The Revival of the Breed (American History of the Shar Pei)
In
the early 70's Hon Kong breeders were seriously
concerned with the possible extinction of the Shar Pei and put
their efforts to find remaining representatives of the breed to
revive the population. Among those enthusiasts were C.M. Chung, Shar Pei
breeder, and Matgo Law
who had recently become interested in the breed. To these
gentlemen belong first efforts to revive and popularize the
breed. Mr. Matgo Law called for protection of these rarest and
beautiful dogs and started restoring the breed.
Deep in the country, in Thailand and Hong Kong, he found
remaining dogs and founded his first kennel. In May 1971 Mr. Law
read a magazine article stating that Shar Pei on the magazine
photo was probably one of the last surviving dogs on the planet.
This message prompted him to undertake urgent measures.
In 1973 he
contributed to the same magazine a message calling American
breeders for help. Mr. Law suggested specific plan for reviving
the breed and as the result about two thousands of letters came
with the request for buying Shar Pei puppies. The same year the
first Chinese Shar Pei participated in a dog show.
In 1974 first Shar
Pei litter was born outside China.
The first registered Shar Pei to cross the ocean was called
Lucky. He was bought by German Smith and previously belonged to
Mr. Chung.
In 1975 the breed was
officially recognized by the United Club of Canine Lovers.
In 1976 the first
accredited pedigree was edited and received by a stud dog
imported from Matgo Law’s kennel three years earlier.
In 1978 once again
the Shar Pei was registered in the Guinness Book of World Records as the
rarest dog breed in the world. This year the first specialized
show of the Shar Pei was organized by CSPCA (the American
Club of Chineze Shar Pei). Chineze fighting dog acquires his
official name – the Chineze Shar Pei. The same year the official
standard is accepted.
In 1979 Shar Pei
screens for the first time, which surely affects the popularity
of the breed. The same year the first Shar Pei is imported from
the USA to Germany.
Those dogs are black male dog Bedlams Lower Boy and black bitch
Bedlams Lowe Song. Than in 1980 other dogs from Matgo Law’s
kennel and from the USA repeat the trip to Germany. The first
Shar Pei litter in Germany appears in 1980.
In 1981 the first
Shar Pei is imported from the USA to Great Britain. The name of the dog is
Yeathstyle Dandelion. He is followed by the bitch from Hong Kong
named Down Homes Junoeque. In 1982 they give birth to the first
English litter of Shar Pei.
In 1986 1 year-old
bitch named Fallohide Shanghaj Lily is brought to the territory
of the former Soviet Union. She becomes a founder of the Shar
Pei breed in Czechoslovakia.
By 1987 the Shar Pei
looses its position of the rarest dog breed on the Planet
completely. He gains reputation of the dog of the nineties and
is cherished and loved by thousands of dog owners and dog
breeders all over the world.
