The Shar Pei is a dog breed that originates in China and is known for its bluish-black tongue, deep wrinkles, and sunken eyes. Its name in Cantonese means “sand skin”, which was given because of the texture of its short, rough coat.
The breed is an ancient one; having been bred more than 2,000 years ago for protecting, hunting, and fighting. On average, it weighs 40 – 60 lbs. and stands 18 – 22 in. in height.
At one point in time, it was one of the rarest dog breeds in the world.
Buying A Chinese Shar Pei Puppy
The cost of Chinese Shar Pei puppies ranges from $850 to $2,800 at AKC Marketplace. These prices may either include shipping or not, depending on each individual seller.
Online puppy sellers also often include registration, vaccinations, vet exams, a health certificate, pedigree, and a travel crate as part of the package deal.
Check the additional information on each listing to learn what’s included in the price.
The AKC Marketplace is also currently offering puppies for sale from registered breeders, starting at $1,000 and scaling up to $1,800. Sellers on the marketplace present their pups as available for pick-up or shipment.
Additional out-of-state shipping costs are included in the selling price, depending on the seller. If shipping costs are not included, you’ll need to pay about $700 to $1,300 for a company like Happy Tails Travel to have the puppy transported via air.
Registered breeders do provide freebies such as age-appropriate vaccinations, de-worming, a health certificate, guarantees for health defects, and spaying/neutering. Check the Shar Pei dog price listing information to determine what specific sellers are offering.
Entropion is a medical condition which is common in Shar Pei involves the eyelid folding inward starting at a very young age. The treatment for this condition is called “eye tacking” and is usually taken care of by a seller.
The cost to have eye tacking done is about $300 to $1,500, so that’s a nice amount saved.
You can save money by adopting a Shar Pei puppy instead of buying it. Shelters such as the Humane Society of Western Montana charge a $100 to $200 fee to rescue a dog or puppy. Save a pet and make a friend!
Additional Costs
Next, the puppy will need to be licensed or tagged in your city. Licensing costs are different in each city and state, so research and find out how much it costs in your location.
Here are the licensing fees for several major areas:
- Miami, Florida – $30 to $60 per year
- NYC, New York – $8.50 to $34 per year
- Houston, Texas – $20 to $40 per year
- Los Angeles, California – $9 to $72 per year
- Chicago, Illinois – $5 to $50 per year
Investing in accessories, food, and shelter for your new pup is fun at first, but not so much after you view the charge history on your credit card. Expect to pay a pretty penny if you’re going to give your Shar Pei the best of the best.
Shar Peis are medium-sized dogs so they won’t eat too much; although the amount really depends on your specific pet’s activity level, size, and age. 1 cup of dry dog food per 6 pounds of body weight is recommended for puppies.
A healthy 3-month old Shar Pei pups should weigh between 21.3 and 25.1 lbs., which means they’ll be consuming about 4 cups of kibble throughout the day.
From this calculation, we conclude that you’ll probably be going through a $60, 44-lb bag of Canidae All Life Stages Dog Food in about 40 to 45 days. Puppies eat much more than adults, though, so expect your food costs to go down once your dog gets older.
The Shar Pei is mostly an indoor pet so investing in a good kennel and travel crate is essential. Both should be roughly the same size and at least 24 inches high; even for puppies.
A dog crate will cost about $30 to $40 while a travel carrier goes for about the same. If you’re planning to fly with your Shar Pei though, be advised that brachycephalic dog breeds (of which, a Shar Pei is one) are banned on most flights due to health concerns.
Speaking of traveling, most airlines require your pet to present a passport and USDA-accredited health certificate, among other requirements.
If your Shar Pei is small enough to be hand-carried into the cabin and you’re intending on going for a flight, you’ll need to pay between $121 and $173 for a health certificate – depending on how many tests are required by the airline.
Airlines only accept certificates within a certain time period. So if you’re going to fly again after an amount of time, expect to pay for another one.
As your Shar Pei gets older, it’ll undoubtedly begin to experience some health issues. Vets recommend twice-yearly checkups which means you’ll spend about $100 for a wellness exam and $120 for a medical exam annually at a clinic like B2B’s in Wisconsin.
Your pet will inevitably need vaccinations, surgery, and other maintenance procedures as the years go by. Here’s an estimate of the costs of such services at the Tulsa Town Veterinary Hospital in Oklahoma:
- DHPP-CV Vaccination – $21
- DHPP-L Vaccination – $21
- Bordetella Intranasal Vaccine – $19
- 1-Year Rabies Shots – $18
- 3-Year Rabies Shots – $54
- Fecal Testing – $18
- Heartworm Testing – $31
- Nail Trims – $14
- Anal Gland Expression – $20
- Blood Panel + Dental Cleaning – $250
- Spay – $155 to $255
- Neuter – $150 to $166
- Anesthesia for Surgeries – $70
Buyer’s Guide
This section is dedicated to helping you assess whether YOU are the right owner for a Shar Pei. Every dog has specific needs and if you don’t meet the requirements, perhaps a different breed of dog is best suited for you.
Read through the checklist and see what a Shar Pei needs from you:
- An owner or guardian that’s home for most of the day
- A yard for playtime; should be completely fenced-in
- No same-sex dogs or other cats in the house
- No young children in the household
- An owner that only takes shorts walks and doesn’t over-exercise
- Plenty of mental exercise, games, and training sessions
- An owner that can afford to buy plenty of protein-heavy dog food and pet insurance
- An owner that has time to bring the pet for socialization
