Family Money: The Case for Saving (Part 2)

By Leslie Wright

Last week we started looking at the various reasons for having established some sort of savings programme. Whether this is to fund your retirement, build a college fund for the children, buy a home, or yacht, or pay for your daughter’s wedding, there are a wide variety of excellent plans available with just the features you’re looking for.

However, while you might know what features you’re looking for, it’s unlikely you’ll know which plans from which institutions provide them, and give you the best deal.

Even the financial trade press (which few amateur investors will have access to anyway) are not able to compare & contrast several plans from several providers at once: they advertise the ones they’re paid to advertise.

Only an independent financial adviser (‘IFA’) who deals with several institutions will be able to identify the best plan for your particular needs & circumstances.

The need for discipline

However, some people say to me: “I don’t like long-term savings plans.”

Usually, what they really mean is: “I don’t like to make a long-term commitment.”

All too often, these people have reached their early forties with comparatively little capital having been built up for anything significant. And they now have a far shorter window of opportunity to build that capital. If they intend to retire at, say, 55, they have less than 15 years to build sufficient capital to last them perhaps at least another 20 years.

It doesn’t take a brilliant mind to work out that saving $300 a month for 15 years would have to perform miraculously if it was expected to produce $1,000 a month pension for 20 years!

Nonetheless, I come across people all the time who have set up a savings plan for their retirement who expect just this sort of miracle to occur. It’s just not within the realms of common sense. But as some sage wit once said, “Common sense isn’t too common.”

As an experienced professional advisor, I can quickly identify that one criterion these unrealistically hopeful people need to consider in their future savings plans, if they’re ever going to build up a meaningful amount of capital - whether for buying a house, educating the children, or funding their retirement (which usually is last on their list of priorities, although it really should be the first) - is discipline.

To me, saying, “I don’t like long-term savings plans,” is the same as saying: “I don’t plan to live very long.”

I’m not suggesting that everyone should make a commitment to pay $X every month for the rest of their working life - just that long-term savings plans have their place in any sensibly thought-out financial planning program. And it can be an important one.

For example, at the risk of repeating myself, making provision for a comfortable retirement should be high on the list of priorities in your personal financial planning. (As I said earlier, it rarely is - but that’s another story.)

For most people, a long-term savings plan with some element of flexibility to allow for changing circumstances is probably the most appropriate vehicle to build up a retirement fund.

Similarly, for people who have taken out a mortgage on a house “back home”, the best way to fund the purchase is with an interest-only mortgage accompanied by an appropriate fixed-term endowment designed to build the required capital to pay off the mortgage at maturity.

An inherently rather disciplined yet highly cost-effective endowment savings-plan would be the best way to achieve this objective. You have to pay the endowment each and every month, otherwise you might lose the house.

Built-in flexibility

Nowadays, there are many different savings plans on the market, and most have a high degree of flexibility built into them.

They allow you to reduce or suspend contributions during a period of changed circumstances such as short-term redundancy, relocation, prolonged ill health, and so on.

Most such plans also allow for regular or ad hoc increases to contributions, to help combat inflation and keep pace with your upward mobility.

High charges?

As touched upon earlier, some people criticise the charges associated with long-term savings plans. They complain that the initial charges that many such plans carry - called “front-end loading” - are too high, and erode the growth in the early years. And if they wanted to cash up the plan after only two or three years, they might not even get back as much as they’d put into it.

Well, that’s possibly true. But long-term savings plans are not designed to be short-term ones: they are specifically designed for the serious long-term saver. Nobody should commit to a long-term savings plan if they intend to contribute into it for only two or three years. They’d almost certainly be better off with one of the several totally flexible open-ended plans that are available nowadays.

But for serious long-term capital accumulation, one or another of the long-term savings plans from one or another of the major international institutions is, in my opinion, still the best way to go.

