Because of China's zoophobia, the Western World would never have heard about Shar Peis if not for the diligent efforts of Hong Kong businessman Matgo Law. Shar Peis became victims of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Along with many other Chinese traditions and art forms, Shar Peis were outlawed and mostly destroyed. Matgo Law managed to rescue some and get them spirited away to Western countries. He started exporting Shar Peis in 1973. By the 1980's, there was a craze for Shar Peis, which led to much indiscriminate breeding. Many reliable Shar Pei information sources have come to the conclusion that the dogs sent to America were particularly inferior. These dogs are thought to have inherited several health problems (such as skin disorders and inverted eyelids) and had some nasty tempers to boot. But they are the only gene pool of Shar Peis available. They will always be a rare breed and need experienced, confident, physically strong owners. Shar Peis were thought to have been originally farm dogs, meant to guard livestock, the farm and the farmer's family. Even today, Shar Peis are very protective and leery of strangers. But then they were taken off of the farm and put into the spotlight of the dog fighting pits of China. This is probably when the emphasis on loose skin and wrinkles occurred. A Shar Pei is supposed to have enough skin to cover two dogs. Loose skin makes a fighting dog harder to damage. By the time Communism took hold of China, Shar Peis could be found in Hong Kong and what is now known as Taiwan, but they were still mostly in China. And then the Cultural Revolution came, where many traditions in China were wiped out and ruthlessly suppressed overnight. Although the end of dog fighting was a positive move, killing off all of the dogs was not. It looked like the end was in sight for the tough Shar Pei. North American and European breeders of the Shar Pei breed are now learning from their mistakes, as has the American buying public. Shar Peis were dropped like hot potatoes in the 1990's, which lead to the rise of many Shar Pei rescues in many states. Because of their temper and their large size, they are not found in puppy mills as they once were. Shar Peis are now bred for an improved disposition, as well as for their looks. The future for the Shar Pei looks grim to those who love to see things unchanged. There's just not enough of a gene pool in order to assure the future of this unique dog breed. Considering some of the problems many have discovered with keeping Shar Peis, perhaps that's for the best. Shar Peis are prone to many health problems. The most worrisome (and painful) is inverted eyelids, where the eyelashes constantly rub against the eyeballs. This can be cured with an expensive operation. The Shar Pei has a sketchy history at best. There is lots of incorrect Shar Pei information out there.
