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The Animal World - Which Breed Is Known As The "Wrinkled Dog"?

Which breed is known as the "wrinkled dog"?

The shar-pei, or Chinese fighting dog, is covered with folds of loose skin, as if its coat were in need of ironing. It stands 18 to 20 inches (46 to 51 centimeters) and weighs up to 50 pounds (22.5 kilograms). Its solid-colored coat may be black, red, light grayish-brown, or cream.

The shar-pei originated in Tibet or the northern provinces of China some 2,000 years ago. The government of the People's Republic of China put such a high tax on shar-peis that few people could afford to buy them and the dog was in danger of extinction. However, a few shar-peis were smuggled out of China and the breed has made a comeback in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Although bred as a fighting dog, the shar-pei is generally a friendly dog.

Source: Palmer, Joan. Dog Facts, p. 74.

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