sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S664; shorter muzzle — can have breathing problems — PDSA S660; eyelids and eyes — check eye tests — The Royal Kennel Club, Royal Veterinary College S666S668; sensitive skin — prone to itching and inflammation — PDSA S660; shorter lifespan — VCA Animal Hospitals, Canine Medicine and Genetics S661S667; strong prey drive — may chase small pets — PDSA S660.
Game rules, not veterinary advice
How PetPrep simulates it
In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.
| Life stage | Starts | Meals a day | Daily step goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy | arrives at 2 months | 4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 2 | 1,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 6,000 from month 6 |
| Young dog | month 9 | 2 | 6,000 steps |
| Adult | month 36 (3 years) | 2 | 6,000 steps |
| Senior | month 66 (5.5 years) | 2 | 4,500 steps |
- Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 1 hour, so 6,000 steps a day.
- Learns commands as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
- Becomes a senior in month 66 (5.5 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
- Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
- Combing once a week.
Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine, Canine Medicine and Genetics S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S664S667
Common Shar Pei owner mistakes
Small habits that cause bigger problems — each point comes from the sources of this breed.
- Too little daily exerciseExercise needed: up to 1 hour a day. Plan it into every day, not only at weekends. — The Royal Kennel Club S664
- Skipping coat careBrushing: once a week. Sheds. — The Royal Kennel Club S664
- Forgetting that the puppy is still growingAdult size reached at: about 12–15 months (guidance for its size class). Until then, plan exercise and food for a young animal that is still growing, and ask your vet what suits yours. — PetMD S10
- Overlooking the breed's known health issuesEntropion, where the eyelids turn inwards and irritate the eye, can occur in the breed; ask for eye-checked parents. Prone to ear inflammation and skin-fold infections; the skin folds need to be kept clean and dry. Skin allergies (atopy), which cause itching and sore skin, can occur in the breed. A brachycephalic (short-faced) breed: the shorter face can cause serious breathing problems (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, BOAS). Familial Shar Pei fever can occur in the breed: bouts of high temperature with painful, swollen joints and a swollen face — see a vet straight away. Can be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips and elbows tested before breeding. — Royal Veterinary College, PDSA, The Royal Kennel Club S668S660S664
In PetPrep a child practises exactly these habits — steps, meals, care — before the real pet comes home.
Health
For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.
- Entropion, where the eyelids turn inwards and irritate the eye, can occur in the breed; ask for eye-checked parents. — Royal Veterinary College S668
- Prone to ear inflammation and skin-fold infections; the skin folds need to be kept clean and dry. — PDSA S660
- Skin allergies (atopy), which cause itching and sore skin, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S660
- A brachycephalic (short-faced) breed: the shorter face can cause serious breathing problems (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, BOAS). — PDSA S660
- Familial Shar Pei fever can occur in the breed: bouts of high temperature with painful, swollen joints and a swollen face — see a vet straight away. — PDSA S660
- Can be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips and elbows tested before breeding. — The Royal Kennel Club S664
Before you buy: what to check with the breeder
Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.
For every breed
- See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
- The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
- Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
- Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
- National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
- Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10
Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.
Health tests of the parents for this breed
Tests the Royal Kennel Club recommends as a minimum
- Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — The Royal Kennel Club S664
Further tests for best practice
- DNA test for primary open-angle glaucoma and primary lens luxation (POAG/PLL), inherited eye diseases that can lead to blindness — The Royal Kennel Club S664
- Elbow X-ray screening for elbow dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S664
- Hip X-ray screening for hip dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S664
These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.
Similar breeds
Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.
Sources
Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.
- S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
- S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
- S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
- S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
- S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
- S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
- S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
- S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
- S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
- S660PDSA — Shar Pei breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/medium-dogs/shar-pei
- S661VCA Animal Hospitals (LifeLearn) — Chinese Shar-Peihttps://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dog-breeds/chinese-shar-pei
- S662FCI — Breeds nomenclature: Shar Pei (309)https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/SHAR-PEI-309.html
- S664The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Breeds A–Z: Shar Peihttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/utility/shar-pei/
- S665The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Shar Pei breed standardhttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/breed-standards/utility/shar-pei/
- S666The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Breed Watch: Shar Pei — Category 2https://www.royalkennelclub.com/activities/heritage-sports/dog-showing/judging-dog-shows/breed-watch-health-and-welfare-of-show-dogs/shar-pei-category-2/
- S667Canine Medicine and Genetics (PubMed abstract) — O'Neill, Engdahl, Leach, Packer, Church, Brodbelt (2023) 10:11 — Is it now time to iron out the wrinkles? Health of Shar Pei dogs under primary veterinary care in the UKhttps://www.pubmed.gov/38093396/
- S668Royal Veterinary College (VetCompass) — Shar Pei infographic (2024-01-07) (PDF)https://www.rvc.ac.uk/Media/Default/VetCompass/240107%20VetCompass%20-%20Shar%20Pei%20infographic%20PDF.pdf
- K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
- K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
- K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
- K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
- K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy
PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.
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