The Chinese Shar-Pei is one of two breeds noted for its solid blue-black tongue (the other is the Chow Chow), but not every Shar-Pei has a solid blue black tongue, gums, flews or the roof of the mouth. Exceptions can be found in dogs with dilute coat colors associated with solid lavender pigmentation on the tongue. Tongue colors should conform to the general pigmentation of the dog, and in dilute-colored dogs, there should be no black pigmentation – the preferred nose is self-colored.

We’ve read that when Shar-Pei owners say their dog is a “dilute,” they’re referring to nose pigmentation, not coat color (any nose other than black in the breed is considered dilute). To our knowledge, geneticists don’t yet know which gene causes the black tongue. We always defer to breed experts and welcome input on this. We’d especially be grateful for photographs of the lavender tongue pigmentation.

Chinese Shar-Pei watercolor by Slaveika Aladjova is available here