The blue Shar Pei is one of the rare colors when it comes to Shar Pei. To obtain a blue colored puppy takes a significant amount of breeding and careful planning. These dogs are great with children and have a wonderful temperament. Because they are a more rare color, expect to pay more for these cute adorable wrinkled dogs.
The Shar Pei has its origins in China where it was breed for intelligence, scowling wrinkled face and strength. They were originally bred as a general-purpose dog for around the farm. They were used for things like hunting, protecting livestock and the family in general.
They were later used for things like fighting since the large amounts of excess skin and the prickly coat made it difficult for other dogs to keep a hold of. In 1973, the breed was introduced to the U.S. through a dog magazine, by a Hong Kong businessperson. It quickly grew in popularity and now has a registered foundation stock of more than 70,000 dogs.
The breed is recognized by the AKC, CKC, FCI, UKC, KCGB, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, and ACR organizations. It is a southern group and listed as non-sporting. The blue Shar Pei like other colors of its breed has some health concerns. These concerns include fevers, which do not appear to have any noticeable cause and swollen hocks. Occasionally there will be some Shar Pei that have skin problems, though this is not as some think because the dog has excess skin. However, it is more than likely caused by excessive uncontrolled breeding, which has created a hereditary weakness.
There is a need to keep them in very socialized environments and give them the proper training because the breed tends to turn overly aggressive and protective of its territory. Nevertheless, even with training and happy social environments, they will keep their guard dog tendencies, being suspicious of strangers or barking at them.
There are a few more things to consider when looking into a blue Shar Pei. The first is that these are not small dogs a Shar Pei can reach between forty and fifty-five pounds.
They are a very active breed of dog so be sure you have either a yard to allow them to run around in, or you have the time to walk and play with them. Because of the excess skin and how it is lays on the dog, as well as the coat, these animals are more likely to suffer from the heat so plenty of shade and water needs to be available to them if they are outside.
These dogs weight between forty and fifty-five pounds so they are considered medium sized animals be sure to check with your home owners’ association or apartment complex before purchasing one. Blue Shar Pei’s make a great addition to any household so why not consider one of these lovely dogs the next time you are looking for a pet to being into your home.