Chinese Shar-Pei Dog Breed Quiz

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Question of
“Shar-Pei” is Chinese for “wrinkled face”.
- TRUE
- FALSE
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> The name says it all. The term "Shar Pei" translates literally to "sand skin"—a fitting description for one of the breed's most distinctive features. When you run your hand over a Shar Pei, you'll immediately notice a rough, textured surface that truly does bear a striking resemblance to sandpaper. This unique tactile quality is the result of the breed's short, bristly coat, which stands slightly away from the body rather than lying flat. </div>
Question of
The Chinese Shar Pei belongs to which elite genetic category of ancient dog lineages that have remained largely isolated from modern crossbreeding?
- Basal breeds
- Designer breeds
- Working breeds
- Research breeds
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> The Chinese Shar Pei belongs to an elite genetic category known as "basal breeds"—ancient dog lineages that have remained remarkably isolated from modern crossbreeding. These breeds retain some of the clearest genetic signals of early canine evolution, with minimal human-directed mixing over millennia. According to some of the most respected genomic studies—including Larson et al. (2012), subsequent whole‑genome sequencing analyses, and the 2026 ScienceInsights review—the Shar Pei consistently appears on every shortlist of basal breeds. </div>
Question of
The Shar Pei and the Chow-Chow are the only known dog breeds to have blue-black tongues.
- TRUE
- FALSE
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> One of the Shar Pei's most distinctive features is its blue-black-purple tongue—a trait it shares with only one other breed: the Chow Chow. Despite this rare similarity, no known genetic link exists between the two breeds, making it one of the more intriguing coincidences in the canine world. The pigmentation is caused by an excess of melanin-producing cells in the oral tissues, resulting in that unmistakable dark hue. </div>
Question of
There are three variations in a Shar-Pei coat. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
- Fox Coat
- Horse Coat
- Brush Coat
- Bear Coat
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> The Shar-Pei comes in three coat types: the Horse Coat, which is the shortest and prickliest at under half an inch and is fully accepted in the show ring; the Brush Coat, which is slightly longer at 0.5 to 1 inch with a softer but still harsh feel, also accepted and the most common for pet owners; and the Bear Coat, which is over 1 inch, fluffy like a Chow Chow, driven by a recessive gene, and considered a major fault in conformation—making it rare and non-standard. </div>
Question of
The AKC Conducts Dog Racing trials called the Fast CAT Invitational. What is the average running speed of Shar Pei as timed by the AKC?
- 14.7 mph
- 22 mph
- 17.1 mph
- 20.2 mph
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> The AKC Conducts Dog Racing Trials each December in Orlando, FL. called the Fast CAT Invitational. This is a 100 yard race where dogs run individually chasing a lure. The average running speed by Sharpei is almost 22 mph. The fastest recorded speed by a Sharpei was by a dog named Biscuit at 26.49 mph! </div>
Question of
What was the Shar Pei primarily bred for in ancient China?
- Hunting game, herding livestock, and guarding farms and monasteries
- Organized dog fighting in pits
- Competitive show rings and conformation
- Companion dogs for royalty
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> In ancient China, the Shar Pei was a practical farm dog used for hunting game, herding livestock, and guarding farms and monasteries. Its loose, wrinkled skin served a real purpose—allowing the dog to twist free when grabbed by a wild boar or other predator. While informal village dog fights did occasionally happen in rural China, the Shar Pei was never systematically bred for the pit, and unlike true fighting breeds, it lacks the stamina and relentless drive needed for sustained combat. </div>
Question of
According to the AKC, a brindle coat pattern meets breed standard coat color for the Chinese Shar-Pei.
- TRUE
- FALSE
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> Brindle is not an acceptable coat color for the Chinese Shar-Pei under AKC rules. The AKC breed standard allows only solid colors and sable in the conformation ring, and brindle is explicitly listed as a disqualification, along with parti-colored, spotted, and patterned coats. </div>
Question of
There are three varieties of the Shar-Pei based on their muzzles. They are known as “bone-mouth” – “meat-mouth” and “ring-mouth”.
- TRUE
- FALSE
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> Shar-Peis have two recognized muzzle types, not three: the bone-mouth, which is the traditional, leaner Chinese type with a dry, flat-topped muzzle and minimal padding, and the meat-mouth, the heavier Western/show type with thick, fleshy padding and deep facial folds that give it a "hippopotamus" look. </div>
Question of
In landmark research on modern dog breed development, the Sharpei has been shown to share the most DNA with an ancestor of the following breed:
- Boxer
- Pug
- Rottweiler
- Basenji
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> In landmark research on modern dog breed development, the Sharpei has been shown to share the most DNA with an ancestor of the following 2 breeds: Boxer Chow Chow </div>
Question of
The Shar-Pei breed is prone to fevers. This condition is called “Familial Shar-Pei Fever”.
- TRUE
- FALSE
Question of
According to the C-BARQ dog temperament research study at the University of Pennsylvania, where does the Shar Pei rank among 124 breeds for aggression toward strangers?
- 9
- 18
- 30
- 44
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> The CBARQ dog temperament research study, conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, is a giant study of over 300 dog breeds and 60,000 individual dogs. In this study, the Sharpei ranks 9 out of 124 breeds in aggression towards strangers. Aggression is defined as the dog's reaction when a stranger approaches their personal space. This could be by barking, growling, baring teeth or, in extreme cases, lunging or biting. </div>
Question of
In the book, “The Intelligence of Dogs” by Stanley Coren, where does the Shar Pei rank in canine intelligence out of 138 dog breeds?
- 51
- 16
- 29
- 37
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> the landmark book entitled, "The Intelligence of Dogs", professor Stanley Coren researched and documented the intelligence of over 130 different dog breeds. In his book, the Shar-pei ranks 51 out of 138 breeds in working/obedience intelligence. Essentially this means they will learn new commands in 25 to 40 repetitions and obey first commands more than 50% of the time. This puts them in the "average working and obedience intelligence" category. In contrast, the most intelligent breeds will learn the same command in 5 repetitions or less! </div>

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Chinese Shar-Pei Dog Breed Quiz

“Shar-Pei” is Chinese for “wrinkled face”.

The Chinese Shar Pei belongs to which elite genetic category of ancient dog lineages that have remained largely isolated from modern crossbreeding?

The Shar Pei and the Chow-Chow are the only known dog breeds to have blue-black tongues.

There are three variations in a Shar-Pei coat. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

The AKC Conducts Dog Racing trials called the Fast CAT Invitational. What is the average running speed of Shar Pei as timed by the AKC?

What was the Shar Pei primarily bred for in ancient China?

According to the AKC, a brindle coat pattern meets breed standard coat color for the Chinese Shar-Pei.

There are three varieties of the Shar-Pei based on their muzzles. They are known as “bone-mouth” – “meat-mouth” and “ring-mouth”.

In landmark research on modern dog breed development, the Sharpei has been shown to share the most DNA with an ancestor of the following breed:

The Shar-Pei breed is prone to fevers. This condition is called “Familial Shar-Pei Fever”.

According to the C-BARQ dog temperament research study at the University of Pennsylvania, where does the Shar Pei rank among 124 breeds for aggression toward strangers?

In the book, “The Intelligence of Dogs” by Stanley Coren, where does the Shar Pei rank in canine intelligence out of 138 dog breeds?

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