Overview
The Shar Pei was a Chinese farm dog used for guarding, hunting and, in a darker chapter, fighting. The loose, sandpaper-textured skin and the small, deep-set eyes give it an unmistakable look. Modern dogs are usually calm, clean and devoted to their household, with a cool, standoffish attitude to everyone else.
For a walker, the Shar Pei is low-energy but not low-effort. The breed can be stubborn, wary of handling by strangers and sharp with other dogs it does not know. Its health needs also shape the walk: skin folds, eyes and ears all need an eye kept on them.
Exercise and walking needs
Two moderate walks a day totalling around fifty minutes suit most adults. The breed does not want a marathon, and it will often stop and refuse when it has had enough. Steady pace, familiar routes and a chance to sniff are what it enjoys.
Avoid heat. The thick skin and short muzzle make the Shar Pei overheat quickly, so summer walks belong at dawn and dusk with shade and water.
On the walk
- Recall: Independent to the core. The Shar Pei may come when it feels like it, so off-lead time should be limited to enclosed ground.
- Pulling: Moderate. A harness is better than a collar, both for control and because the neck folds are easy to irritate.
- Other dogs: Reserved and sometimes intolerant, particularly with bouncy or pushy dogs. Not usually a group-walk candidate unless the owner says otherwise.
- Handling: Many Shar Pei dislike being grabbed or leaned over by strangers. Approach from the side, keep your hands calm and let the dog choose to come to you.
Tips for professional walkers
- Build trust over the first visits with the owner present. A Shar Pei you have not been introduced to properly will not cooperate.
- Keep walks short and cool in summer; wet the belly and chest rather than the back if the dog gets hot.
- Dry the folds and ears after rain and check for redness or odour, reporting anything unusual.
What to ask the owner
- Any skin, eye or ear conditions, and is there a routine for drying or wiping after walks?
- How does the dog react to strangers and other dogs, and is there anywhere on the route to avoid?
- Has the dog ever had a fever episode or breathing issue, and what would the owner want you to do?