A Detailed Comparison of the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro.

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Chinese Shar-Pei versus Fila Brasileiro

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Chinese Shar-Pei Versus Fila Brasileiro: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Chinese Shar-Pei and for the Fila Brasileiro. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Chinese Shar-Pei or the Fila Brasileiro

Chinese Shar-Pei versus Fila Brasileiro: Overview

A very important difference between the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chinese Shar-Pei is a medium-sized dog while the Fila Brasileiro is a giant-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro are Working Dogs. This means both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Chinese Shar-Pei versus Fila Brasileiro: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chinese Shar-Pei to the Fila Brasileiro based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Chinese Shar-Pei Fila Brasileiro
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 1/5 2/5
General Health 1/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 5/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 1/5 2/5
Height 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 24 to 30 inches
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 1/5
Easygoing 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 2/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 2/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 2/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 4/5 2/5
Easy To Train 3/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 4/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 2/5
Weight 40 to 55 pounds 90 to 180 pounds
Easy To Groom 5/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 3/5
Life Span 8 to 12 years 9 to 12 years
Average Lifespan 10.0 years 10.5 years
Average Price $1620 $1270
Price Range $1100 – $2000 $1000 – $1400
Temperament Score 71.0 percent 78.6 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
    		•  No Data

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chinese Shar-Pei in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Fila Brasileiro. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Chinese Shar-Pei is 68 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Fila Brasileiro is 62 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Chinese Shar-Pei is a better pet than the Fila Brasileiro. So, you should get the Chinese Shar-Pei!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro

    Below is a list of where the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro are most different:

  • Chinese Shar-Peis do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful. However, Fila Brasileiros do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Chinese Shar-Peis have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Fila Brasileiros have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Chinese Shar-Peis adapt well to apartment living. However, Fila Brasileiros do not adapt well to apartment living.

    • The Similarities Between the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro

    The Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro are most similar:

  • Both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro not very playful.
  • Both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro are not very sensitive to their enviroment. They can tolerate noisy environments. They are also not very sensitive to the tone of your voice, firm or gentle.
  • Both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro are not affectionate with family. They are not good family dogs.
  • Both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • Both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro can be left alone for some time without problems.
  • Both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro are very easy to groom.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Chinese Shar-Pei versus Fila Brasileiro

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro.

    Chinese Shar-Peis weigh 40 to 55 pounds when fully grown. Chinese Shar-Peis are 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Fila Brasileiros weigh 90 to 180 pounds when fully grown. Fila Brasileiros are 24 to 30 inches when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Fila Brasileiro Versus the Chinese Shar-Pei

    The Fila Brasileiro has a better temperament than the Chinese Shar-Pei.

    This is because the temperament score for the Fila Brasileiro is 78.6 percent while the temperament score for the Chinese Shar-Pei is 71.0 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and they are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 71.0 percent, the Chinese Shar-Pei has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 78.6 percent, the Fila Brasileiro has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro by measuring the temperaments of 214 Chinese Shar-Peis and 14 Fila Brasileiros.

    Price of Chinese Shar-Pei versus Price of Fila Brasileiro

    The average price of the Chinese Shar-Pei puppy is $1620. The price of the Chinese Shar-Pei typically ranges from $1100 – $2000. However, the price of a Chinese Shar-Pei can be as low as $300 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 238 Chinese Shar-Pei puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Fila Brasileiro puppy is $1270. The price of the Fila Brasileiro typically ranges from $1000 – $1400. However, the price of a Fila Brasileiro can be as low as $1000 and as high as $1800. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 3 Fila Brasileiro puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Chinese Shar-Pei is more expensive than the Fila Brasileiro.

    Chinese Shar-Pei Fila Brasileiro
    Average Price $1620 $1270
    Price Range $1100 to $2000 $1000 to $1400

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Chinese Shar-Pei and Fila Brasileiro. For different price points, the charts show how many Chinese Shar-Pei puppies or how many Fila Brasileiro puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Chinese Shar-Peis. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Chinese Shar-Peis. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Fila Brasileiros

    A breakdown of the prices of Fila Brasileiros

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Chinese Shar-Pei puppy or the Fila Brasileiro puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Adopting the Chinese Shar-Pei versus Adopting the Fila Brasileiro

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Chinese Shar-Peis and many Fila Brasileiros are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Chinese Shar-Pei named Ned that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Chinese Shar-Peis like Ned on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Chinese Shar-Peis, Fila Brasileiros are also available for adoption. For example, Maverick is a Male Fila Brasileiro that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Fila Brasileiros like Maverick that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Chinese Shar-Peis and Fila Brasileiros that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    Can Chinese Shar-Peis Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Fila Brasileiros Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chinese Shar-Peis cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Fila Brasileiros can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chinese Shar-Pei or the Fila Brasileiro?