As mentioned before, most long-term plans are highly cost-effective if carried through to maturity. Some now offer increased allocations which reduce the costs very considerably - provided you keep the plan going.

But there’s always a trade-off between flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Typically, the more flexibility you require, the less cost-effective will be the program.

Short-term plans

On the other hand, for people who are earning high incomes on short-term employment contracts - who are generally earning far more than they’re spending, but perhaps don’t know what the future will hold for them just a few short years down the road, but in the meantime want their excess income to be working hard for them - a flexible open-ended savings plan is probably the best solution.

Nowadays there are various highly flexible and cost-effective short-term or open-ended plans on the market. Most can be stopped at any time without suffering any penalty for doing so, and suitable ones are available for every budget - for those who want to save comparatively modest amounts, or to accommodate quite substantial contributions or ad hoc lump sums.

The charging structure and bonuses offered with these plans reflects the level of input and/or the period of contribution.

Better than the bank?

Both short and long-term savings plans access a range of funds which can be chosen to meet individual risk-profiles and preferences.

Adjusting the portfolio (“switching” funds) in line with changing market conditions can usually be done at any time, and at either little or no cost (depending on the plan’s terms & conditions).

Such funds access the world’s stock markets, bond markets - even the commodities & futures markets.

While tending to be more volatile than cash in the bank, over time stocks have consistently outperformed bonds, which have outperformed cash.

Cash in the bank rarely even keeps pace with inflation. In real terms, your cash deposits are earning negative interest.

Also, cash is subject to fluctuating exchange rates, which can seriously erode your capital if it’s not in the currency you’ll be spending. (And even then, if the local currency is devalued against hard currencies used to pay for imported goods & materials.)

Short, long or both?

Whether a short-term or long-term savings plan is the most appropriate vehicle for any individual is subject to many variables, and needs to be discussed with your financial advisor (if you have one), who would take into consideration your own particular needs and circumstances before making any recommendations.

In some cases, both a short-term and a long-term savings plan running together are the most suitable. For example, a long-term one for your retirement fund, a medium-term one for the children’s education fund or paying off the mortgage, and an open-ended one for other purposes, or just to accommodate anything left over.

Both the short-term and the long-term savings plan have their proper place in a sound financial planning program. And personal financial planning is something that everyone should take seriously. As someone once wisely said: “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.”

Leslie Wright is managing director of Westminster Portfolio Services (Thailand) Ltd., a firm of independent financial advisors providing advice to expatriate residents of the Eastern Seaboard on personal financial planning and international investments. If you have any comments or queries on this article, or about other topics concerning investment matters, contact Leslie directly by fax on (038) 232522 or e-mail [email protected] Further details and back articles can be accessed on his firm’s website on www.westminsterthailand.com 

Editor’s note: Leslie sometimes receives e-mails to which he is unable to respond due to the sender’s automatic return address being incorrect. If you have sent him an e-mail to which you have not received a reply, this may be why. To ensure his prompt response to your enquiry, please include your complete return e-mail address, or a contact phone/fax number.

by Mirin MacCarthy

Out of sight, but not out of mind

Pattaya’s entertainment areas have been zoned. At least they will be when the Ministry of Interior approves the plan. The main idea of the zoning seems to restrict the opening of new beer bars, karaoke, discos, and nightclubs, and new businesses catering to fun and frolic after the sun goes down should be tucked away out of sight. Ideally, the implementation of the new zoning restrictions will prevent each area’s youth from seeing them, thus reducing the influence of drink and drugs on our young people. Well, I hope it works.

There is no argument that the scourge of drugs and drunken behaviour is spreading its reach into even the more traditional societies around the world. As Thailand progresses into a more modern nation, along with the advantages of a more sophisticated society, come the less welcome characteristics a young generation which is enticed by affluence and independence to sow some ‘wild oats’. It is certainly to the credit of the authorities that they acknowledge the growing problems of drugs in Pattaya, and are willing to set about tackling them.

