1. Chinese Shar-Peis
I. Introduction
a. Attention Getter: How many of you are dog people?
b. Refer to Audience: Many of you probably own dogs or have heard of many
popular dog breeds, but one most people probably haven’t heard of is a Chinese
Shar- Pei also known as “The wrinkle dog”.
c. Main Point: Even though many of you have never heard of a Shar-Pei they are
actually the 57th most popular dog breed, according to The American Kennel Club
last updated September of 2015.
d. Establish Credibility: Having two Shar-Peis at home, I’ve learned much about this
unique breed.
e. Preview: So I will share with you the history of the Shar-Peis, more about their
appearance, personality, health concerns and how to care for this breed.
Transition: First let’s take a look at the history of Chinese Shar-Peis.
II. Body
a. As noted by Chinese Shar- Pei by Juliette Cunliffe written in 2003, the Shar-Pei
originated in the area around Tai Li, a small village in the Kwantung Province,
now the Guangdong province in China.
1. They are an ancient and unique breed.
2. Existed for centuries in the southern provinces of china.
3. Since the Han Dynasty.
4. Came to the U.S. in the 1960s.
5. Chow Chow are closest ancestors, people believe this because these are
the only two breeds that have blueish-black tongues.
Transition: Now that you have a history let’s explore the Shar-Peis
appearance.
b. Shar- Pei means “sand skin”, but more roughly translates to “sand paper like coat”
referring to the distinctive characteristics of their coats.
1. Medium Size dog reaching about 18-22 inches at the withers and
weighing about 45-60 pounds. (magazine)
2. Like I said before, the Shar-Pei have a blue-black tongue, along with
Chow Chows which these are the only two breed with this characteristic.
3. Square body, with short-harsh coat, loose skin, small ears,
“hippopotamus” muzzle, and a high set tail.
4. They also have what is known as a soft palette which causes them to
make weird noises often like snoring or growling.
5. In these pictures you may notice the difference in the amount of
wrinkles the dogs have and that is due to the fact that some dogs are
show quality and some are pet quality.

2. Transition: Now let’s take a look at the personality of the Chinese Shar-
Pei.
c. As you know the personality of dogs obviously vary depending on the dog but in
general the Shar-Peis tend to be:
1. Calm, loyal, independent, and very affectionate.
2. Devoted to loved ones, but standoffish towards strangers. Makes for a
good guard dog. (ZOEY)
Transition: Now that you know more about what Shar- Pei’s look like and
act like, let’s examine common health problems and ways to care for your
own Chinese Shar- Pei.
d. The Chinese Shar-Pei is not a breed without health problems, luckily breeders
have done their best to eradicate problems with the breed, however Shar-Peis do
have some common illnesses and care routines, according to the 2006 article “The
Chinese Shar-Pei” by Allison Bixler.
1. Swollen Hock Syndrome or “Shar- Pei Fever”- inability to break down
and remove amyloid protein, eventually leads to death at a young age by
kidney and/or liver failure. (cite book)
2. Entropion- rolling in of one or both of the eyelids, usually needs surgery
to repair.
3. Ear Infection- due to the breed’s small flapped ears, regular ear
cleanings should be a part of their care routine.
4. Eczema and dermatitis- due to the sensitive skin and wrinkles, too many
baths removes too many skin oils and can cause skin reactions but skin
reactions may also be caused by allergies to food or environment.
III. Conclusion
a. Brake light/Restate thesis: Now that you know more about this breed of dog I
hope you realize how important it is to research a dog breed in order to make sure
that dog breed is the right one for you.
b. Refer to Audience: If you had never heard of a Chinese Shar- Pei, hopefully now
you have a good idea what a Chinese Shar- Pei is and why I love them so much.
c. Review: So today you learned more about the Chinese Shar-Pei breed. You
learned about their history, general appearance, personality, care and health
concerns with the breed.
d. Clincher: Shar- Pei’s may not be the most popular dog in the U.S. but they are
definitely my favorite.

3. References
Campbell Thornton, K. (2012, May 1). A Wrinkle in Time. Dog World, 26-33.
Chinese Shar-Pei Dog Breed Information. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2015, from
http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/chinese-shar-pei/
Cunliffe, J. (2003). Chinese Shar-Pei (Rev. American ed.). Allenhurst, NJ: Kennel Club Books.