Are Chinese Shar-Peis Good Dogs? What Science Says

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022

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Introduction to the Temperament of the Chinese Shar-Pei

The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Chinese Shar-Pei out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.

In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Chinese Shar-Pei based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Chinese Shar-Pei breed.

We obtained our description of the temperament of Chinese Shar-Pei by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.

The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.

Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Chinese Shar-Pei.

The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.

The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.

The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:

  1. Aggression towards stranger
  2. Aggression towards its owner
  3. Aggression towards other dogs
  4. How well they get along with other dogs
  5. Fear of strangers
  6. Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
  7. Fear of other dogs
  8. Separation anxiety
  9. Clinginess
  10. Trainability/ Stubbornness
  11. Prey drive
  12. Excitability
  13. Touch sensitivity
  14. Energy level

In this article, we will discuss the score of the Chinese Shar-Pei for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Chinese Shar-Pei.

The summary table below shows the score of the Chinese Shar-Pei for the different behavioral characteristics.

High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.

Behavior Score
Stranger Directed Aggression 68.5 percent
Dog Directed Aggression 61.7 percent
Touch Sensitivity 61.7 percent
Attachment Attention Seeking 61.5 percent
Dog Rivalry 59.9 percent
Prey Drive 58.3 percent
Stranger Directed Fear 51.5 percent
Energy Level 48.3 percent
Excitability 44.2 percent
Stubbornness 38.1 percent
Owner Directed Aggression 32.3 percent
Dog Directed Fear 31.6 percent
Separation Related Behavior 31.4 percent
Nonsocial Fear 21.4 percent

Note that with proper training, you can better your Chinese Shar-Pei`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Chinese Shar-Pei, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Chinese Shar-Pei.

See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.

Are Chinese Shar-Peis Aggressive Towards Strangers?

Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.

Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.

Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.

Chinese Shar-Peis are very much aggressive towards strangers.

This is because the Chinese Shar-Pei ranks very high for aggression towards strangers.

The Chinese Shar-Pei ranks number 9 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.

This information is based on what 28 Chinese Shar-Pei owners reported on the temperament of their Chinese Shar-Pei in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chinese Shar-Pei has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 68.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much aggressive towards strangers just like the Chinese Shar-Pei are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score
6 Australian Silky Terrier 74.1 %
7 Belgian Malinois 72.5 %
8 Pekingese 71.3 %
9 Chinese Shar-Pei 68.5 %
10 Chihuahua 67.8 %
11 Parson Russell Terrier 64.3 %
12 Anatolian Shepherd 63.4 %

The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Dachshund
  3. Miniature Pinscher
  4. Dachshund (Miniature)
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. Siberian Husky
  2. Greyhound
  3. Irish Wolfhound
  4. Samoyed
  5. Black and Tan Coonhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most stranger-aggressive breed to the least stranger-aggressive breed.

Temperament of the Chinese Shar-Pei

Are Chinese Shar-Peis Aggressive Towards their Owners?

Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.

Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.

A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.

Chinese Shar-Peis are quite a bit aggressive towards their owners.

This is because the Chinese Shar-Pei ranks high for aggression towards its owner.

The Chinese Shar-Pei ranks number 25 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.

This information is based on what 28 Chinese Shar-Pei owners reported on the temperament of their Chinese Shar-Pei in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chinese Shar-Pei has an owner-directed-aggression score of 32.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit owner-aggressive just like the Chinese Shar-Pei are listed in the table below

Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Owner-Directed-Aggression Score
22 Pomeranian 33.6 %
23 Jack Russell Terrier 32.5 %
24 Shih Tzu 32.4 %
25 Chinese Shar-Pei 32.3 %
26 English Bulldog 31.9 %
27 Yorkshire Terrier 30.3 %
28 Old English Sheepdog 30.2 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:

  1. Pekingese
  2. Basenji
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Lhasa Apso
  5. Alaskan Husky

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Pointer
  3. Irish Water Spaniel
  4. Rhodesian Ridgeback
  5. Italian Greyhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to their owners to the ones that are least aggressive to their owners.

Are Chinese Shar-Peis Aggressive Towards other Dogs?

Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.

A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs

A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.

Chinese Shar-Peis are quite a bit aggressive towards other dogs.

This is because the Chinese Shar-Pei ranks high for aggression towards other dogs.

The Chinese Shar-Pei ranks number 34 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.

