The Chinese Shar-Pei is universally known as the “dog with the wrinkles,” though the breed is so much more than its exterior appearance. Nevertheless, its wrinkled skin is a curious trait that was likely fixed in the breed to protect the its organs from injury if an adversary were to get a mouthful of prickly folds of skin. Wrinkles vary from line to line in the breed, but puppies are usually more wrinkled than adults on whom folds tend to gather on the head, neck, and withers.

Occasionally, profuse extra skin is seen on the hocks or pasterns of a Shar-Pei, and it is neither desirable or undesirable, it just is. The feature does have a name, however, and it is “baggies.”

“Puppy” by Cute Pet Canvas. Prints of this piece are available here.