    Chinese Shar-Peis do not get along well with other dogs.

    Fila Brasileiros do not get along well with other dogs.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chinese Shar-Pei or the Fila Brasileiro?

    Chinese Shar-Peis are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Fila Brasileiros are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Can Chinese Shar-Peis Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Fila Brasileiros Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Chinese Shar-Peis cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Fila Brasileiros cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Are Chinese Shar-Peis good family dogs? What about Fila Brasileiros?

    Chinese Shar-Peis are not affectionate with family. They are not good family dogs.

    Fila Brasileiros are good family dogs. They are affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Chinese Shar-Peis and Fila Brasileiros?

    Chinese Shar-Peis do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Fila Brasileiros get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Do Chinese Shar-Peis shed more than Fila Brasileiros?

    Chinese Shar-Peis do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Fila Brasileiros do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Chinese Shar-Pei or the Fila Brasileiro

    Chinese Shar-Peis do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Fila Brasileiros drool moderately.

    Does the Chinese Shar-Pei Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Fila Brasileiro?

    Chinese Shar-Peis have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Fila Brasileiros have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chinese Shar-Pei vs. Fila Brasileiro

    Chinese Shar-Peis do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Fila Brasileiros have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Is the Chinese Shar-Pei Easier to Train than the Fila Brasileiro?

    Chinese Shar-Peis are fairly easy to train.

    Fila Brasileiros are not easy to train.

    Is the Chinese Shar-Pei Better for Apartment Owners than the Fila Brasileiro?

    Chinese Shar-Peis adapt very well to apartment living.

    Fila Brasileiros do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chinese Shar-Pei versus Fila Brasileiro

    Chinese Shar-Peis can be left alone for some time without problems.

    Fila Brasileiros can be left alone only for a short time.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chinese Shar-Pei or the Fila Brasileiro?

    Chinese Shar-Peis are very easy to groom.

    Fila Brasileiros are very easy to groom.

    Do Chinese Shar-Peis Bark and Howl? What about Fila Brasileiros?

    Chinese Shar-Peis are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Fila Brasileiros bark and howl, but not very much.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Chinese Shar-Pei

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Chinese Shar-Pei that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Chinese Shar-Pei:

  • Chow Chow (63 percent match with Chinese Shar-Pei). Here is our comparison of the Fila Brasileiro vs Chow Chow.
  • Affenhuahua (62 percent match with Chinese Shar-Pei). Here is our comparison of the Fila Brasileiro vs Affenhuahua.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Fila Brasileiro

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Fila Brasileiro that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Fila Brasileiro:

  • Afador (75 percent match with Fila Brasileiro). Here is our comparison of the Chinese Shar-Pei vs Afador.
  • Cane Corso (76 percent match with Fila Brasileiro). Here is our comparison of the Chinese Shar-Pei vs Cane Corso.
  • Dogo Argentino (80 percent match with Fila Brasileiro). Here is our comparison of the Chinese Shar-Pei vs Dogo Argentino.
  • Boerboel (78 percent match with Fila Brasileiro). Here is our comparison of the Chinese Shar-Pei vs Boerboel.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Chinese Shar-Pei and how the Fila Brasileiro compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Chinese Shar-Pei and of the Fila Brasileiro to other breeds:

    Chinese Shar-Pei Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chinese Shar-Pei versus American Water Spaniel     Chinese Shar-Pei versus English Setter     Chinese Shar-Pei versus Basenji     Chinese Shar-Pei versus King Shepherd     Chinese Shar-Pei versus Barbet     Chinese Shar-Pei versus Azawakh     Chinese Shar-Pei versus Goldador     Chinese Shar-Pei versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Chinese Shar-Pei versus Golden Retriever     Chinese Shar-Pei versus Karelian Bear Dog     

    Fila Brasileiro Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Fila Brasileiro versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Fila Brasileiro versus Papipoo     Fila Brasileiro versus Biewer Terrier     Fila Brasileiro versus Puli     Fila Brasileiro versus Welsh Terrier     Fila Brasileiro versus Basset Hound     Fila Brasileiro versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Fila Brasileiro versus Kai Ken     Fila Brasileiro versus Labrador Retriever     Fila Brasileiro versus Kuvasz     

    Conclusion: Chinese Shar-Pei versus Fila Brasileiro. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Fila Brasileiro better suits you and your family.