Shar Peis are one of the most adorable breeds of dogs. Yet, if you reside in the western world, you’ve probably never heard of them. They originally come from southern China, but thanks to their beautiful appearance, they are starting to become popular in other countries as well.
There are multiple types, however, the most interesting by far is the bear-coat Shar Pei.
If you don’t believe us, just check out these 20 beautiful pictures of Shar-Peis for proof. Although we’re warning you now, once you see how cute they are, you’ll likely find yourself eager to go out and adopt one too.
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1. For starters, many Shar Peis are a wrinkly mess.
Their skin is almost too big for their bodies and they have very little fur to cover it up. It causes them to look pretty goofy. As they grow older, their skin gets a little tighter. They grow into it somewhat, but still, many of the wrinkles remain.
2. However, bear-coat Shar Peis are different.
They have a fluffy coat that is an inch or longer, causing them to look like miniature bears! It only happens when both the male and female Shar Pei have a specific recessive gene in their DNA. There is debate as to the origins of the gene, but it’s possible that it came from a past relationship with the Chow Chow breed.
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3. Here is one at six weeks old.
His name is Tonkey. Just check out how adorable he is! If we weren’t already aware that he was a Shar Pei, we could easily mistake him for a bear cub. There isn’t a whole lot of difference in the appearances of the two types of animals.
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4. Here is one that is fully grown.
She is much older than the little puppy in the last photo, however, she is still just as cute. There is no denying that fact! Her hair is longer and fluffier than ever.
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5. There are multiple coat colors.
While some bear-coat Shar Peis are a dark black or gray, others have a brilliant gold coat. This one looks like a sleeping grizzly bear, thanks to its fluffy brown fur. Although, it is definitely significantly less dangerous than a real grizzly.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCaQs7mFEi4/
6. Just like other dogs, they like to go excursions.
When they are young, you can pop a pup in your backpack and go. The Shar Peis love checking out the city and people-watching. Every day in the city is a massive adventure for them.
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7. Shar Peis fit right in among different breeds.
Take them to the dog park and they will make friends very easily. They are a very sociable and lovable breed. Although, you do have to be careful that you don’t get swarmed by people wanting to take pictures of your pup.
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8. Even a grocery store trip isn’t out of the question.
While many stores would scoff at the idea of allowing dogs to enter, who is going to say no to a cute bear-coat Shar Pei? We know we wouldn’t deny a Shar Pei. As long as they behave, there isn’t a problem as far as we’re concerned.
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9. Although, their wrinkles often make it hard to know what they are thinking.
They have just as many different emotions as other dogs, but it’s sometimes hard to tell. The wrinkles and fur on a bear-coat Shar Pei make it hard to see their facial expressions. For example, this one looks a little bit grumpy. However, it’s just his natural appearance.
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10. Take a Shar Pei out in nature and it will be in heaven.
Just like most breeds of dogs, Shar Peis adore the outdoors. They don’t really enjoy swimming, but they do really love hiking trails. They can walk for hours if they are well-rested and hydrated, although they will likely need to get cleaned up afterward.
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11. Despite their fluffy coat, the pups clean up pretty well.
All of that fur means it’s necessary to give Shar Peis a bath quite often, especially after a long day of playing outside. They are not big fans of the water. However, giving a Shar Pei a regular bath is an important part of being a good owner.
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12. They are one of the most huggable types of animals.
Bear-coat Shar Peis love being cuddled and the humans are happy to oblige them. If we saw one in person, we would definitely run up and give it a big old bear hug. How could we not?
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13. Some try to be ferocious, however, it’s pretty hard to do.
When you are a bear-coat Shar Pei, no one really takes you seriously. It doesn’t matter how intimidating you act. The people will always think it’s super cute no matter what.
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14. If there is a tennis ball around, it’s all over.
There is nothing more exciting than a tennis ball. Forget all of the plans that you had. Trying to wrestle a tennis ball away from a Shar Pei is like trying to fight a bear, although, much more fun, of course.
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15. Tennis balls are almost as fun as playing dress-up.
For the humans, it’s a lot of fun, at least. The Shar Peis simply tolerate the costumes. For them, they couldn’t less about how many Instagram likes their adorable photos get.
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16. Despite what they may look like, they aren’t teddy bears either.
You can still carry a Shar Pei around like a teddy bear though. Most of the time, they don’t mind one bit. They like the attention and really enjoy being close to people. It makes the awkward positions people hold them in worth tolerating.
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17. It’s not as easy to carry them when they are older though.
You can still try, however, it definitely takes some strength. You have to hold on really tight. Otherwise, the fur will slip right through your hands.
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18. It’s all about the tacos.
Bears like honey. However, for bear-coat Shar Peis, it’s all about the tacos. There is no breed of dog that looks forward to Taco Tuesday more than the Shar Pei. They might have originated in China, but still, Mexican food is the best.
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19. Here’s one of Tonkey the puppy walking down stairs.
He is our favorite bear-coat Shar Pei, by far, and for good reason. Just watch this cute little video of him and try not to smile. The way he walks down the stairs is absolutely adorable.
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20. And that’s why we’re adopting one today.
We can’t take it anymore, folks! Bear-coat Shar Peis are just way too cute. They are the coolest dog breed ever and surprisingly, no one has ever heard of them before. However, with this article, we aim to change that. Who’s with us? Let’s all spread the word about these beautiful pups and get them the recognition they deserve.
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Check out one more adorable bear-coat Shar Pei picture below.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
https://www.instagram.com/p/4gqye0nhJm/?taken-by=bearcoat_tonkey
