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View 8 More +Sharp Eagles are not a type of eagle, but you probably already know that. They are a mix of two purebred dogs: the Shar-Pei and the Beagle. Known as a designer dog breed, these dogs love to play but love their lazy, laid-back time, too. Early socialization is key to these curious and sometimes stubborn dogs, but once you have them trained, the Sharp Eagle (sometimes spelled Sharpeagle) will be an easy-maintenance, fun little dog for a companion.
Breed Overview
Height:
15 – 18 inches
Weight:
30 – 45 pounds
Lifespan:
10 – 15 years
Colors:
Tan, brown, black, black and tan, white
Suitable for:
Active families, those looking for a low-shedding dog, apartment living
Temperament:
Loyal, independent, playful, can be lazy, high prey drive, stubborn
Due to their Shar-Pei and Beagle ancestry, they have a strong prey drive and have an independent, witty nature. They are fine being left alone and require minimal grooming. Read on to learn more about this fascinating hybrid dog breed to determine if it’s right for you.
Sharp Eagle Characteristics
Sharp Eagle Puppies
The Sharp Eagle breed is relevantly new to the designer dog breed world. Their ancestors boast very different characteristics and traits. To get more of an idea about the Sharp Eagle, let’s look at their parent breeds.
The Chinese Shar-Pei is a loyal, independent, and calm breed. These medium-sized dogs can be stubborn but do well being left alone. They have wrinkled faces and shoulders. Shar-Peis can be aggressive toward other dogs if not socialized early.
The Beagle is friendly and curious. Belonging to the hound group, they make great hunting companions. They are lovable, happy dogs and make for excellent family pets. They can be stubborn due to their hunting nature, making early socialization important.
Combining these two breeds makes for interesting personalities. Puppies tend to favor one breed over the other, so when looking for a pup, try to distinguish the type of personality you may be dealing with.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Sharp Eagle
As mentioned above, whichever trait your Sharp Eagle takes after will determine the temperament. You may have one that’s curious, or you may have one that can be a little on the aggressive side. Both traits are loyal and enjoy spending time with their humans. They are highly intelligent but stubborn, which makes it necessary to have patience while training.
Are These Dogs Good for Families?
Sharp Eagles make great pets, but it’s important to socialize them early to their new surroundings. Patience is the key with these dogs because they can be a little reserved until they get comfortable. Once they realize this is home, they will adapt well and make an excellent addition to the family.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
If you have a Sharp Eagle that inherited the Shar-Pei temperament, it may be aggressive at first. If this is the case, introduce any other animals you have in the home slowly. Their potential hunting nature won’t do well with any animals that may be considered prey, for example, birds, hamsters, and ferrets.
Things to Know When Owning a Sharp Eagle:
Regardless of which characteristics your Sharp Eagle leans toward, knowing their requirements, such as health concerns and financial commitments, will help you further decide if this crossbreed is for you.
Food & Diet Requirements
Since they are medium-sized dogs, they do well with two cups of dry kibble a day. It’s best to divide feeding time to once in the morning, and once in the later afternoon or evening. As far as costs, it depends on the type of dog food you feed your Sharp Eagle. You’ll want to provide good-quality dog food with real protein as the first ingredient with no preservatives. These types of dog food run a little higher than the average, but your Sharp Eagle will benefit from the nutrition.
Exercise
The Sharp Eagle requires about an hour of exercise daily. They will enjoy walks or trips to dog parks. Just make sure you socialize your Sharp Eagle first before introducing them to other dogs. They do enjoy their lazy time, making them ideal for owners who are limited in time for exercise.
Training
We can’t stress enough that early socialization is important with the Sharp Eagle. They are intelligent, which makes them somewhat easy to train, but their stubborn side can get in the way. You’ll want to be consistent with training sessions with this breed. The more you train, the better they’ll take to obedience.
Grooming ✂️
Sharp Eagles require little grooming, as their coats are short and they shed very little. However, you should brush weekly to keep their fur looking its best. As far as wrinkles, they shouldn’t be bathed too often because infections can occur under their folds if left damp. Only bathe when needed.
