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An old house with tile roof in Guangdong China. Roof tile is used to describe the muzzle of a bone mouth Shar-Pei
Muzzle of bone mouth vs. meat mouth
Form of the muzzle. This is indeed one of the main feature that differentiate between a meat mouth and a bone mouth Shar-Pei. For meat mouth, due to thick padding and flews, the bone structure of the jaws became secondary and rendered further differentiation of the muzzle unimportant.
However, for traditional Shar-pei or more commonly referred to locally as "bone mouth", the form of bones is an important issue of discussion and preference. Furthermore, the preference is purely a personal issue of the breeder depending on the background of the breeder. To understand these differences, one must first understand how the various features of traditional Shar-pei were being determined based on different evolutionary, environmental, functional, breeding, human, and cultural consideration.
Muzzle of traditional Shar-pei can be judged in three perspectives:
1. Does it looks like a roof tile? or toad mouth?
2. Any padding on top of the muzzle?
3. Flews substance
Discussion on roof tile and toad mouth
According to "bone mouth" breeders in Hong Kong and China, the muzzle of traditional Shar-Pei can be generalized into two type: a hunter "Beagle or Harrier" type muzzle which they named it as "roof tile mouth", and a gladiator "Pit Bull" type muzzle which they named it as "toad mouth".
A typical Chinese clay roof tile has a longitudinal curved surface. It has a hard and smooth surface, mildly curved in such a way that it can run water off easily .
A toad mouth (depending on the translation also known as frog mouth) can be imagined as a shorter version of the roof tile muzzle, a roof tile has more or less parallel sides whereas a toad mouth (or frog mouth) is, as the name implies, a little triangular in shape.
That is, if you would pick a typical Roman, you can pick one of the spectators who could be an ordinary Roman citizen or a farmer, or one of the gladiators in the ring. A roof tile photo is also shown in the Sharpei Club Hong Kong website, section on Shar-Pei breed standard.
Meat padding on top of the muzzle
Any meat padding on top of the muzzle is not a good traditional specimen. As the name "roof tile" implies, we should see a clear smooth curved surface on top of the muzzle like any other normal dogs, a clean surface at least at around 10:30 to 1:30 radius (position of short hand on the surface of a clock). So when we talk about meat padding, we should be restricted to only referring to the flews of muzzle.
" Over padding of the lips is not acceptable".
For historical reason, it is quite common to see Shar-pei in the Western world with padding above the nose. The padding (on top of the muzzle) is definitely a modern type trait and therefore should be as little as possible. The "tweener" is common to have this muzzle top bulging. This bulge on top of the muzzle is a designated feature in the present various breed standards, but this is not a bone mouth Shar-Pei feature. In short, a "bone mouth" simply means a mouth of "bone". As the "bone mouth" breeders here always says, if there is any bulging, this must be constructed with bone and not meat.
If you look at the structure of a "bone mouth" muzzle, the Mandible(3), the Maxilla (4), and the Orbit(6) should substantiate a "bone mouth" look.
Flews
Normal to slightly thick flews is desirable. So, as the name say for itself, a bone mouth should be a muzzle of bone and no thick meat covers. Bone mouth at times because of its boniness can look less blunt. Although a spitz like face is not what we are looking for, too blunt a look is also not our preferred image. "A blunt spitz with a slightly thick flews" may be are the best words to describe the muzzle of a traditional Shar-Pei.
Classification by muzzle
Today in the Western world, it seems like it is more difficult to determine whether a dog is a bone mouth or meat mouth by just judging from its muzzle feature alone because:
- Some dogs might have distinct facial features of a bone mouth but the body features represent the modern type.
- Some dogs have a very distinct body outline of a traditional type but carry a moderate meat mouth facial feature.
- Some dogs of a traditional type body, either a bone mouth or moderate meat mouth head, but have a brush coat.>
Muzzle and body and coat. So there are much more combination of features that produced a matrix of variations in the West than the three types currently represented in the East. This matrix situation made classification of Shar-Pei much more difficult.
In order to find a way out of this labyrinth, we must go back to where Shar-Pei came from, to its place of origin and define what a traditional bone mouth should be. Then, regardless of what matrix the various "Shar-Pei" permutated into, at least we have one original traditional standard which is not subject to personal interpretations.
- A traditional Shar-Pei must be with "speed" and agility.
- A traditional bone mouth muzzle should conform to the above muzzle classic definition.
