Shar Pei
| Shar pei | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Modern "wrinkle-mouth" shar pei | |||||||||||||||||||||
Traditional "bone-mouth" shar pei | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Origin | China | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Dog (domestic dog) | |||||||||||||||||||||
The Shar Pei (Chinese: 沙皮; Cantonese Yale: shā pèih; pinyin: shā pí) is a dog breed from southern China. Traditionally kept as a property guardian, the shar pei was driven to the brink of extinction in the 20th century. The breed is known in the West for its deep wrinkles, while a traditional less wrinkled form is maintained in Hong Kong.