At the brink of extinction, the dogs were rescued by a Hong Kong businessman name Matgo Law who appealed to American readers in a 1973 edition of Life magazine. Around 200 Shar-Peis were then smuggled into America.
Because a Shar-Pei has such a short nose, it is prone to overheating. Their short noses also make them prone to snoring, wheezing, and being a rather loud running partner.
Overbreeding of the Shar-Pei has led to several diseases, including eye diseases, allergies (especially to soybeans), skin irritations, and hypothyroidism.