However, the rezoning of entertainment businesses must be only the beginning of a more comprehensive plan to enforce laws which are already in place in regard to the behaviour which makes the more troublesome nightspots a problem in the first place. Owners and staff of these businesses must make a commitment to police their own premises and prevent trouble before it gets started.

Any crackdowns initiated by the authorities need to be consistent and constant. We realise that the police here are understaffed in a city which is rapidly growing, and enforcement of the law can be intermittent at best. But if we are truly serious about cleaning up some of the places which flagrantly flaunt the laws, our city needs to send a message that those laws have real teeth.

Not all entertainment businesses which cater to young people are dens of iniquity. There are many wholesome venues in this region where young people can go to spend their leisure time. Thai youth should be encouraged to participate in the innumerable activities such as sports and other healthier activities which now abound in our area. Young people who have plenty of constructive things to do which they truly enjoy, will stay occupied with productive endeavours and will have little interest in taking drugs or abusing alcohol.

Parents also have a responsibility to retain their positive influence over their children. Parents should make the effort to know where their children are and get to know their children’s friends. Here in Thailand, the family still has a powerful influence over youngsters who may be heading down an undesirable path, and parental guidance is still respected. So while these rowdy beer bars and karaoke joints may be opening in just a couple of designated areas, rambunctious youngsters can still beat a path to the door if they are so inclined.

by Lesley Warner

by Marion

As a small child I often sat on our hallway carpet and flew around the world. Unfortunately, with the advent of schooling, and the worldly realities of grade 1, it was no longer possible to secretly and carpetly visit the domain of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves. The hallway carpet remained steadfastly on the wood floor, almost as if it had been glued. Later in life I imagined being able to fly - just by stretching my arms and taking off into the clouds, but this flying was only in my dreams. All other flying was a commercial transaction between Thai International and myself, with Mr. Boeing supplying the carpet.

However, Levitation is a phenomenon of Psychokinesis (PK) in which objects, people, and animals are lifted into the air without any visibly physical means and float or fly.

Clearance sale in flying carpets perhaps?

In general, Levitation occurs in mediumship, shamanism, trances, mystical rapture, and demonic possession - a mixed carpet bag. It is reported that some cases of Levitation appear to be spontaneous, while spiritual or magical adepts are said to be able to control it consciously.

Generally Levitation requires a great amount of concentration or being in a state of trance. Physical mediums who have been touched during Levitation usually fall back down again (gravity will not be denied)! It is also reported that Levitations of saints usually are accompanied by a luminous glow around the body.

Levitation is not a new parlour trick (although illusionist David Copperfield did demonstrate an apparent Levitation in Bangkok last month) and has been reported for hundreds of years. Numerous incidents of Levitation have been recorded in Christianity and Islam. Among the first was Simon Magus in the first century. Other incidents reported among the Roman Catholic saints include the incident of Joseph of Cupertino (1603-1663), the most famous, who is said to have often levitated through the air. It is reported he often gave a little shriek just before levitating (funnily enough, I often do the same just before take-off from Don Muang Airport), and on one occasion levitated for as long as two hours (Thai Inter and I have gone much longer).

Saint Teresa of Avila was another well known saint who reported levitating. She told of experiencing it during states of rapture. (One wonders how many unreported cases of Levitation have occurred around some of the bars in South Pattaya.) One eyewitness, Sister Anne of the Incarnation, said Saint Teresa levitated a foot and a half off the ground for about a half hour.

Saint Teresa wrote of one of her experiences, “It seemed to me, when I tried to make some resistance, as if a great force beneath my feet lifted me up. I know of nothing with which to compare it; but it was much more violent than other spiritual visitations.”

