Why did I become a breeder? A personal story

Every start is a beginning 

While living in China I had seen different Shar Pei, some with more wrinkles and some with less wrinkles and I had heard stories about the breed, from old farmers in the Yunnan countryside. I learned that a lot of what I thought I knew, was just isolated pieces of a much larger and complex puzzle.

I loved my little "meatmouth" Shar Pei, whom I bought as a puppy at around four weeks old at a dog market in Kunming, Southeast China. At that time, I thought it was a good breeding goal to breed Shar Pei that seemed healthy—free from the typical breed-specific diseases and meeting the European ideal for the breed. Today, I have to smile at my naivety. But every beginning is indeed a start, and every step along the way is important because it leads to the next.

A look into China

During the many years I lived in China, and later in Europe, I saw countless Shar Pei. However, most of the time, I couldn’t say much more than “I like it” or “I don’t like it.” I also saw photos of so-called “traditional” dogs from Hong Kong, which, with few exceptions, didn’t appeal to me visually—something just didn’t feel right to me about them.

Through a Chinese friend, I connected with Shar Pei breeders in China via the messaging app WeChat. At that time, these were only loose contacts with whom I occasionally discussed various questions. I had many questions because I wanted to learn more about this unique breed.

My first real point of contact, however, had been a few years earlier with Matgo Law in Hong Kong, whom I had contacted back then. He patiently answered my many questions via email and provided me with a solid foundation of knowledge about the breed, for which I am still very grateful.

In 2017, Matgo Law visited us for a week in Switzerland. Through our many in-depth conversations, I felt for the first time that I truly understood the breed, its origins, and the many misunderstandings that had developed over the last 50 years. Matgo Law was also one of the first people to encourage me not only to pursue my breeding ideas further but also to research the breed in China, as he never had the opportunity to do so himself. His advice remains an essential part of my breeding goals and vision for the original Shar Pei.

The Path of Learning

Gradually, I began to build my knowledge more systematically and seriously. I knew I needed to understand more about the Shar Pei, so I turned my attention to China, as much of what we knew in Europe seemed to be incomplete. My motivation was a conversation with Matgo Law about the Shar Pei in Yunnan. I shared stories I had heard from old farmers and about the dogs I had seen. He told me about the first dog show in Kunming, where he served as a judge, and how the local organizers denied the existence of Shar Peis in Yunnan. I promised him I would find out more about the Shar Pei in southern China, as it was clear that we were missing a lot of information.

A Period of Intensive Learning

I then began establishing closer contact with Shar Pei breeders across China, from Guangdong to Yunnan. Additionally, I learned about other local dog breeds that seemed to influence the various Shar Pei populations in southern China. I also spoke with Indian breeders of rare breeds, one of which, according to ancient records, descended from the Shar Pei that had traveled to northern India centuries ago via trade routes.

I began reading studies on the evolution of dogs and devoured every Chinese study I could find on local breeds, their distribution, and their history. To understand these studies, I had to acquire a solid foundation in genetics, which proved invaluable for me as a breeder. The more I read, the clearer it became that I needed to approach this project scientifically. I began asking Chinese breeders more detailed and focused questions about various aspects of the breed—not only in terms of history and culture but also regarding health, longevity, and the, as I thought at the time, essential breed standard.

Collecting, comparing, analyzing, and assembling all this information into a larger picture has been, and continues to be, very time-consuming. Yet this work brings me great joy, as the picture of the breed keeps evolving and new insights continually emerge.

One of the most fascinating aspects, from the very beginning, was the different appearance of the breed in China and Europe, as well as the very different health conditions of the dogs. Therefore, it was equally important for me to delve deeply into the breed in Europe.

Reflection & Insight

In 2018, I began rethinking my original breeding ideas and realized that my vision had changed due to everything I had learned up until that point. Initially, I had wanted to increase the genetic diversity in Europe by importing a Shar Pei from China. Now, however, I was pursuing a different idea.

The passion and emotional connection shown to me by the older Chinese breeders touched and motivated me. Their dedication to preserving the Shar Pei as cultural heritage gradually replaced my initial motivation. In January 2019, I finally brought my female Shar Pei, Diting, from China to Switzerland. During this time, I decided to register my kennel with the China Kennel Union (CKU), as I still believed that breeding within the “official FCI world” was the right path.

Looking back over the past years, I have learned an important lesson: never to get stuck in fixed thinking and to always be open to incorporating new knowledge to reflect on and adjust one’s breeding vision.

Outlook

I have pieced together many parts of the puzzle, but there are still some missing pieces that will surely be filled in with time—whether through genetic studies or future field research in China. The most valuable things I have gained over the years are not only knowledge and insights but also the friendships with people worldwide who share my passion for the Shar Pei.

When I picked up Diting in 2019, I knew that I needed to find a suitable male. Eventually, I found him, thanks to the generosity of his breeder, Huang Zhu Hua, who has become not only a friend but also my most important mentor.

Addendum

In the fall of 2024, several years after I originally wrote this article, there have been far-reaching and sustainable animal welfare changes across many more EU countries within Europe. These changes, of course, also affect the Shar Pei. As a long-time Shar Pei lover and admirer, I welcome these developments with great optimism, as I have not given up hope for a healthy future for my beloved breed.

I am convinced that we humans still have much to learn and, above all, need to develop a new awareness. We must fundamentally change our way of thinking about dogs as living beings, as they deserve a life free from pain and suffering—a condition we humans all too often accept as “normal” for them.

Why did I become a breeder?

Everyone will probably answer this question differently.

For me, after a learning journey that has now spanned several years, I am certain why I want to continue pursuing my breeding plans. I want to preserve the passion and connection to the Shar Pei that I discovered and experienced through my Chinese friends.

I hope to inspire others as much as I was inspired, because the Shar Pei is more than just a dog—it is a piece of Chinese culture!