Head Large

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Head Large, slightly but not overly, proudly carried and covered with profuse wrinkles on the forehead continuing into side wrinkles framing the face.
Eyes Dark, small, almond-shaped and sunken, displaying a scowling expression. In the dilute colored dogs the eye color may be lighter.

Ears Extremely small rather thick, equilateral triangles in shape, slightly rounded at the tips, edges of the ear may curl. Ears lie flat against the head, are set high, wide apart and forward on the skull, pointing toward the eyes. The ears have the ability to move. A pricked ear is a disqualification.

Correct ear set can best be assessed when the dog is fully animated. When he is alert, the ears should lie flat against the head. The ears can be quite mobile and be used independently to locate sounds. When gaited, the Shar-Pei may carry his ears away from the skull (toward the sides).

Correct Head, Ears and Set

Skull Flat and broad, the stop moderately defined.

Muzzle One of the distinctive features of the breed. It is broad and full with no suggestion of snipiness. (The length from nose to stop is approximately the same as from stop to occiput.)

Nose Large and wide and darkly pigmented, preferably black but any color conforming to the general coat color of the dog is acceptable. In dilute colors, the preferred nose is self-colored. Darkly pigmented cream Shar-Pei may have some light pigment either in the center of the nose or on the entire nose. The lips and top of muzzle are well-padded and may cause a slight bulge above the nose.

Tongue colors should conform to the general pigmentation of the dog. In dilute-colored dogs, there must be no black pigmentation. A spotted pink tongue is a major fault, and a solid pink tongue is a disqualification. See Coat Colors. Fawns, reds and blacks should have solid black noses. In dilute-colored dogs, the nose is self-colored. Cream colored dogs with black pigment may have a lighter nose.

Tongue, Roof of Mouth, Gums and Flews Solid bluish-black is preferred in all coat colors except in dilute colors, which have a solid lavender pigmentation. A spotted pink tongue is a major fault. A solid pink tongue is a disqualification. (Tongue colors may lighten due to heat stress; care must be taken not to confuse dilute pigmentation with a pink tongue.)

Teeth Strong, meeting in a scissors bite. Deviation from a scissors bite is a major fault.

Incorrect Head, Ears and Set