Standard of the
F.C.I. SHAR PEI
FCI - Standard Nr. 309
ORIGIN: China
Patronage: F.C.I.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE VALID ORIGINAL STANDARD: 14. 04. '99.
GROUP: Hunting and
watchdog
FCI'S CLASIFICATION: Group 2 :(Pinscher and Schnauzer)
Type molossian 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 that bitches.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: The
height of the Shar Pei from withers to ground is approximately
equal to the to 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.
BEHAVIOR - 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 REGIÓN
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 scissors 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
interfere with the bite.
Eyes: Dark, almond-sharped 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 lip 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 wither 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 right 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 read.
Wrinkles on upper thighs lower thighs, rear pasterns as well as
the thickening of the skin on backs undesirable.
Hocks: Well set down.
GAIT / MOVEMENT:
The preferred gait is trot. The gait is free, balanced, active
with good forward and strong drive from the hindquarters. The
feet tend to converge to a centerline when the speed increases.
Stilted gait undesirable.
COAT HAIR:
A distinctive feature of 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 on the ears permissible.
SIZE
Height: 44 - 51 cm at withers (17,5 - 20 in)
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 scissors bite (as a transitory measure a very
slightly undershot mouth is permissible).
Snippy muzzle
Spotted tongue (except pink spotted tongue)
Large ears
Low set tail
Coat longer than 2,5 cm.
ELIMINATING FAULTS
Flat foreface with badly undershot bite, overshot 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)
NOTE: 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
eyelines) eliminates the dog from competition.