At the beginning of the twentieth century Gemma Galgani, a Passionist nun, reported Levitating during rapture (she certainly joined the right order). Levitation has also been recorded by the followers of Hinduism and Buddhism. Milarepa, the great thirteenth century yogi of Tibet, is said to have possessed many occult powers such as the ability to walk, rest and sleep during levitating. Such feats were said to be duplicated by the Brahmins and fakirs of India. Similar abilities were reportedly shared by the Ninja of Japan.

Within the Eastern traditions Levitation is reportedly accomplished through secret techniques of breathing and visualization. The techniques involve the employment of a universal life force and are called by various names such as prana, ch’i and ki.

Louis Jacolliot, a nineteenth-century French judge, travelled extensively in Asia and wrote of his occult experiences. In the book, “Occult Sciences in India and Among the Ancients” he describes in depth the Levitation of a fakir.

Jacolliot was further told by the Brahmins that the “supreme cause” of all phenomena was the ‘agasa’ (‘akasha’), the vital fluid, “the moving thought of the universal soul, directing all souls,” the force that the adepts learn to control.

There has always been some doubt as to whether Levitation was good or evil, but is mainly thought that the determining factor for judging whether the practice is caused by good or evil influences seems to depend on the one doing the levitating. For example, Simon Magus was judged evil while Saint Teresa was said to do it in states of rapture (they’re at it again)! During the Middle Ages and Renaissance Levitation was thought to be a manifestation of evil. It was said to be an unusual phenomenon generated by witchcraft, fairies, ghosts, or demons.

Even today, Levitation is often thought to be involved in cases of demonic possession. In 1906 Clara Germana Cele, a sixteen year-old school girl from South Africa, was said to be demonic possessed. She raised up five feet in the air, sometimes vertically and sometimes horizontally. When sprinkled with holy water she came out of these states of possession and gravity won again. This was taken as proof of demonic possession.

Controlled experiments involving Levitation are rare, as you might imagine. During the 1960s and 1970s researchers reported some success in levitating tables under controlled conditions. The Soviet PK medium Nina Kulagina (mentioned last week) has been photographed levitating a small object between her hands, but there is definitely a lack of “hard” evidence.

I will deal more with this interesting subject in another issue, but right now I have to fly!

by Anchalee Kaewmanee

Venus rules both signs of this combination, giving these subjects an enchanting personality and a remarkably even disposition. People born into the Taurus-Libra sign possess a bearing of tranquility and inner calm. Graceful and outgoing to others, they seem almost immune to tension and anxiety. Few friends and co-workers would suspect the nervous tension and restlessness concealed beneath that charming smile.

As with all natives of Moon in Libra, self image is a reflection of how others see these subjects, so they need plenty of socializing to maintain a positive opinion of themselves. Of course socializing is no problem here, since people are drawn to that magnetic personality, worldly wisdom, and sensitivity.

Sympathetic and congenial, the Taurus-Libra treats everyone with equality and respect. This fine combination works in harmony to produce a character endowed with common sense on the Taurus side, and the famous Libran sense of fair play and justice.

This is the kind of person who would never knowingly hurt anyone, nor could they be angry for very long, as tolerance and forgiveness rule all of their relationships. “Niceness” is a quality that all of these natives share.

That basically rustic spirit feels a strong rapport with nature. The best way for this combination to sort out any problems is in a relaxed, natural environment. When outside tension and confusion become too much, it is important for these people to get away to the countryside and into the open air. It is inherently true that the Taurus-Libra has a lower tolerance for stress, and therefore needs plenty of relaxation and diversion than others with a less sensitive emotional make-up.

Inner restlessness keeps this sign on the move, seeking constant diversion and activity. The trouble is, this group is not always certain exactly where they are going. Setting goals and priorities is difficult, simply because it is so hard to make up their minds. Like all Venus ruled natives, they dislike the tension and discord of competitive society, and are most often drawn to the pleasant and easy-going, rather than that which challenges and rewards.

