Ultimate Ba-Shar Guide: Traits, Care, Training & Health Tips

Quick take: The Ba-Shar is a cross between a Basset Hound and a Chinese Shar-Pei. Expect a sturdy, medium-sized dog of about 13–19 inches and roughly 35–60 pounds, often with a long body, wrinkled face, droopy ears, and a short, bristly coat. Ba-Shars are loyal, calm, independent, and sometimes stubborn. They need moderate daily exercise, careful skin-fold and ear care, patient training, and a lean body to protect their backs and joints.

Want to explore more mixes? Visit the full hub here: Top 50 Mixed Dog Breeds in America.

1. Introduction to the Breed

The Ba-Shar is one of the more unusual designer mixes, combining a scent hound with an ancient guardian breed. The Basset Hound brings a gentle, easygoing temperament, a world-class nose, and those famously long ears. The Chinese Shar-Pei brings loyalty, a calm, dignified watchfulness, and its signature wrinkles. The result is a relaxed, devoted dog with a lot of character and a face that is hard to forget.

Ba-Shar owners often describe a dog that is mellow at home, curious outdoors, and deeply attached to its family. It is usually content to nap for much of the day, then follow its nose with great determination on walks. It is not the most obedient dog on the block, but its loyalty and quiet humor win people over.

Individual dogs vary. Basset-leaning Ba-Shars tend to be lower to the ground, longer-bodied, more sociable with strangers, and more nose-driven, with longer ears. Shar-Pei-leaning dogs tend to be taller, more reserved with strangers, more protective, and more wrinkled, with smaller ears and a bristly “horse coat.” Reading about the Basset side helps you plan. See our Basset Hound guide.

2. History of the Breed

The Basset Hound was developed in France, where its name comes from the word bas, meaning “low.” French hunters wanted a slow, steady scent hound that hunters on foot could follow while trailing rabbits and hares. The breed’s long ears and loose skin are thought to help trap scent near the nose. Bassets came to America in the 1800s and became beloved family dogs.

The Chinese Shar-Pei is an ancient breed from southern China, where it served as a guardian, hunter, and farm dog for centuries. Its loose skin and bristly coat may have helped protect it from predators. The breed nearly vanished in the 20th century, and in the 1970s a small number of dogs were brought to the United States, where dedicated breeders rebuilt the population.

The Ba-Shar appeared during the designer-dog era, when breeders began crossing a range of breeds to create new companions. It is a rare mix and is not recognized by the AKC, though some hybrid registries list it. Most Ba-Shars are first-generation crosses, and some find homes through hound and Shar-Pei rescues.

3. Physical Characteristics

Typical Size and Weight

Most Ba-Shars stand about 13–19 inches at the shoulder and weigh roughly 35–60 pounds, with males larger than females. They are heavy-boned and solid for their height. Most reach adult size by 12–18 months.

Coat and Color

The coat is short and dense. Some Ba-Shars have the Basset’s smooth coat, while others have the Shar-Pei’s harsh, bristly coat that can feel prickly when stroked the wrong way. Ba-Shars shed moderately. Common colors include fawn, cream, red, brown, black, and tricolor or bicolor hound patterns.

Distinctive Features

Expect a broad head, a wrinkled face and forehead, soulful eyes, and droopy ears. Many Ba-Shars have the Basset’s long body and short legs, while others are more square like a Shar-Pei. Some inherit the Shar-Pei’s blue-black tongue, and many have a curled or tapered tail.

Grooming Pick

Untangler Rubber Pet Brush

Ninety-one soft rubber fingers lift loose hair from a short, bristly coat without scratching sensitive, wrinkled skin. It works in the bath too, helping lather reach between folds. Made in the USA.

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4. Personality Traits

Ba-Shars are loyal, calm, and affectionate with their families. Most are mellow indoors and enjoy lounging near their people. They are usually gentle with children they know, especially Basset-leaning dogs, though their tolerance for rough handling varies.

The Basset side brings friendliness, patience, and a nose that can override everything else. Once a Basset-leaning Ba-Shar catches a scent, it may ignore you entirely. Bassets also bring a deep, baying voice. The Shar-Pei side brings independence, reserve with strangers, and a protective streak. Shar-Peis are often described as cat-like: clean, dignified, and selective about affection.