Health and Conditions
As with any breed, there will be certain health conditions to look out for. They are generally healthy but are prone to some inherited issues from their ancestors.
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Distichiasis
- Lip-fold pyoderma
- Hip dysplasia
- Intervertebral disc disease
- Bloat
- Amyloidosis
Serious Conditions:
Hip dysplasia: A condition where the ball and socket of the hip joint do not form properly, resulting in pain.
Intervertebral disc disease: The cushion between the discs in the spine ruptures or slips, which leads to the discs rubbing against the spinal cord.
Bloat: Although more common in large-breed dogs, Shar-Peis can develop this condition too. The stomach twists upon itself, filling with gas. If you notice a distended stomach, take your pooch to the vet ASAP.
Amyloidosis: Abnormal deposits of protein in unwanted areas, resulting in kidney, liver, or pancreatic disease.
Minor Conditions:
Glaucoma, cataracts, and distichiasis: These are all eye problems your Sharp Eagle may suffer from.
Lip-fold pyoderma: This is a bacterial infection that can be present under their loose skin, which they get from the Shar-Pei side. It is treatable with a medicated cleanser and hair clipping of the infected area. Antibiotics and steroids are also used for treatment. Your veterinarian can determine the best course of treatment.
Male vs. Female
There’s not a big difference between sexes of this breed. Females may be a little more laid-back and lazier, but they are both of average height and weight. You’ll notice even more minimal changes if you get your Sharp Eagle neutered/spayed.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Sharp Eagle
1. They like agility courses.
The Sharp Eagle is relatively athletic and will participate in agility courses. If you have a Sharp Eagle that inherited more of the curious trait from its Beagle ancestors, the more it’ll be interested. Agility courses are a great way to train and spend quality time with your Sharp Eagle, too.
2. Their loose skin is on purpose.
Their loose skin comes from the Shar-Pei side. It is believed that since Shar-Peis were bred for guard and fighting dogs, the loose skin gave them an advantage in a fight. The extra skin gave their opponent a big wad of skin in their mouth rather than a huge chunk of a vital organ.
3. They will inherit one heritage or the other.
Some crossbreeds inherit a little piece of both parents, but not the Sharp Eagle. Their parent breeds, the Shar-Pei and the Beagle, have very different traits. The Shar-Pei can be more aggressive with other dogs but calm lounging around the home, preferring to be more independent. The Beagle is fun, jolly, and curious. They are not aggressive with other dogs and make terrific hunting companions. Odds are your Sharp Eagle will have either Shar-Pei traits, or Beagle traits, but not both.
Final Thoughts
The Sharp Eagle is a relatively new crossbreed, and finding one may prove challenging. If you find one, be prepared to spend time on training and socialization early. If you’re not an extremely active person, this breed will be perfect for you because they tend to be fine with lying around. Keep in mind that they do require some exercise for optimal health. They are gentle, intelligent, and curious and will make for a wonderful companion.
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2 Responses
Had a DNA test done on our terrier, lab mix only to discover he is actually a beagle Shar pei mix with some terrier and pitbull mixed in. Everything you've said is so true about our boy. He's probably about 9 and was abused before a friend rescued him. He so looks like a beagle now that I'm looking clearly lol and definitely has the personality of a Shar pei until it comes to small beasties and then it's game on. It took him a good year before he initiated some love but he was very loving if I or my husband wallered all over him. Thank you for this article. It's help us understand that many of the issues we thought BoJackson had were actually traits from his parents. It was good to know he could live 15 years because we would be lost without him. Thanks again for helping us understand our sweet good boy.
Hello Traci,
thank you so much for sharing your story with us. Adopting a rescue can be always a little tricky due to their uncertain past, so it is admirable of you to give BoJackson a new home! We are sure he appreciates this immensely! We are glad that you found are article interesting and helpful and we hope you have many more years of happiness with BoJackson in front of you!