Weim-Pei -- Weimaraner X Shar Pei

		Weim-Pei
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Germany <> China -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Weim-Pei

The Weim-Pei is a hybrid dog. Its parent breeds are the Weimaraner and the Shar Pei. It's a large dog, and generally inherits the wrinkles of its Shar Pei parent breed. Early socialization is highly recommended with the Weim-Pei. He's a wonderful watchdog, always alerting his master to anything that goes wrong on his territory. He doesn't need much maintenance, but his wrinkles need special attention. He doesn't do well when separated from his masters for long periods. He does better when he spends enough time with his loving family. The Weim-Pei is not recommended for novice dog owners.

History of the Weim-Pei

The Weim-Pei is a rather rare hybrid breed. For this reason, little is known about how the hybrid came to be. To find out more about the Weim-Pei, it's a good idea to study its parent breeds.

	A little of the Weimaraner
	The Weimaraner was developed in the Weimar region of Germany during the 19th century. It was capable of good scenting, was highly intelligent and incredibly agile. Unlike many hunting dogs, the Weimaraner was more inclined to stay close to its human hunting partner. He also proved to be an excellent companion outside the hunt. In 1897, the first Weimaraner club was organized for those who owned the breed. For a short time, a person could not own a Weimaraner unless they belonged to the club. It is thought that several breeds were combined to create the Weimaraner as we know it: the St. Hubert's Hound, the English Pointer, the German Shorthaired Pointer, the Great Dane and the Silver Pointer. The first Weimaraners arrived in America around 1929, when American sportsman Howard Knight brought a pair to the United States. In 1942, the Weimaraner Club of America was formed, and in the same year, the American Kennel Club officially recognized the Weimaraner.

	Standard of the Weimaraner


	A little of the Shar Pei
	The Shar Pei is considered an ancient breed; its portrait is depicted in works of art dating back to 206 B.C. It is thought to be a descendant of the Chow-Chow due to its characteristic blue-black tongue. The Shar Pei was used as a guard dog, for hunting, hunting vermin and guarding livestock. The Chinese believed that its wrinkles and dark mouth warded off evil spirits, and its endurance was appreciated by its masters. He was able to work all day alongside his human counterparts. At one time, the Shar Pei was threatened with extinction. However, in 1992, the Shar Pei was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club, and the breed became popular.

	Standard of the Shar Pei

Appearance of the Weim-Pei

The Weim-Pei is a large, somewhat fearsome dog. It often has the wrinkles of the Shar Pei parent; however, its wrinkles are not as pronounced as those of the Shar Pei. Its head is large and broad. Its ears are generally floppy, requiring a little more maintenance. It has a long muzzle and can have a red, brown or black nose. Its chest is deep and broad. The whole body is muscular. At maturity, it will weigh around 27 kilos. Eyes may be blue, green or brown. Its tail is of medium length and usually curls over its back. Its legs are large and powerful. It may have black around its muzzle. They can be of different colors, depending on the breed of the dominant parent. It may be fawn or red. They can be silver or blue. It can also be chocolate brown. Again, much depends on the dominant parental breed.

Temperament of the Weim-Pei

The Weim-Pei is intelligent and adorable, but also very cautious. They do not welcome strangers. They are very protective of their family. He will often choose one person to become attached to, and although he can tolerate other family members, that person will definitely be his favorite. Weim-Pei are very attentive to their environment, and are quick to let you know if something is wrong on their territory. The Weim-Pei can be a little stubborn. Obedience training might be a good idea. It's not recommended for people who aren't used to dealing with a stubborn dog. The Weim-Pei needs to know that you are the alpha in the relationship, otherwise it may try to take the alpha position. He's good with children, but it's advisable to socialize him from an early age. Unfortunately, it is not recommended for living with other dogs and pets.

Needs and activities of the Weim-Pei

The Weim-Pei is not an overly active dog, but it does need moderate activity to stay healthy and happy. Until your Weim-Pei is fully trained, a trip to the dog park may not be the best idea, but he'll enjoy accompanying you on brisk walks around the neighborhood. He'll also make an excellent running partner on the jogging track. He'll enjoy spending time in a fenced-in area of the garden. However, don't let him stay outside alone for long periods. Remember, too, that unless you live in an area with few neighbors, you shouldn't let the Weim-Pei run free. An underground fence is not a good idea for the Weim-Pei either. He will defend his territory and, if other dogs enter the yard, he may do what he thinks is best to protect his territory. He's a hunter at heart and, left to his own devices, may go after smaller prey.

Maintenance of the Weim-Pei

The Weim-Pei is a relatively low-maintenance dog. However, as the Shar Pei's parent breed is sensitive to touch, and the Weim-Pei's offspring may inherit this characteristic, it's a good idea to start grooming the Weim-Pei at an early age. You'll need to pay particular attention to its wrinkles. You should wipe its wrinkles two or three times a week. Make sure the skin between the wrinkles is dry. Use a damp cotton ball to wipe his ears once a week. At this point, check for odor or redness in the ears. If so, it could be a sign of an ear infection. Brush him every month to loosen and remove dead hairs. Brush his teeth every day to prevent cavities, tartar build-up and bad breath. Clip his nails every two weeks or so, unless he wears them out on his own.