The Taurus-Libra actually does have the determination and luck to succeed in anything he sets out to do, but the temptation of an easy life often wins over ambition and the desire for self-fulfillment. If natives born into this sign wish to make a career work, the real challenge will be to develop a more aggressive attitude. It might be wise to get involved with people who are hard working and successful themselves, in order to be surrounded by that positive influence.

It is imperative that this combination sets objectives and sticks to them. The Taurus-Libra has many talents and a wonderful imagination. Art, music, film, and design are just a few areas in which this sign can truly excel. And with that diplomatic nature, a career in politics or human relations work might be a fine choice of career.

The state of the love life in this sign is the index of overall happiness. Romantic and sensual, natives of this combination need lots of love to keep them blissful. And with that abundance of charm, they will indeed be surrounded by many admirers. It will be important to have a partner who shares that sensitivity and can understand such emotional delicacy. There is a problem to watch out for, though: vanity. Too much of it can make a loving mate feel that he or she is only in the relationship as a cheerleader and not truly a life partner.

by Richard Brunch

From Harold McManus, Ranong: Recently my monitor picture looks slightly distorted and the colour in one corner is tinged. What should I do? The monitor is 2 years old so the warranty is finished.

Computer Doctor replies: Firstly use the ‘Degauss’ button found in the Monitor Set-up Menu, frequently the button is labelled with the image of a magnet. Usually if your screen develops hotspots and tinged colour, it is probably due to the build-up of stray magnetic fields in your monitor. Should your monitor display images that are heavily tinted, check both ends of its cable connection. Then before reseating the connections, examine the male ends, and look for bent or sunken pins. If you find one, carefully straighten it or pull it with needle-nose pliers. Then use similar care in gently seating it in its connector, and make sure to tighten both securing screws.

From Sharon Onions, Jomtien: I have just bought a used PC that is about 18 months old. I bought it as a private sale and took the computer guru from work with me; he checked it out and said everything was fine. However, I did not test it immediately as we were moving house, now I have connected it all up, the monitor is very poor and if I try to view a photograph it is very grainy. Do you think something is wrong?

Computer Doctor replies: It is unlikely that something is wrong with the PC, if it worked before and now doesn’t and assuming you took reasonable care during the move it should not have sustained physical damage. It is more likely that it requires to be configured. Try to increase the number of colours that are displayed by your graphics card. The easiest way to do this is right-click an empty part of the desktop and select Properties to bring up your Display Properties. At the lower left side of the Settings tab you’ll see the Colors selector. Clicking on it will display the different colour depth choices that are currently available. If you only see 16 or 256 colours, then it is likely that the wrong driver for the video card is selected; reinstall the correct driver. Assuming that the correct driver is installed you should several settings, including: 16 colours, 256 colours, High Colour (16-bit, or approximately 65,000 colours), or True Colour (32-bit, or about 16 million colours). It is likely that you will find the current setting either 16 or 256 colours. If you don’t have the High Colour or True Colour options, your graphics board may not support those settings. Once that is set, increase the refresh rate by clicking Advanced then the Adapter Tab. The higher the colour depth and greater the refresh rate the better your viewing enjoyment will be. Try setting a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels, this often provides a happy medium for size and quality. However if your board is older you should be able to get a higher colour depth by lowering the screen resolution. Bear in mind that higher colour depths can cause performance penalties, make sure the video card has adequate onboard memory to support your configuration.

by Duncan Stearn

In December 1885 the Thai government gave France permission to establish a vice-consulate in the Lao city of Luang Prabang. The agreement between France and Thailand tacitly recognised the latter’s suzerainty over Laos.

However, when Auguste Pavie, the French vice-consul, arrived in Luang Prabang in February 1887 he soon set about convincing the Lao that a French protectorate would serve them well and remove them from Thai overlordship.

Then, in June 1887 a renegade force of Chinese bandits and local tribesmen captured and sacked Luang Prabang. The ruler barely escaped with his life and the incident proved to be just the catalyst an opportunist like Pavie was seeking to further French aims.

