FCI-Standard
N° 309 /
09. 08. 1999 / GB
SHAR PEI
ORIGIN : China.
PATRONAGE : F.C.I.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 14.04.1999.
UTILIZATION : Hunting- and
watch-dog.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossians and Swiss
Mountain-and Cattledogs.
Section 2.1 Molossian, Mastiff type.
Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : This Chinese breed has existed for hundreds of years
in the provinces bordering the South China Sea. The town of Dialak in the
province of Kwun Tung is probably the place of origin.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Active, compact, short coupled and squarely built dog of
medium size. Wrinkles over skull and withers, small ears and " hippopotamus "
muzzle impart to the Shar Pei a unique look. Dogs larger and more powerful than
bitches.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : The height of the Shar Pei from withers to ground is
approximately equal to the length of the body, from point of shoulder to point
of buttock, especially in males. The length from nose to stop is approximately
equal to the length from stop to occiput.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Calm, independent, loyal, affectionate to his family.
HEAD
Rather large in proportion to body. Wrinkles on forehead and cheeks continuing
to form dewlap.
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Flat, broad.
Stop : Moderate.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Large and wide, preferably black, but any colour conforming to general
coat colour permissible. Wide opened nostrils.
Muzzle : A distinctive feature of the breed. Broad from root to tip of nose with
no suggestion of tapering. Lips and top of muzzle well padded. Bulge at the base
of the nose permissible.
Mouth : Tongue, roof of mouth, gums and flews : bluish black is preferred. Pink
spotted tongue permissible. Solid pink tongue highly undesirable. In
dilute-coloured dogs the tongue is solid lavender.
Jaws/Teeth : Jaws strong with a perfect scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth
closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Padding of lower
lip should not be so excessive as to interfere with the bite.
Eyes : Dark, almond-shaped with a scowling expression. Lighter colour
permissible in dilute-coloured dogs. Function of eyeball or lid in no way
disturbed by surrounding skin, folds or hair. Any sign of irritation of eyeball,
conjunctiva or eyelids highly undesirable. Free from entropion.
Ears : Very small, rather thick, equilaterally triangular in shape, slightly
rounded at tip and set high on the skull with tips pointing towards eyes; set
well forward over eyes, wide apart and close to skull. Pricked ears highly
undesirable.
NECK : Medium length, strong, set well on shoulders. The loose skin under the
neck should not be excessive.
BODY : Folds of skin on body in mature dogs highly undesirable except on withers
and base of tail, which show moderate wrinkling.
Topline : Dips slightly behind withers; then it rises slightly over loin.
Back : Short, strong.
Loin : Short, broad, slightly arched.
Croup : Rather flat.
Chest : Broad and deep, brisket reaching the elbow.
Underline : Rises slightly under the loin.
TAIL : Thick and round at the root, tapering to a fine point. The tail is set
very high, a characteristic feature of the breed. May be carried high and curved,
carried in tight curl or curved over or to either side of the back. Lack of or
incomplete tail highly undesirable.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs straight, moderate length, good bone. The skin on
forelegs shows no wrinkle.
Shoulders : Muscular, well laid and sloping.
Metacarpus (Pastern) : Slightly sloping, strong and flexible.
HINDQUARTERS : Muscular, strong, moderately angulated, perpendicular to the
ground and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. Wrinkles on upper
thighs, lower thighs, rear pasterns as well as the thickening of the skin on
hocks undesirable.
Hocks : Well let down.
FEET : Moderate size, compact, not splayed. Toes well knuckled. Hindfeet free
from dewclaws.
GAIT / MOVEMENT : The preferred gait is trot. The gait is free, balanced, active
with good forward reach and strong drive from the hindquarters. The feet tend to
converge to a center line when the speed increases. Stilted gait undesirable.
COAT
HAIR : A distinctive feature of the breed : short, harsh and bristly. The coat
is straight and offstanding on the body, but generally flatter on the limbs. No
undercoat. The coat may vary in length from 1 cm to 2,5 cm. Never trimmed.
COLOUR : All solid colours acceptable except white. Tail and rear part of thighs
frequently of a lighter colour. Darker shading down the back and on the ears
permissible.
SIZE :
Height : 44 - 51 cm at withers (17,5 - 20 ins).
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault
and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact
proportion to its degree.
SERIOUS FAULTS :
¡ Deviation from a scissor bite (as a transitory measure, a very slightly
overshot mouth is permissible).
¡ Snipy muzzle.
¡ Spotted tongue (except pink spotted tongue).
¡ Large ears.
¡ Low set tail.
¡ Coat longer than 2,5 cm.
ELIMINATING FAULTS :
¡ Flat foreface with badly overshot bite; undershot bite.
¡ Solid pink tongue.
¡ Lower lip rolled in, interfering with the bite.
¡ Round, bulging eye. Entropion, ectropion.
¡ Skin, folds or hair disturbing the normal function of the eye.
¡ Pricked ears.
¡ Absence of tail; stumpy tail.
¡ Heavy folds of skin on body (except withers and base of tail) and limbs.
¡ Not a solid colour (albino, brindle, patches, spots, black and tan, saddled
pattern).
N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended
into the scrotum.
REMARK : Any artificial physical alteration to the Shar Pei (in particular lips
and eyelids) eliminates the dog from competition.