Ba-Shars can be stubborn, so training takes patience. Shar-Pei-leaning dogs may be wary of unfamiliar dogs and people, which makes early socialization especially important. Most do well with other pets they are raised with, though the hound nose may lead to chasing small animals.

If you love hound and wrinkly mixes, you may also enjoy our guides to the Bassador and the German Shar-Pei.

5. Care Requirements

Exercise Needs

Plan on 45–60 minutes of moderate activity a day, split into two or more walks. Ba-Shars are not high-energy athletes, but they need regular exercise to stay lean and prevent boredom. Sniff walks, easy hikes, and scent games are ideal. Many enjoy nosework and tracking.

Protect the back and joints. Long-bodied Ba-Shars should avoid repeated jumping on and off furniture and long flights of stairs. Use ramps when possible and support the chest and hindquarters when lifting. Keep your dog on leash or in a securely fenced area, since a hound nose can lead it far away. Shar-Peis and their mixes can be sensitive to heat, so exercise in cool parts of the day.

Mental Stimulation

Scent work is the best brain game for a Ba-Shar. Hide treats around the house or yard, use snuffle mats and puzzle feeders, and let walks include plenty of sniffing time. Mental work tires a Ba-Shar as much as physical exercise.

Grooming

The short coat is easy to brush once or twice a week with a rubber brush. The real work is skin and ear care. Clean and dry facial folds several times a week, and daily if they are deep, with a soft cloth. Moisture and debris trapped in folds can cause irritation and infection. Check and clean the ears weekly, since droopy, narrow ears are prone to infection.

Bathe every month or two with a gentle shampoo, and dry thoroughly, especially between folds. Trim nails every two to three weeks, and brush teeth several times a week. Watch the eyes for redness, squinting, or tearing, which can signal eyelid problems.

Grooming Pick

Mini K-9 Dog Dryer

A compact, single-motor dryer with a simple two-speed HI/LO switch that runs on a standard household outlet. Use the low setting to help dry skin folds and ears after a bath. Made in the USA by Electric Cleaner Company.

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Diet & Sleeping Habits

Feed a high-quality food matched to your Ba-Shar’s size and activity. Basset Hounds are food-driven and gain weight easily, and extra pounds put stress on the back and joints. Measure meals, use part of the daily ration for training, and keep your dog lean. Split food into two meals a day, and skip hard exercise right after meals.

Some Shar-Peis have food sensitivities and skin allergies, so watch for itching or ear problems after diet changes. As your dog matures, ask your vet whether a joint-support supplement such as our Canine Hip & Joint fits your Ba-Shar.

Ba-Shars are champion nappers. A supportive bed that keeps them off hard floors protects joints and gives this heavy-boned dog a comfortable place to rest.

Bed Pick

Armor™ Rectangle Dog Bed

A memory-foam core under a tough 1680D ballistic-nylon cover, with a non-slip base. Low enough to step onto without jumping, with support for a long back and heavy joints. Made in the USA by American Dog.

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6. Health and Lifespan

Ba-Shars often live 10–13 years. Like all mixes, they can inherit conditions from either parent. Ask breeders for health results and watch for these:

• Skin fold dermatitis. Moisture and bacteria in wrinkles can cause redness, odor, and infection. Clean and dry folds regularly.
• Entropion. Shar-Peis often have eyelids that roll inward, irritating the eye. Squinting, tearing, or redness needs a vet visit.
• Ear infections. Long Basset ears and narrow Shar-Pei ear canals both trap moisture. Clean ears weekly.
• Shar-Pei fever. An inherited inflammatory condition that causes recurring fevers and swollen hocks, and can lead to kidney problems over time. Ask breeders about family history.
• Back and joint problems. Long-bodied dogs are at risk for intervertebral disc disease, and both parents can have hip and elbow dysplasia. Keep your dog lean and avoid jumping.
• Bloat (GDV). Deep-chested Bassets are at risk. Learn the signs: a swollen belly, unproductive retching, restlessness, and drooling.