The French announced that if Thailand could not protect Laos, then France certainly would.

In 1889, as unrest continued, France announced the annexation of the region between Xieng-Khouang and the Black River Valley, despite Thai protests.

By 1892 relations between France and Thailand had deteriorated considerably. In September that year Thai authorities expelled two French traders from Laos after accusing them of engaging in the opium trade. The French government accused Thailand of expelling its nationals without cause.

Then, in March 1893 came the crisis that threatened Thai independence.

Auguste Pavie, acting as the French envoy in Bangkok, informed the Thai government that France intended to stake its claim to all territory east of the Mekong River, including the vassal state of Laos. The Thai government protested in the strongest terms.

In April, when Thai forces resisted an attempt by three French military columns to take control of Laos, resulting in the death of one French army officer, France used this as a pretext to force the issue.

On July 15 French warships fought their way past the Paknam fort at the entrance to the Chao Phrya delta and anchored in Bangkok. Three French sailors were killed in the action. The Thais lost 25. France sent a diplomatic note to the Thai government, detailing a series of demands.

The action, however, led to a heated exchange between the French and the British, although the latter were unwilling to risk a war over the independence of Thailand, despite the tacit support of Germany.

Instead, the British advised the Thai government to accede to French demands in order to avoid an all-out conflict.

On July 31 France agreed to maintain Thailand as an independent buffer state between French Indochina and British Burma. Thailand was forced to relinquish a large part of Laos and abandon some eastern provinces that had formerly been part of Cambodia. Thailand also paid France an indemnity of three million francs.

Three days later the French blockade of Bangkok was lifted and on October 3 Thailand signed a treaty that officially recognised France’s protectorate of Laos. The French occupied the port of Chantaboun to ensure compliance with the terms of the treaty.

On December 4, an Anglo-French agreement was signed guaranteeing Thai independence.

by Apichart Panyadee

A chamber candleholder formed from an inkstand bottle holder, with added handle, sconce, base and feet.

Large sugar basins were needed for unrefined sugar and the size of these is such that with the addition of a handle, lid and spout a small teapot can be created. The argyle (gravy pot) with the internal insulator removed is occasionally found passed off as a rare bachelor’s teapot. Brandy saucepans are sometimes found with their handles removed to be sold as sugar basins. Spouts can be easily added to early 18th century examples or replaced on later examples. There has been controversy in the past about a type of cream jug that looks like a 1730’s brandy saucepan with its turned wood handle removed and a simple wire scroll handle added. These have now been accepted as genuine, but only if they are made by Exeter or Plymouth silversmiths who used this style.

Candlesticks

Sugar basins have been turned into teapots by removing one handle, replacing it with a spout, and adding a lid. Another easy conversion is to make a sugar bowl into a tea caddy by simply adding a lid.

Until the third quarter of the 18th century the majority of table candlesticks were cast. It is possible to make a mould from a candlestick that has been hallmarked and thus achieve a very accurate replica, including marks. The innovation of electrotypes in the mid-19th century added yet another dimension to the art of copying. Taper sticks and candlesticks were intentionally reproduced in earlier styles from the early 19th century onwards. These reproductions are recognizable by their smaller bases and fatter stem proportions.

How wine funnels can be converted into tea strainers

Candlesticks cast from one another, including marks, can be spotted by careful comparison of the placing of the hallmarks and any obvious flaws. With loaded candlesticks there is a possibility that marks have been ‘let in’ to the edge of the base. The ‘let in” mark is most likely to have come from table silver, and if a maker’s mark is visible it will probably be identifiable as a ‘spoon makers’ mark. Seams where the piece has been soldered in are also likely to be visible. The detachable drip-pan or nozzle should always be marked with maker’s duty marks to match the stick.

