30-45 lbs
15-18"
Unknown
The Sharp Eagle is a type of designer dog, the deliberate hybrid
between the Chinese Shar-Pei, a loose-skinned hunter and farm guardian from
China, and the Beagle, an intensely driven hound dog originally developed to track
rabbits and other small game. This results in a powerful and bright animal with
an independent nature and a strong prey drive, and while their temperament
makes them less prone to certain behavioral issues like separation anxiety, it
can make training more challenging. These medium-sized dogs with short coats can
easily adjust to apartment life and require only moderate daily exercise and
minimal grooming requirements.
The Sharp Eagle is an intentional hybrid known as a designer dog, in this case, a combination of the Chinese Shar-Pei, a farm dog turned fighting dog from China, and the Beagle, a rabbit tracking hound developed in England. Records indicate that the Shar-Pei was originally employed by farmers around 2000 years ago in Southern China, where they assisted with hunting wild boar and guarding the property and livestock on the farm. In order to provide suitable protection, the Shar-Pei was developed with a great deal of aggression and with loose wrinkled skin that made it difficult for adversaries to grasp.
The traits that made this canine a formidable farm guardian also caught the eye of people who made the blood sport of dog fighting their vocation and these canines were frequently seen in the fighting arena until dogs like Bull Terriers, Mastiffs, and Bulldogs were imported to China and became more popular than the Shar-Pei. This decline in popularity combined with periods of famine, fears of biological warfare and negative governmental policies towards dogs in China nearly caused the extinction of the Chinese Shar-Pei, along with several other breeds. An article in the May 1971 edition of DOGS magazine highlighted a Shar-Pei that it listed as “possibly the last surviving specimen of the breed” which spurred the few Shar-Pei owners and fanciers in Hong Kong to enact a rescue mission for the breed in 1973, involving careful breeding and the exportation of as many well-bred dogs as possible to the United States.
Written records of the Beagle date as far back as the 1400s, during which time they were a much more variable dog than the Beagle we know today and bred in a number of different sizes, including a tiny pocket-sized Beagle that grew no taller than eight inches. The breed finally stabilized when the breed standards were set in the late 1800s, around the same time that the National Beagle Club in America and the Beagle Club of England were being formed. The Beagle was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1855 in the Hound class, and while it barely makes the top 20 dogs registered with the United Kennel Club in England, it is the 5th most popular breed in the United States and has retained that position for several years.
This is a small to medium-sized crossbreed, typically no taller than a foot and a half at the shoulder with a sturdy build and a somewhat wider stance than average. The Sharp Eagle may inherit either the slightly shortened skull structure of the Shar-Pei or the longer than average skull structure of the Beagle, or anything in between, and has a broad, square-cut muzzle. Those dogs that favor the Chinese Shar-Pei will typically have broader muzzles than those who favor the Beagle, as well as looser skin and more wrinkling. The small almond shaped eyes of the Shar-Pei and the large round eyes of the Beagle frequently seem to result in larger almond-shaped eyes, although heavy wrinkling may partially obscure the eyes of dogs that lean heavily towards the Shar-Pei heritage, and while a few may have the very short ears of the Shar-Pei or the longer drop ears of the Beagle, most have high set, medium length triangular ears that fold forward to frame the face.
No matter whether your Sharp Eagle inherits the bristly single-layer coat of the Chinese Shar-Pei or the short, soft, double-layer coat of the Beagle, grooming should be a much easier chore when dealing with this hybrid than with other dogs. Neither parent breed requires frequent bathing under regular circumstances, although those that inherit the Beagle’s curiosity may lead them to need washing a little more often due to their fondness for getting into dirt and mud. It is important to note that wrinkled skin should get extra attention after a bath to ensure no dirt, soap, or water are trapped as moisture and debris can lead to the development of mildew, mold, and even infections. While the double coat of the Beagle sheds more abundantly than the single layer coat of the Shar-Pei, weekly brushing with a slicker brush or grooming glove is adequate to keep the shedding under control and the coat shiny and healthy.
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This crossbreed is the product of two very different dogs when it comes to temperament and there is likely to be a great deal of diversity between individuals, even within the same litter. Ideally, the friendly, outgoing nature of the Beagle will offset the aloof and sometimes aggressive nature of the Chinese Shar-Pei while the Shar-Pei’s love of home will counteract the Beagle’s need to roam, but this isn’t always the case. While the Beagle is generally friendly with other dogs, the Chinese Shar-Pei can develop dominant and territorial attitudes, which it may pass down to the Sharp Eagle. Extensive positive socialization at an early age and consistent and persistent training will help to ensure that your Sharp Eagle’s independent attitude is properly directed. Housetraining may be another issue entirely, the Shar-Pei is notoriously easy to housetrain, sometimes even training themselves, while the Beagle is notoriously difficult to housetrain. One trait that both parent breeds share is a high prey drive and this crossbreed should remain in a fenced yard under constant supervision or securely leashed at all times when they are outdoors to prevent them from running off after something that they see as prey.
The Sharp Eagle is a fairly athletic animal, but due to the homebody disposition that most Shar-Pei dogs exhibit, they don’t require a great deal of exercise for dogs their size, and are usually content with around an hours worth of moderate to vigorous activity per day. Along with brisk walks and games of fetch, these dogs can engage in activities such as scent work and tracking exercises, flyball, and coursing ability trials to engage their bodies and their senses. While this hybrid might prefer a larger house with a yard, they can typically adjust easily to apartment living with just a little extra exercise each day.
Written by a Irish Setter lover Penny Sebring
Published: 12/08/2017, edited: 01/03/2022
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