This information is based on what 28 Chinese Shar-Pei owners reported on the temperament of their Chinese Shar-Pei in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chinese Shar-Pei has a dog-directed aggression score of 61.7 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit dog-aggressive just like the Chinese Shar-Pei are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Aggression Score
31 Saint Bernard 63.0 %
32 Staffordshire Bull Terrier 62.6 %
33 Tibetan Terrier 62.3 %
34 Chinese Shar-Pei 61.7 %
35 English Bulldog 60.5 %
36 Dachshund (Miniature) 60.1 %
37 Lhasa Apso 59.6 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Pit Bull mix
  5. Dachshund

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:

  1. Pointer
  2. Black and Tan Coonhound
  3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  4. Irish Wolfhound
  5. Keeshond

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to other dogs to the ones that are least aggressive to other dogs.

Personality of the Chinese Shar-Pei

Are Chinese Shar-Peis Afraid of Strangers?

Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.

Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.

Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.

Chinese Shar-Peis are very much fearful of strangers.

This is because the Chinese Shar-Pei ranks very high for fear of strangers.

The Chinese Shar-Pei ranks number 17 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.

This information is based on what 28 Chinese Shar-Pei owners reported on the temperament of their Chinese Shar-Pei in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chinese Shar-Pei has a stranger-directed-fear score of 51.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much stranger-fearful just like the Chinese Shar-Pei are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Fear Score
14 Fox Terrier (Toy) 55.1 %
15 Chow Chow 53.6 %
16 Lhasa Apso 51.6 %
17 Chinese Shar-Pei 51.5 %
18 Yorkshire Terrier 48.4 %
19 Maltese 47.9 %
20 Ibizan Hound 46.7 %

The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Chinese Crested
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:

  1. Old English Sheepdog
  2. Irish Wolfhound
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Siberian Husky
  5. Giant Schnauzer

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of strangers to the ones that are least fearful to strangers.

Are Chinese Shar-Peis Afraid of Other Dogs?

Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.

A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.

Chinese Shar-Peis are a little bit fearful of other dogs.

This is because the Chinese Shar-Pei ranks low for fear of other dogs.

The Chinese Shar-Pei ranks number 74 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.

This information is based on what 28 Chinese Shar-Pei owners reported on the temperament of their Chinese Shar-Pei in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chinese Shar-Pei has a dog-directed-fear score of 31.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit other-dog-fearful just like the Chinese Shar-Pei are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Fear Score
71 Standard Schnauzer 32.6 %
72 Poodle (Standard) 32.0 %
73 Norwegian Elkhound 31.8 %
74 Chinese Shar-Pei 31.6 %
75 Keeshond 31.4 %
76 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 30.4 %
77 Brittany 29.9 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Chihuahua
  5. Lhasa Apso

The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Ibizan Hound
  3. Eurasier
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of other dogs to the ones that are least fearful of other dogs.

Is the Chinese Shar-Pei a good pet

Do Chinese Shar-Peis Have Non-Social Fears?

Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.

Chinese Shar-Peis are a little bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.

This is because the Chinese Shar-Pei ranks low for non-social fear.

The Chinese Shar-Pei ranks number 83 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.

This information is based on what 28 Chinese Shar-Pei owners reported on the temperament of their Chinese Shar-Pei in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chinese Shar-Pei has a nonsocial-fear score of 21.4 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit nonsocial-fearful just like the Chinese Shar-Pei are listed in the table below

Nonsocial-Fear Rank Breed Nonsocial-Fear Score
80 German Shepherd 22.3 %
81 Border Terrier 21.6 %
82 Black and Tan Coonhound 21.5 %
83 Chinese Shar-Pei 21.4 %
84 Australian Cattle Dog 21.2 %
85 Poodle (Standard) 21.0 %
86 French Bulldog 20.9 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Dingo
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. English Bulldog
  5. Italian Greyhound

The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Siberian Husky
  3. Irish Setter
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations to the ones least fearful of unfamiliar situations.

Do Chinese Shar-Peis Get Along Well With Other Dogs?

Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.

These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.

Chinese Shar-Peis are very much competitive when dealing with other dogs.

This is because the Chinese Shar-Pei ranks very high on dog rivalry.

The Chinese Shar-Pei ranks number 21 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.

