Wrinkly, puffy, bristly and undeniably unique, the Chinese Shar-Pei is probably the most unusual looking dog you will ever see. These dogs were bred for centuries by the Chinese to serve as guard dogs and hunters. Unfortunately, they were also bred for dogfighting. This explains the harsh bristly coat and extra-thick skin, which were somewhat resistant to bites and scratches. Sadly, because of the breed’s history, the Shar-Pei may have a tendency to become aggressive around other animals and sometimes even people.

It’s too bad that Shar-Peis can have a pretty bad rap. Those bristly hairs make many of us break out in an itchy rash, and their independent and sometimes headstrong attitudes require plenty of human patience. However, the Shar-Pei can make a wonderful …