As puppies, Shar-Pei have numerous wrinkles, but as they mature, these loosen and spread out as they 'grow into their skin'. The Shar-Pei was named in 1978 as one of the world's rarest dog breeds by TIME magazine and Guinness World Records. Although the Shar-Pei has been identified as a basal breed that predates the emergence of the modern breeds in the 19th century, the American Kennel Club recognized it as their 134th breed only in 1992. color, and any Shar-Pei with a 'flower-coat' (white with either black or blue patches) is a disqualification. This coat is fairly prickly and can be rough or irritating when petting in the opposite direction of the fur. The horse-coat is generally thought to be more active and predisposed to dominant behavior than the brush-coat.