- A bone is a bone and there should be no meat padding on top of the muzzle.
- A traditional Shar-Pei has wrinkles allowed only at the forehead, and at the withers.
- May be a minimal amount of wrinkles at the tail set.
- More wrinkle is not better, and less wrinkle is not bad.
- Most important wrinkles are the "Sau ji tau" or Longevity character at the forehead.
- A brush coat is not a traditional feature.
- Coat must be short and up standing. Longer hair allowed only at the withers but still a length of about 1 cm.
A good summary of the various standards, including some of the names of the old Chinese standards can be seen in this website.
Standard
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Description on muzzle
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Proposed Date
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| Bone mouth |
No padding on top of muzzle. |
From ancient time |
| Matgo Law proposal |
A slant-sided rectangle (muzzle) when viewed from the top of the head. The muzzle is rather long and "going-out wide" from, in front of the eyes to the nose, instead of tapering towards the nose. i.e. "shape of a hippopotamus".
The most popular controversial point recently is the shape of muzzle aroused by the introduction of two old Chinese terms - "meat mouth" and "bone mouth". The old genuine "bone mouth"..... the shape of muzzle .....the rectangle shape was not made up the thickness of lips but the actual width of the jaws.
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June 1980 |
| CSPCA |
The lips and top of muzzle are well padded causing a slight bulge at the base of the nose. When viewed from the front, the bottom jaw appears to be wider than he top jaw due to the excessive padding of the lips. |
October 1, 1982 |
| Sharpei Club HK |
Muzzle moderate in length, broad from the eyes but narrowing slightly towards the nose. (No specification on padding on top of the muzzle) |
Original proposal, date unknown |
| Kennel Club |
Muzzle distinctive feature of breed: moderately long, broad from eyes to point of nose. When viewed from front, bottom jaw appears wider than top due to padding of padding of lips. |
March 27, 1985 |
| CSPCA |
Muzzle -- One of the distinctive features of the breed. It is broad and full with no suggestion of snippiness. The lips and top of muzzle are well padded causing a slight bulge at the base of the nose. |
April 1, 1990 |
| AKC |
Muzzle -- One of the distinctive features of the breed. It is broad and full with no suggestion of snippiness. The lips and top of muzzle are well-padded and may cause a slight bulge above the nose. |
October 8, 1991 |
| FCI |
Moderate in length, broad from the eyes but narrow slightly towards the nose. The shape of the mouth when viewed from top should either be in the shape of a roundish roof tile commonly known as "Roof Tile Mouth" or with a wide jaw in the shape of a toad's mouth, known as "Toad Mouth". Both types of mouth are designed to give the dog a firm bite. (No other description on padding of muzzle.) |
January 25, 1994 |
| Sharpei Club HK |
Over large size mouth or over padding of lips are not acceptable. The shape of the mouth when viewed from top should either be in the shape of a drain pipe commonly known as (Roof Tile Mouth) or with wide jaw in the shape of a toad's mouth. Commonly known as (Toad Mouth). |
October 8, 1995 |
| Sharpei Club HK |
The muzzle is a distinctive feature of the breed. The muzzle should be blunt. Over padding and fat lips are also unacceptable and would impede a hunting specimen |
May 5, 1997 |
| Midland SP Club |
The muzzle should be blunt. Over padding and fat lips are unacceptable. |
April 21, 1997 |
| AKC |
Muzzle -- One of the distinctive features of the breed. It is broad and full with no suggestion of snippiness. The lips and top of muzzle are well-padded and may cause a slight bulge above the nose. |
February 28, 1998 |
| FCI |
Lips and top of muzzle well padded. Bulge at the base of the nose permissible. |
August 9, 1999 |
| Kennel Club |
The lips and top of muzzle padded, causing a slight bulge at the base of nose. |
1999 |
One particular evolution of standard is especially worth mentioning is the change in FCI standard between 1994 and 1999. The Sharpei Club Hong Kong had contributed many information to FCI in drafting the standard of 1994. Besides the height which was quite controversial at that time and ultimately led to revision of standard in 1999, the overall description of 1994 version was in fact better when describing the muzzle. What happened in between 1994 and 1999 was uncertain but it is certain that disagreement on "top of muzzle well padded" is almost unanimous from day one until today (2005).
Various muzzles seen in Hong Kong and China
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Introduction
Muzzle: Roof tile
