You’ve seen them on TikTok. Those dogs that look less like a canine and more like something you’d win at a carnival. They have these impossibly thick, velvety coats, rounded ears, and enough wrinkles to hide a TV remote. People call them the teddy bear shar pei. But if you go to a Kennel Club show or talk to a purist who’s been breeding Chinese Shar Peis since the 1980s, you’re gonna get a very different reaction than a "heart-eye" emoji.
Here is the thing.
The "teddy bear" isn't actually a separate breed. It is basically a marketing term for a Shar Pei with a "bear coat." While the standard Shar Pei is known for having hair so rough it literally feels like sandpaper—that is what "Shar Pei" translates to in Cantonese, by the way—the bear coat is a genetic fluke. It’s long. It’s soft. And for a long time, it was considered a major "fault."
The Science Behind the Fuzz
So, how do you get a dog that looks like a Muppet? It all comes down to a recessive gene. Specifically, it involves the FGF5 gene, which determines hair length in mammals.
To get a teddy bear shar pei, both parents have to carry this recessive long-hair gene. If only one parent has it, you get the standard horse-coat or brush-coat variety. Because this gene is recessive, these fluffy puppies would occasionally pop up in litters of standard Shar Peis, much to the chagrin of old-school breeders who were trying to preserve the ancient, rugged look of the breed.
Most people don't realize how close this breed came to extinction. Back in the 70s, the Guinness World Records listed the Shar Pei as the rarest dog in the world. When they were brought to America, the focus was on survival. The bear coat was an anomaly. Honestly, many breeders used to just "pet out" these long-haired pups, meaning they sold them without breeding rights because they didn't fit the official breed standard set by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Why the "Teddy Bear" Look is Exploding Now
It is all about the aesthetic. We live in an era where "cute" sells, and the bear coat Shar Pei is undeniably photogenic.
They don't have that prickly, itchy texture that makes some people shy away from traditional Shar Peis. Instead, they have a coat that can grow up to an inch or two long, giving them a silhouette that mimics a Chow Chow or a very grumpy Pomeranian.
But there’s a catch.
Because the bear coat is a "disqualification" in the show ring, the people breeding specifically for this look are often not the ones participating in health testing or temperament trials. You’ve gotta be careful. When a breeder prioritizes a "look" or a "designer" label over the actual biology of the dog, things can get messy.
The Maintenance Reality Check
If you think a standard Shar Pei is high maintenance, the teddy bear variety is a whole different ballgame.
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- The Trapped Heat Issue: Shar Peis already struggle with heat regulation because of their heavy skin folds. Add a thick, 2-inch layer of downy fur on top of that? You’ve basically got a dog wearing a parka in July.
- The "Fold" Funk: Every Shar Pei owner knows about the skin folds. You have to keep them dry. With a teddy bear shar pei, moisture gets trapped in the long hair inside the wrinkles. If you aren't brushing them daily and checking for yeast infections, things start to smell like old corn chips real fast.
- Grooming Costs: You aren't just giving this dog a bath in the tub. They need professional grooming to keep that coat from matting into a solid felt armor.
The Health Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about Shar Pei Fever (SPAID). It's a real, scary thing.
This is a hereditary autoinflammatory disease. The dog will suddenly get a high fever, sometimes up to 107 degrees, and their hocks (ankles) will swell up. It is painful. It is expensive to manage. And unfortunately, the genes that cause those adorable wrinkles—the ones people love in the teddy bear shar pei—are linked to the overproduction of hyaluronan, which is a major factor in SPAID.
Research from the University of California, Davis, has shown that the more "meat-mouthed" and wrinkled a Shar Pei is, the higher the risk for certain inflammatory issues.
Then there are the eyes. Entropion is a condition where the eyelid rolls inward, and the eyelashes rub against the eyeball. It’s as painful as it sounds. Because the teddy bear variety often has extra-heavy "padding" around the face to achieve that bear-like look, they are frequently candidates for "tacking" or surgery to prevent them from going blind.
Finding a Reputable Source (Or Better Yet, a Rescue)
If you are dead set on this specific look, don't just click the first "puppies for sale" ad on Instagram.
Most "designer" breeders will charge a premium for the teddy bear coat, sometimes twice what a standard puppy costs. This is a red flag. A responsible breeder sees the bear coat as a happy accident, not a cash cow.
Ask for the following:
- OFIA clearances: Specifically for hips, elbows, and thyroid.
- DNA testing for SPAID: Do they know the status of the parents?
- Eyes: Have the parents had their eyes certified by a veterinary ophthalmologist?
Actually, a lot of bear-coated dogs end up in rescues like the North American Shar Pei Rescue (NASPR) because owners realize they can't handle the grooming or the medical bills. Adopting an adult gives you a much better idea of their temperament and whether their skin issues are manageable.
Temperament: Not Exactly a Cuddle Bug
Don't let the name fool you. A teddy bear shar pei is still a Shar Pei.
They are naturally stoic, independent, and incredibly protective. They aren't "Golden Retriever Lite." They don't typically want to be hugged by strangers at the park. In fact, they can be quite suspicious.
They were originally farm dogs in China—guarding, hunting, and occasionally fighting. That DNA doesn't go away just because the hair got fluffier. They need a job. They need a firm, consistent leader who understands that "socialization" doesn't mean "everyone touches my dog," but rather "my dog can remain calm in different environments."
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Actionable Next Steps for Potential Owners
If you're seriously considering bringing one of these wrinkly bears home, you need a plan that goes beyond buying a cute leash.
- Budget for the "Shar Pei Tax": Set aside at least $2,000 in an emergency fund specifically for potential skin or eye surgeries. This breed is not cheap to maintain.
- Invest in a High-Velocity Dryer: If you wash a teddy bear shar pei at home, you cannot let them "air dry." The moisture trapped in the coat and folds will lead to fungal infections. You need to blow-dry them completely, every single time.
- Find a Breed-Savvy Vet: Most vets see a Shar Pei and immediately recommend surgery for something. Find a vet who understands the difference between a "normal" Shar Pei wrinkle and a problematic one.
- Focus on High-Quality Nutrition: Skin issues are often exacerbated by grain-heavy, low-quality kibble. Many owners find success with limited-ingredient diets or raw feeding to keep inflammation down.
- Socialize Early and Often: Work with a trainer who uses positive reinforcement. Shar Peis do not respond well to heavy-handed "alpha" training; they will simply shut down or become defensive.
The teddy bear shar pei is a stunning, unique animal, but it’s a commitment that requires more than just an appreciation for a cute face. It’s about managing a complex, ancient biology that just happens to be wrapped in a very soft, very demanding package.