Shar-Pei Pitbull Terrier -- Shar Pei X American Pit Bull Terrier

		Shar-Pei Pitbull Terrier
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


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

A brief presentation of the Shar-Pei Pitbull Terrier

The Shar-Pei Pitbull Terrier is a hybrid of the Shar Pei and the American Pit Bull Terrier. This hybrid combines the hunting, herding and fighting skills of the Shar Pei with the power, aggression and courage of the American Pit Bull Terrier, resulting in a hybrid that, believe it or not, can be a gentle, loving, protective and courageous pet. This courageous protector of his human family loves people, is generally friendly, but can be quite aggressive with strangers and other animals if he senses danger to you. He wants to be the center of attention and fancies himself a lapdog.

History of the Shar-Pei Pitbull Terrier

The Shar-Pei Pitbull Terrier is a hybrid of the Shar Pei and the American Pit Bull Terrier. While we have some information on the temperament and appearance of this hybrid, we don't really know where or when it was developed. Although we can't be absolutely certain, we can assume that it originated in the USA, probably between the late 1900s and the early 2000s, when interest in mixing pure breeds for various reasons became more popular. A brief look at its parent breeds will provide some background. The Shar-Pei Pitbull Terrier is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club, the Dog Registry of America and the International Designer Canine Registry.

	A little of the Shar Pei
	The Shar Pei is a very old dog breed, originating in southern China, but documents relating to Chinese dogs, of which this breed is one, are quite rare. Statues depicting Shar Pei-like dogs have been found dating back to 200 BC, but it should be noted that the dogs depicted in these works of art also resemble the Chow Chow and Pug. While these dogs originally belonged to peasants and were bred for hunting, herding and guarding, the upper class eventually took an interest in the breed and used them in dog-fighting rings and pits for entertainment. This dog-fighting practice was eventually outlawed and, when the People's Republic of China was established, dogs in China all but disappeared. A few Shar Pei survived in Taiwan, and a man called Matgo Law is credited with saving the breed from extinction. The Shar Pei arrived in the United States in 1973 and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1992 as the 61st most popular breed in their registry.

	Standard of the Shar Pei


	A little of the American Pit Bull Terrier
	The American Pit Bull Terrier, known by many other variations of this name, is a descendant of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier of England. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, thought to be the result of crossing the old English Bulldog with a variety of Terriers, first appeared in the 1700s and was used by butchers of the time to handle bulls, and by hunters to hold bears and other wild game. Over time, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was used in blood sports to bait bulls and bears, a practice that has now been banned. The Staffordshire came to America in the 1800s, where it became the American Pit Bull Terrier, aka American Bull Terrier, Pit Bull and later known as the Yankee Terrier. The American Pit Bull Terrier is considered a surprisingly strong breed for its medium size. It has become a formidable family and farm dog, often referred to as a “watchdog”, as it is very gentle with children. Today, in addition to being an excellent pet, the American Pit Bull Terrier is also used in weightlifting, agility and even obedience competitions. The American Pit Bull Terrier was officially recognized as the American Staffordshire Terrier (the name was changed to avoid the stigma of blood sports) by the American Kennel Club in 1936 and is the 81st most popular breed in its registry.

	Presentation of the American Pit Bull Terrier

Appearance of the Shar-Pei Pitbull Terrier

The Shar-Pei Pitbull Terrier is a hybrid of the Shar Pei and the American Pit Bull Terrier and, as such, may inherit appearance traits from one or both parent breeds. Breeders and owners of this hybrid describe it as having a stocky, heavy body, but small, compact and even delicate feet. With a shoulder height of 43 to 53 centimeters and a weight of 13.5 to 27 kilos, this medium to large-sized dog possesses amazing strength and power, which comes mainly from the American Pitbull parent. The Shar Pei parent brings dark eyes, a dark muzzle and wrinkled skin to the biological mix. Both parents contribute to a short to medium coat that is fine and straight. The colors available for your hybrid's coat are: black, red, fawn, sable, blue, cream, brown, gray, brindle and black and white. Your hybrid may have lighter eyes, especially if its color is diluted, with a nose that can be any color depending on coat color, and ears that can be small, triangular and erect, sitting high and close to the head. Its tail can be more or less long, set high or low, and may or may not curl over its back, depending on which parental breed has the most influence in the biological mix. It may have a black or blue tongue.

Temperament of the Shar-Pei Pitbull Terrier

Your Shar-Pei Pitbull Terrier is a hybrid of the Shar Pei and the American Pit Bull Terrier. As a mixed breed, your hybrid may inherit temperament and personality traits from either or both parent breeds. Breeders and owners of this hybrid describe it as loyal and affectionate, yet sometimes quite independent. This independence leads to dominance, making it vital for the owner or handler to firmly establish, at a very young age, who is the leader, otherwise there will be a lifelong competition for this position between owner/handler and dog. Because of his strong will and independence, it will be vital that he is properly socialized from an early age to ensure that he will be affectionate, gentle, friendly, social, cheerful and protective. If properly socialized from an early age, he'll probably get along with children and other animals, but he'll probably be wary of strangers. He's fairly intelligent, so with the exception of those periods of independence, he should be fairly easy to train, using positive training and encouragement methods. He's an active dog who can develop really annoying destructive habits if bored.

Needs and activities of the Shar-Pei Pitbull Terrier

Your Shar-Pei Pitbull Terrier hybrid is an active dog, requiring 1 to 2 hours of exercise a day without exception. This exercise can take the form of long walks or jogs, playing in a dog park or fenced yard, interactive games like fetch, frisbee, fly ball, earth dog training, obedience training and pulling activities. This hybrid can be a barker, so this should be taken into account for those living in apartments, condominiums or other noise-restricted areas. Because of its size and energy level, it is best suited to large family homes with fenced yards, but can adapt to apartment or condominium living, provided appropriate exercise opportunities are available and utilized. It can tolerate hot and cold temperatures in both rural and urban environments, provided extra precautions and protection are taken when these temperatures become extreme.

Maintenance of the Shar-Pei Pitbull Terrier

Your Shar-Pei Pitbull Terrier hybrid falls into the low-maintenance category, with a small to moderate amount of shedding possible, especially during normal shedding seasons. Its coat is not considered hypoallergenic and will need weekly brushing, except during normal seasonal shedding periods, when it will probably need daily brushing to remove debris and loose hair. It will also need to be vacuumed frequently during these seasonal moulting periods. It is considered low in the drool category and low to moderate in the odor category, as it needs special attention to regularly wipe/dry folds to avoid fungal infections. He is prone to ear infections, which makes a weekly check-up of the ears vital, cleaning them if necessary with absorbent cotton and a cleaning product approved for canine ears, to maintain ear health. As with all dogs, dental health is also important. He should have his teeth brushed at home two or three times a week to prevent the development of periodontal disease and the tooth loss that goes with it.