What can you tell me about the Shar Pei?

It depends on the dog as to whether it would get along with a cat. For the most part, they are very loyal and loving dogs. They are gentle and good natured.
How can you not love a face like that?
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they are so cute! well, it'll take some time for your cats to get use to your new pet dog but of course they'll get along in the end.
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Bred originally for fighting but didn't work out because they're too nice. Very loyal to it's owners. Can have problems with allergies, particularly to soy. Not too hard to find dog foods without soy. Also some are prone to needing the surgery on their eyes to keep their eyelids from growing inwards. Seem more prone to skin cancers but I have no scientific evidence to back that up. Otherwise, really smart and devoted dogs.

Dont know about cats….never been around a Shar-Pei who lived with cats.
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check out this web site http://www.sharpeimanual.com/
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http://www.sharpeimanual.com/

I don't have a shar pei, but I've heard they're very sweet, but sorta hyper, though I guess all dogs are hyper.

& NEI is wrong, they might not get along in the end, but it'll get better. My cat still hates my dog & I've had my dog for 4 years.
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These dogs are indeed very loyal. They are also intelligent, and very independent, which can make training very difficult. They are prone to skin problems, including allergies and infections. You have to clean out all those wrinkles at least three times a week to avoid infections. Most of the ones I know well are very, very attached to their people, but not especially cuddly. Getting along with cats is an individual thing, but the general temperment of the parents will tell you a lot about the puppy. If you are adopting an adult dog, it should be tested with cats first, to make sure it doesn't eat little Tabby.
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30+yrs dog owner, trainer, rescue
10yrs vet tech

They can have some skin issues due to the folds and wrinkles in their skin. The ones I knew barked a lot and were stranger aggressive. Could be a good dog for home security. They were a lot more playful once they got to know me.
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worked for a dog show-er.

Depends on the individal dog with the cat situation. The shelter staff should know anyway
My major concerns would be:
Aggression toward strangers. Many Chinese Shar Peis have protective instincts toward strangers. They need extensive exposure to friendly people so they learn to recognize the normal behaviors of "good guys." Then they can recognize the difference when someone acts abnormally. Without careful socialization, they may be suspicious of everyone, which can lead to biting.

If you have small children, I do not recommend a Chinese Shar Pei. There are just too many Sharpeis who won't tolerate any nonsense.

Animal aggression. Many Chinese Shar Peis are dominant or aggressive toward other dogs, especially of the same sex. Many have strong instincts to chase and seize cats and other fleeing creatures. This is not a good breed to keep with livestock. If anything goes wrong in the breeding, socializing, training, handling, or management of this breed, it is capable of seriously injuring or killing other animals.

The strong temperament. Chinese Shar Pei are not Golden Retrievers. They have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. Many Chinese Sharpeis are willful, obstinate, and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.

Shedding and harsh coat. Chinese Shar-peis come in three coat varieties. The "horse" coat is very short and prickly, and can irritate the skin of sensitive people. The "brush" coat is thicker and about one inch long. The "bear" coat is very heavy, like that of a Chow. All three coats shed, with the brush and bear coats shedding the most.

Shar-Pei sounds. Many Chinese Sharpeis snort, grunt, and snore loudly. The sounds are endearing to some people; nerve-wracking to others.

High prices. Though this breed is very common, many breeders are still charging $1000 or more.

Serious health problems. It's been said that if you feel like supporting your vet with great chunks of money, get a Chinese Sharpei. They suffer from a host of eye problems, skin diseases, kidney disease, and more.

Legal liabilities. Chinese Shar Pei may be targeted for "banning" in certain areas, or refusal of homeowner insurance policies. In this day and age, the legal liabilities of owning any breed that looks intimidating and has a history as a fighting dog should be seriously considered. People are quicker to sue if such a dog does anything even remotely questionable.

Frankly, most Chinese Shar Peis are "too much dog" for the average household. Very few people really have the knowledge or skills necessary to manage this breed.

If you're considering an adult Chinese Shar Pei…

There are plenty of adult Chinese Sharpei who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.

When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential — what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
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http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/chinesesharpei.html

i have a friend that raises them..i do know they have alot of skin problems because of all the wrinkles..she has had her dogs to the vet alot because of the skin problems..
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pomchi breeder

I have a 10 month old full breed shar pei, and he is very smart,calm, sleeps alot, attentive, and protective of his family. He is happy and content laying around the house where ever we are chillin at. He barks alot at anyone or thing that comes to the house, but that is about as far as it goes. I believe the cat situation depends on the individual dog, so just see how he reacts. Shar pies do have some health issues with their eyes, skin, allergies, and a common disorder FSF. You should really do your research before you commit to this dog. While we have been lucky and haven't had any health problems, a lot of others have not. I suggest going to http://www.sharpeiforums.com, and read some posts from these loyal shar pei owners.
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personal experience

I luv them! Very loyal!
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Likely a mix would be fine as far as it usual skin problems go… here are some things to think about….

What has happened with AKA recognized dogs, is that breeders breed for the standards set by the AKA, ignoring the fact that the end result may not be a healthy animal. In the case of collies, they bred for that narrow face, breeding the brains out.

For the German Shepherd, they bred for that sloping back, ignoring the fact that by 4, they all had hip dysplasia. (German bred German shepherds are not bred that way, only American Bred ones are. And if you see them in shows, they are the ONLY dog shown with one of the hind legs forward…. tand that horrid sloping back, they can barely stand with both hind legs shown together.

All of these purebred dogs are bred the same way by breeders in a hurry… breed father to daughter, to increase the chances and taking a short cut to the breed standard… and inbreeding results in defects.

And this is what has happened to the Shar Pei….. the factor is that wrinkle skin, but it has problems of bacterial infections in those moist folds, and that is difficult at times to deal with. In the purebred, you are constantly fighting skin infections.

For this reason, I'd not buy a purebred anything, unless I were fully aware of the bloodlines, making sure it didn't come from a puppy mill…. keep this in mind if you ever wish to purchase a pure bred dogs.

All this said, (and I hope this gives you pause to think) any cross breed is always healthier than a purebred bred poorly.

And no one can tell you how they would get along with cats.

One of the beauties of adopting an older dog from rescue is that their temperament is far better known. So, ask the people at the shelter. In any event, you can, with help, get dogs and cats to live just fine together, if you have help from a trainer. And no one can say what any individual dog is like, or how it will react.

Thank you for considering a rescue dog.

Hope this helps, and good luck with your new guy/girl.
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Dogs all my life, and all rescued.

Donate my time to rescue places.

Best friend a vet..

I haven't had any problems with my shar pei.
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