Miniature Shar Pei: Pictures, Info, Care & More

If you’re someone who loves the Shar Pei breed, you’ll love to know about their smaller counterpart, the Miniature Shar Pei. These canines are well-known for their adorable appearance, wrinkled faces, and low-maintenance needs, but how should you care for these dogs? Would they be a suitable pet option for you?

In this article, we explore the unique world of the Miniature Shar Pei, providing you with detailed information about these dogs and caring for them.

Breed Overview

Miniature Shar Pei dogs look exactly the same as regular Shar Pei canines, only smaller. While some people believe that the Miniature Shar Pei is a separate dog breed, they share their history with traditional Chinese Shar Pei dogs.

Breeders had the time and patience to carefully breed Shar Pei dogs and downsize them to make this stunning miniature version.

Miniature Shar Pei Characteristics

Miniature Shar Pei Puppies

Miniature Shar Pei puppies are almost identical to standard Shar Pei puppies. These dogs are usually born in litters of four to six puppies. From their birth, these canines tend to exhibit extreme intelligence, independence, and affection toward their loved ones.

These puppies can often be stubborn, though, so they require adequate training in their puppy years to grow into happy and well-mannered adult dogs.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Miniature Shar Pei

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

The Miniature Shar Pei makes an excellent pet choice for families, as they’re loving and loyal. These dogs want to spend time around people, and they greatly desire your attention. As long as you provide the Miniature Shar Pei with proper care, this dog is bound to become your best friend for life.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

While Miniature Shar Pei dogs like spending their time around humans, they’re not keen on being around other pets and dogs. These canines are social and can become friendly toward other animals with proper introductions, but they can still be somewhat reserved.

Due to their potential to act unfriendly toward other animals, you should ensure to keep all encounters supervised and react if you notice that your Miniature Shar Pei isn’t getting along with other pets.

Things to Know When Owning a Miniature Shar Pei

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Like all other dogs, Miniature Shar Peis require a high-quality, well-balanced diet in order to thrive and prosper. These dogs do best when eating age-appropriate, store-bought dog food that contains all the essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that they need to develop properly and grow healthy and strong.

You can also offer your Miniature Shar Pei occasional treats as long as you don’t overdo it. Consuming too many treats could cause several health issues, which is why treats shouldn’t become a regular part of your dog’s diet.

Exercise 🐕

When it comes to their exercise needs, Miniature Shar Peis are not that needy. That said, it’s best to exercise your Miniature Shar Pei for at least 1 hour a day, divided into separate exercise sessions that can include walking, running, playing games, and doing other activities that your dog likes.

Training 🎾

The Miniature Shar Pei is an extremely intelligent dog breed that loves to please their owners. However, these dogs do require extensive training from puppyhood in order to grow into well-behaved adults.

The training that these dogs need to go through includes potty training, leash training, obedience training, and similar routines that should be performed through positive reinforcement.

Grooming ✂️

An excellent thing about the Miniature Shar Pei is that these dogs are low maintenance and don’t require much grooming. These dogs have short coats that need weekly brushing; they also require regular nail and ear care.

Finally, you should ensure that the folds on your Miniature Shar Pei are always clean to prevent possible infections or the formation of bacteria.

Health and Conditions 🏥

The Miniature Shar Pei is generally considered a healthy dog breed. Still, these dogs are prone to several health issues.

 

Male vs. Female

When it comes to the differences between male and female Miniature Shar Pei dogs, they are almost insignificant. The only major difference between the sexes is that females are typically slightly smaller and lighter than males.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Miniature Shar Pei

1. The Miniature Shar Pei Shares Their History With the Chinese Shar Pei

While many people consider the Miniature Shar Pei as a separate breed, these dogs actually share their history with the standard Shar Pei. Also, the Miniature Shar Pei breed is not recognized by some of the major clubs, like the American Kennel Club (AKC).

However, AKC does allow these dogs to compete; they just need to be registered as a regular Chinese Shar Pei rather than a Miniature Shar Pei.

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2. Miniature Shar Pei Dogs Have a Recessive Gene That Produces Small Dogs

Miniature Shar Pei dogs have a recessive gene that is responsible for their small size. Breeders throughout the world took the time to carefully breed these dogs in order to accomplish this genetic mutation, where most dogs remain small in size rather than reaching the regular size of a Chinese Shar Pei.

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3. Miniature Shar Pei Dogs Have a Blue/Black Tongue

Unlike most dogs, the Miniature Shar Pei has a blue/black tongue that’s atypical among most breeds.

Final Thoughts

The Miniature Shar Pei is a fascinating breed that’s easy to care for. They are intelligent, loyal, and loving, making them the perfect pet for anyone who wants a caring, life-long companion. Keep in mind that due to their size, these dogs can often be hard to find. However, if you stumble upon a Miniature Shar Pei, you should definitely take the chance and adopt this stunning breed, as you won’t regret it!

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Featured Image Credit: Lasse Ansaharju, Shutterstock