This information is based on what 28 Chinese Shar-Pei owners reported on the temperament of their Chinese Shar-Pei in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chinese Shar-Pei has a dog-rivalry score of 59.9 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much competition-driven just like the Chinese Shar-Pei are listed in the table below

Dog-Rivalry Rank Breed Dog-Rivalry Score
18 Jack Russell Terrier 61.7 %
19 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 61.3 %
20 Shiba Inu 60.5 %
21 Chinese Shar-Pei 59.9 %
22 Pit Bull mix 59.7 %
23 Alaskan Husky 58.6 %
24 Cairn Terrier 58.4 %

The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Miniature Pinscher
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. French Bulldog
  5. Treeing Walker Coonhound

The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Saint Bernard
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Scottish Terrier

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.

The Chinese Shar-Pei. Is it aggressive?

Are Chinese Shar-Peis Easy to Train?

Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.

Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.

Chinese Shar-Peis are somewhat easy to train.

This is because the Chinese Shar-Pei ranks average for trainability.

The Chinese Shar-Pei ranks number 72 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.

This information is based on what 28 Chinese Shar-Pei owners reported on the trainability of their Chinese Shar-Pei in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chinese Shar-Pei has a trainability score of 61.9 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat easy to train just like the Chinese Shar-Pei are listed in the table below

Trainability Rank Breed Trainability Score
69 Akita 62.5 %
70 Kuvasz 62.4 %
71 Boston Terrier 62.1 %
72 Chinese Shar-Pei 61.9 %
73 English Setter 61.3 %
74 Jack Russell Terrier 60.9 %
75 Alaskan Malamute 60.6 %

The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:

  1. Belgian Tervuren
  2. Belgian Malinois
  3. Border Collie
  4. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
  5. Irish Water Spaniel

The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:

  1. Dingo
  2. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  3. Basenji
  4. Afghan Hound
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are easiest to train to the ones that are most difficult to train.

Learn more about how intelligent the Chinese Shar-Pei is and how the intelligence of the Chinese Shar-Pei affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Chinese Shar-Pei is.

Do Chinese Shar-Peis Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?

Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.

Chinese Shar-Peis are quite a bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.

This is because the Chinese Shar-Pei ranks high for small-pet-chasing.

The Chinese Shar-Pei ranks number 42 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.

This information is based on what 28 Chinese Shar-Pei owners reported on the temperament of their Chinese Shar-Pei in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chinese Shar-Pei has a chasing score of 58.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the Chinese Shar-Pei are listed in the table below

Chasing Rank Breed Chasing Score
39 Australian Silky Terrier 61.5 %
40 Gordon Setter 59.6 %
41 Bullmastiff 58.3 %
42 Chinese Shar-Pei 58.3 %
43 Bouvier des Flandres 58.1 %
44 Dachshund 57.5 %
45 English Springer Spaniel 56.7 %

The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Basenji
  2. Dingo
  3. Ibizan Hound
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Borzoi

The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Pug
  2. Bulldog
  3. Shih Tzu
  4. Bernese Mountain Dog
  5. Great Pyrenees

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.

Things to know before getting the Chinese Shar-Pei

Do Chinese Shar-Peis Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?

Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.

These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.

Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.

Chinese Shar-Peis are quite a bit attachment/attention-seeking.

This is because the Chinese Shar-Pei ranks high for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

The Chinese Shar-Pei ranks number 45 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

This information is based on what 28 Chinese Shar-Pei owners reported on the temperament of their Chinese Shar-Pei in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chinese Shar-Pei has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 61.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit attachment/attention-seeking just like the Chinese Shar-Pei are listed in the table below

Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank Breed Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score
42 Rottweiler 61.8 %
43 Cocker Spaniel (American) 61.6 %
44 Havanese 61.6 %
45 Chinese Shar-Pei 61.5 %
46 Mastiff (English) 60.9 %
47 West Highland White Terrier 60.6 %
48 Weimaraner 60.1 %

The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:

  1. Poodle (Toy)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Australian Cattle Dog
  5. American Eskimo Dog

The dog breeds that are aloof are the:

  1. Norwegian Elkhound
  2. Borzoi
  3. Kuvasz
  4. English Setter
  5. Chow Chow

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.

Do Chinese Shar-Peis have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?

Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.

These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.

They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.

Chinese Shar-Peis are a little bit prone to developing separation anxiety.

This is because the Chinese Shar-Pei ranks low for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.

The Chinese Shar-Pei ranks number 77 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.

