SHAR PEI PAGE
The Shar Pei is a breed of dog known for it's distinctive features of deep wrinkles and a blue-black tongue. The breed derives from China. The name (沙皮, pinyin: shā pí; English name probably derived from British spelling of Cantonese equivalent sā pèih) translates to "sand skin," and refers to the texture of its short, rough coat. As puppies, Shar Pei have numerous wrinkles, but as they mature, these wrinkles disappear as they "grow into their skin".
Shar Pei usually come in two varieties: one is covered in large folds of wrinkles, even into adulthood (the Western type). The other variation has skin that appears tighter on its body, with wrinkles just on the face and at the whithers (the original type).
Shar Pei come in many different colors such as fawn, red (rose), sand, cream, black, lilac and blue. They resemble the Chow Chow due to having the same blue-black tongue.
