Ori-Pei

The Ori-Pei is a laid-back pooch who can be quite the trickster with their favorite humans. Also known as the Pugpei, Sharpug or Pug-a-Pei, they will often engage in a friendly match of “catch me if you can” by taking an article of clothing (such as socks or underwear) and making you run after them! They are incredibly playful, affectionate dogs who will follow you wherever you go. If you’re showering in the bathroom, they’ll patiently sit next to the tub. If you’re taking a nap on your bed or couch, they’ll make themselves at home by laying right next to you and match your snores.

These little wrinkles are also known to be great watchdogs, despite being a medium-sized dog. They will alert you to the presence of a stranger with a couple of barks if the doorbell rings or if there’s a knock at your door. But once they walk though the door and have a couple of sniffs, Ori-Pei’s are everyone’s best friend…after the obligatory back and belly rub.

Neither the Pug or the Shar-Pei breed shed much, so the chance of finding little hairballs in your home floating around like tumbleweed is slim to none.

Most designer breeds became all the rage about two decades ago, when breeders began to deliberately breed together two purebred dogs in order to create a new breed of dog. While some designer breed origins are mostly unknown, the Ori-Pei was born back in 1970 by a breeder called Aaron Silver in the United States. He loved the Shar-Pei breed but wanted one that was smaller and also had less of the common Shar-Pei health issues. In order to do that, he bred a Shar-Pei with a Pug and the Ori-Pei was born.

The Ori-Pei is a designer breed produced when a purebred Pug and purebred Chinese Shar-Pei have puppies.

In order to keep their bones and teeth healthy and strong, these dogs should have about 1.5 to 2 cups of dry kibble daily, divided between 2-3 sittings. Be sure to consult your local veterinarian on what brand of dog food is best for your pooch.

These dogs will do well in a home with a fenced yard or in an apartment, as long as daily walks are taken.

Training this bundle to joy shouldn’t be too hard considering Ori-Peis are eager to please and great listeners. Depending on how much they take from their Pug side may make them a little harder to teach tricks to, as Pugs are inherently headstrong and like to dance to the beat of their own drum, so to speak. If you reward good behavior with treats and remember to socialize them early in order for their positive attitude to shine, training them should be a breeze.

The Ori-Pei can weight anywhere between 10 to 30 pounds.

Early socialization should decrease and/or eliminate the tendency to bark at or generally dislike children and other animals. Should your Ori-Pei be well socialized, you’ll find they are excellent cuddlers, love to play with kids and won’t mind being around other smaller animals. You’ll also find they are exceptionally great being the best couch potato you’ve ever laid eyes on as well as be the funniest, most playful furry best friend you’ve ever had. Ori-Peis have a tendency to make funny faces and look at you whenever you speak, as if to question every little thing comes out of your mouth. However, they can be quite easily taught to complete general commands such as sit, stay, roll over and etc.

These dogs are sensitive to extreme heat or cold, so be wary of the temperatures and weather before you take Fido out for a walk or play date. Their happy-go-lucky nature and comical nature is absolutely infectious and once you meet at Ori-Pei, you’ll no doubt fall head over heels in love with them.

Should you exercise the Ori-Pei and keep with their diet, you should experience minimal health issues throughout their lives. However, these dogs are at-risk for several health problems, such as epilepsy, nerve degeneration, cancer, yeast infections, elbow and hip dysplasia, staph, Legg-Perthes, patellar luxation, vaccination sensitivity, Shar-Pei fever and hypothyroidism.

Ori-Peis are expected to live between 10-15 years.

If you dislike going out for walks to the park, then this dog is definitely not for you. Ori-Peis enjoy daily walks around the neighbourhood and the occasional trip to the dog park to really burn off all that energy. These dogs will do well in a home with a fenced yard or in an apartment, so long as apartment-dwellers remember to take them for regular walks.

You’ll find Ori-Pei dogs are exceptionally great being the best couch potato ever, as well as the most playful furry best friend you’ve ever had.

The Ori-Pei is recognized by the American Canine Association, American Pet Registry, American Canine Hybrid Club, Designer Dogs Kennel Club, Dog Registry of America, International Designer Canine Registry as well as the Designer Breed Registry.

A Oei-Pei dog’s coat can come in a variety of colors such as white, grey, black, tan and brown. They can also have a combination of colors, the most common being black and tan. This breed’s coat is not hypoallergenic, but is short, smooth and soft. Neither the Pug or the Shar-Pei breed shed very much, so the chance of finding little hairballs in your home floating around like tumbleweed is slim to none. Unlike breeds that have long fur, Ori-Peis do not need to be brushed often because their coat is so short. However, because Ori-Peis have wrinkles around their face like their Shar-Pei parents, make sure to clean the folds between the wrinkles and always take care to dry that area after bathing.

These puppies are usually energetic, loving and extremely affectionate. Always be sure there is someone supervising when your Ori-Pei puppy is playing with a younger child, as there is always a risk of injury. Depending on how much the Ori-Pei takes from their parents, they should be fully grown when they are 8-12 months old.

Photo credit: Mana Mirjany/Flickr; Cynthia Nicole/Flickr; Ricky Santayana/Flickr