The Heeler Pei is a hybrid dog and while it doesn't have an extensive history of its own , we can look to the parent dogs for the most likely characteristics. The Australian Cattle dog originated in the 19th Century from a need for a sturdy, independent dog that could handle the extreme conditions and vast distances of the Australian outback. They were (and still are) valuable to the cattle ranches and helped by quietly but firmly herding the wild cattle with nips and bites especially to the leg area - which is where the 'heeler' label originated. The original settler dogs that arrived in Australia could not cope with this new land so they were bred with the native Dingo to breed a tougher more aggressive dog. While there were many variations on the breed, it evolved into the Cattle dog we know today. The blue coloured dogs of the breed became very popular with ranch owners and drovers, and gained the name of Blue Heelers. The American Kennel Club accepted the Australian Cattle Dog in 1980. The Shar-Pei comes from southern China and is an ancient breed dating back as far as the Han Dynasty 200 B.C. The early Shar-Pei was a working dog, helping out on the farm, guarding livestock, hunting game and herding flocks. Held in high esteem, they were thought to protect against evil spirits with their wrinkly skin and unique purplish tongue. These dogs were also used in dog fights where their loose skin made it difficult for other dogs to latch onto them. A turn in fortune in the early 20th Century after the Communist takeover saw many eliminated, due to the fact that they represented the decadent past. By the 1950s they were all but extinct, but in 1973 a Hong Kong breeder appealed to Western dog enthusiasts to save the breed and Americans fully embrace the wrinkled dog and it was fully recognised in 1992 by the American Kennel Club.