Always examine candelabra carefully as an old trick is to solder the nozzle sleeve to a branch so that it bears the same mark as the candlestick. Candelabra branches should be marked with date letter, standard, duty, town and maker’s mark, depending on their period. All detachable branches should also bear corresponding marks. Chamber candlesticks are now popular as they are ideal for small dining tables. Again, always check the detachable pieces. Hallmarks will not appear on them if the chamber stick has been constructed from an epergne dish, (especially period 1720-60), a wine funnel stand, salt cellar stand or counter tray. Wax jacks are also known to have been made up from these items.

These candlesticks were intentionally reproduced in earlier styles from the 19th century onwards. Recognizable are their smaller bases and fatter stem proportions.

Snuffers and their accompanying trays have been comparatively free from interference by fakers, but these, too, are occasionally subjected to the addition of handles and feet. They are also of a convenient style for converting into inkstands by the addition of simple rings to hold glass inkwells. The absence of or difference in hallmark on the inkwell covers will reveal the truth.

by C. Schloemer

Good points: excellent watchdog, loyal to owner, amiable unless provoked, highly intelligent, good with children.

Take heed: may be more susceptible to diseases than other breeds which have built up immunity.

The Shar-Pei has finally lost the distinction of being listed as the rarest dog in the world. Interest in this dog has increased in many countries, especially in England, the USA, and some countries of Europe. What does it look like? Descriptions vary. Frankly this dog has skin which is several sizes to big for its body. This breed has small, rectangular ears that point towards the eyes, a tail which forms a circle, and stiff short hair that stands up. And lots of wrinkles.

The man responsible for saving the Shar-Pei from extinction is Ernest Albright of California. His breeding kennels have insured that this breed will be perpetuated. Other breeders have sprung up around the world and will assure the future of the Shar-Pei. In 1947, when the tax on dogs in the People’s Republic of China rose so steeply, few people could afford to keep them and most dogs were subsequently used for food.

The Shar-Pei is extremely intelligent and makes an excellent guard dog. It is amiable unless provoked, and then it will defend itself. However, this breed enjoys human companionship, and will make a fine family pet, affectionate and loyal. People who own this breed swear that Shar-Pei puppies house train themselves.

Size: Weight 18.1 kg. Height: 46.5-51 cm at the withers.

Exercise: The Shar-Pei, or to give it its former name, the Chinese Fighting Dog, was used to hunt wild boar and to herd flocks. It is a breed more suitable to those with big gardens, or owners who have access to large public parks, where it may have plenty of free runs so that it can unleash its boundless energy. Lots of daily walks on the lead are recommended as well. This dog is highly intelligent and easy to train. It does very well in obedience competitions.

Health care: In their land of origin, these dogs are undoubtedly fed on rice, a diet which has resulted in instances of rickets, and other ailments associated with malnutrition. The Shar-Pei is a hardy dog and if fed correctly will have few health problems. It is, however, susceptible to entropion, an eye disease which can cause blindness as the lashes penetrate the cornea. This disease is curable. A veterinarian should be consulted at any sign of eye irritation. Another unique feature of this breed is that the bitch can come into season at irregular intervals. With some females, the first season may not occur until she is fifteen months of age, and sometimes later.

Origin and history: Works of art depicting a likeness to the Shar-Pei survive from the Han Dynasty (206 BC to AD 220). It is possible that the Shar-Pei originated in Tibet or the northern provinces of China about 20 centuries ago, when it was probably a much larger dog than it is now. Other sources maintain that the Shar-Pei is a descendent of the service dogs that for thousands of years lived in the southern provinces near the South China Sea.

Certainly, for hundreds of years it lived up to its name of Chinese Fighting Dog. It was provoked and then matched against other dogs for the owner’s profit. The loose skin of the Shar-Pei made it difficult for its opponent to get a firm grip on its body during a fight. However, the breed has a basic gentle and affectionate nature, and is really a loving animal.

Updated every Friday
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Updated by Chinnaporn Sungwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk.
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