Prevention is mostly about skin and ear care, a lean body, safe movement, regular eye checks, and routine vet visits. A breeder who health-tests and shares family history gives your puppy the best start.

7. Training and Socialization

Ba-Shars are intelligent but independent, and they are not known for instant obedience. Positive reinforcement works best: food, praise, and short, upbeat sessions. Food is usually the strongest motivator. Harsh corrections tend to make a Shar-Pei-leaning dog shut down or become defensive.

Start on day one with name recognition, sit, down, stay, come, leave it, and loose-leash walking. Recall is challenging with a hound nose, so practice on a long line and keep your Ba-Shar leashed in open areas. Teach a “quiet” cue early if your dog inherits the Basset bay.

• Socialize early and often. Between 8 and 16 weeks, give your puppy calm, positive exposure to many people, friendly dogs, places, and sounds. This is especially important for Shar-Pei-leaning dogs.
• Handle daily. Practice touching ears, face folds, paws, and mouth so grooming stays easy.
• Use the nose. Scent games make training feel like fun instead of work.
• Be patient. Short sessions and consistent rules work better than long drills.

A favorite toy makes a good reward after a training session. Many Ba-Shars enjoy a calm game of tug or a short toss and carry.

Training Pick

Firefighter Firehose Tug Toy

Made from real fire hose with a reinforced handle, and it floats and squeaks. A fun reward for a dog that would rather follow its nose than follow directions. Made in the USA.

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8. Ideal Home Environment

Ba-Shars adapt well to houses and can live in apartments if they get daily walks and their voices are managed. A home with few stairs is easier on a long back. A securely fenced yard is a plus for sniffing and safe play. They do best with owners who are home for a good part of the day.

They are a great fit for calm households, adults, families with respectful older children, and owners who enjoy relaxed walks. They are a weaker fit for very active runners, homes with lots of stairs, or owners who do not want to keep up with skin and ear care.

A Day With a Ba-Shar

A typical day might start with a 25- to 30-minute sniff walk, followed by breakfast and a long nap. Midday, a scent game or snuffle mat keeps that nose busy. In the late afternoon, another leisurely walk lets your Ba-Shar check the neighborhood news. Evenings are for a quick fold-and-ear check, a calm game, and settling on a comfy bed near the family. With that rhythm, most Ba-Shars are content, loyal companions.

9. Best Toys & Gear for a Ba-Shar

Choose sturdy toys for gentle tug, carrying, and scent games. Rotate toys to keep them interesting, supervise play, and retire anything that starts to break down.

Toy Pick

RECON Camo Bone Chew Toy

A firehose-built bone for supervised chew and carry sessions. A sturdier option than plush for a solid, heavy-boned dog. Made in the USA.

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Want more USA-made options? Browse the full collection: LibertyPaw American-Made Pet Toys

10. Adoption and Breeder Tips

A responsible Ba-Shar breeder health-tests both parents for hips, elbows, and eyes, asks about Shar-Pei fever in the family line, and shares the results. They let you meet the mother and ideally the father, raise puppies in the home, and start socialization early. Good breeders screen buyers and will take a dog back at any age.

Be cautious of breeders who breed for extreme wrinkles, cannot share health results, always have puppies available, or sell puppies younger than eight weeks. Heavy wrinkling increases the risk of skin and eye problems.

Adoption is a good option. Basset and Shar-Pei mixes appear in shelters and breed rescues, and an adult Ba-Shar with a known temperament can be a wonderful match for a calm home.

Quick Questions

Are Ba-Shars good family dogs? Often yes, for calm families with respectful children. Shar-Pei-leaning dogs may be reserved with strangers.

Do Ba-Shars shed? Moderately. The short coat is easy to brush, but the skin folds need regular care.

Are Ba-Shars easy to train? They are smart but independent. Patience, food rewards, and short sessions work best.

Before your Ba-Shar comes home, set up a crate, a supportive bed, a harness and leash, a long line, a rubber brush, soft cloths for folds, ear cleaner, durable toys, and a trainer. Then get ready for a loyal, wrinkly friend.