Types of Shar-Pei Puppies

Wrinkly shar-pei puppies are not all the same. There are two recognized types of shar-pei coats and one nonstandard. All three types shed. There are a few differences among the three types aside from the coat and hair length. Familiarize yourself with the different types of shar-peis prior to getting a puppy to help determine which variety would best fit into your lifestyle.

  1. Horse Coat

    • The hair on a horse coat shar-pei is short and straight. It stands away from the body, making the coat harsh to the touch. Some people, especially those prone to allergies, may experience a rash after contact with the hair. The horse coat shar-pei tends to lose its wrinkly look once it reaches adulthood. It's an active dog that enjoys outside activities. This is the type most often pictured on calendars and greeting cards.

    Brush Coat

    • The hair of the brush coat is longer than the horse coat variety and isn't as rough. The maximum hair length allowed in the breed standard is 1 inch at the withers (where the shoulders meet at the top). The brush coat shar-pei often resembles a puppy as an adult but tends to be less active than the horse coat. They are laid-back dogs who enjoy being by their owner's side.

    Bear Coat

    • A shar-pei is considered to have a bear coat any time the hair is longer than 1 inch at the withers. Shar-peis with this coat have an outer and an undercoat and resemble chow chows. They are usually stockier and heavier than the other two types, and have a larger head and thicker muzzle. They should be combed instead of brushed, according to Kay and Kylie Peart of SandyShreu Shar-Pei. Bear coats are prone to matting, so regular grooming is essential. A bear coat is not standard, so they cannot be entered into American Kennel Club (AKC) sanctioned dog shows in the conformation class.

    Patterned Color

    • Shar-peis will sometimes have colors and patterns that are quite different from their usual solid coloring. They may be spotted, parti-colored (two colors) or brindle. These color types are also not in the breed standard, so dogs with any of those colorings cannot be shown competitively.