This information is based on what 28 Chinese Shar-Pei owners reported on the temperament of their Chinese Shar-Pei in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chinese Shar-Pei has a separation anxiety score of 31.4 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Chinese Shar-Pei are listed in the table below

Separation-Related-Behavior Rank Breed Separation-Related-Behavior Score
74 Alaskan Malamute 31.8 %
75 Belgian Sheepdog 31.5 %
76 Australian Cattle Dog 31.4 %
77 Chinese Shar-Pei 31.4 %
78 Vizsla 31.3 %
79 German Shepherd 30.7 %
80 Anatolian Shepherd 30.5 %

The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:

  1. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Miniature Pinscher
  5. Australian Silky Terrier

The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Giant Schnauzer
  4. Eurasier
  5. Bernese Mountain Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.

Temperament Profile of the Chinese Shar-Pei

Are Chinese Shar-Peis Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?

Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.

These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.

Chinese Shar-Peis are very much touch-sensitive.

This is because the Chinese Shar-Pei ranks very high for touch sensitivity.

The Chinese Shar-Pei ranks number 7 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.

This information is based on what 28 Chinese Shar-Pei owners reported on the temperament of their Chinese Shar-Pei in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chinese Shar-Pei has a touch-sensitivity score of 61.7 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much touch-sensitive just like the Chinese Shar-Pei are listed in the table below

Touch-Sensitivity Rank Breed Touch-Sensitivity Score
4 Australian Silky Terrier 75.6 %
5 Chihuahua 67.5 %
6 Fox Terrier (Smooth) 64.8 %
7 Chinese Shar-Pei 61.7 %
8 Shiba Inu 56.1 %
9 Pit Bull mix 53.3 %
10 Maltese 50.2 %

The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  2. Miniature Pinscher
  3. Pekingese
  4. Australian Silky Terrier
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Pointer
  4. Gordon Setter
  5. Portuguese Water Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.

Are Chinese Shar-Peis Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?

Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:

  • going for walks
  • car trips
  • sound of the doorbell
  • arrival of visitors, and
  • the owner arriving home

Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.

Chinese Shar-Peis are somewhat hyper (excitable).

This is because the Chinese Shar-Pei ranks average for excitability.

The Chinese Shar-Pei ranks number 67 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.

This information is based on what 28 Chinese Shar-Pei owners reported on the temperament of their Chinese Shar-Pei in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chinese Shar-Pei has an excitability score of 44.2 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat excitable just like the Chinese Shar-Pei are listed in the table below

Excitability Rank Breed Excitability Score
64 Irish Water Spaniel 44.4 %
65 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 44.4 %
66 Papillon 44.4 %
67 Chinese Shar-Pei 44.2 %
68 Basset Hound 43.8 %
69 Doberman Pinscher 43.8 %
70 Cocker Spaniel (American) 43.4 %

The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Borzoi
  2. Samoyed
  3. Great Pyrenees
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Anatolian Shepherd

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.

The Chinese Shar-Pei

Are Chinese Shar-Peis Playful? What is the Energy Level of Chinese Shar-Peis

Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.

Chinese Shar-Peis are a little bit energetic.

This is because the Chinese Shar-Pei ranks low for energy level.

The Chinese Shar-Pei ranks number 82 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.

This information is based on what 28 Chinese Shar-Pei owners reported on the temperament of their Chinese Shar-Pei in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Chinese Shar-Pei has an energy-level score of 48.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit energetic just like the Chinese Shar-Pei are listed in the table below

Energy-Level Rank Breed Energy-Level Score
79 Golden Retriever 51.5 %
80 Samoyed 51.0 %
81 Chihuahua 50.3 %
82 Chinese Shar-Pei 48.3 %
83 Shih Tzu 48.3 %
84 Chinese Crested 48.1 %
85 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 47.6 %

The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:

  1. Belgian Malinois
  2. Belgian Tervuren
  3. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  4. German Shorthaired Pointer
  5. Ibizan Hound

The dog breeds that are laziest are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Anatolian Shepherd
  3. Greyhound
  4. Great Pyrenees
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.

Conclusion on Chinese Shar-Pei Temperament

The temperament of your Chinese Shar-Pei comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Chinese Shar-Pei is exposed to.

You cannot change your Chinese Shar-Pei`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Chinese Shar-Pei to.

Exposing your Chinese Shar-Pei to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Chinese Shar-Pei to what you desire.

Again, with proper training, you can better your Chinese Shar-Pei`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Chinese Shar-Pei.

If you think the Chinese Shar-Pei is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Chinese Shar-Peis cost and Chinese Shar-Pei puppy buying guide.

Also, see our list of reputable Chinese Shar-Pei breeders in the United States and the prices of their Chinese Shar-Pei puppies.