I'll Make A Fortune From My Ugly Dogs

Jan 6 2008 By Marion Scott

Exclusive

A YOUNG mum hopes to make a fortune breeding dogs branded the world's ugliest.

Jen Grant is Scotland's first recognised breeder of miniature Shar Pei - wrinkly faced Chinese pooches.

She fell in love with the breed when she saw them in a skin cream advert.

She now has three breeding bitches and has set up her own firm - Jen's House of Wrinkles.

Jen said: "Some people say they're ugly but to me they're the most beautiful things in the world."

The dogs normally stand 18 to 20in tall but Jen hopes to breed them as small as 13in.

She said: "Full-size Shar Pei are very wrinkly when they are puppies but they grow into their skin.

"Miniatures are wrinkled all their lives and it's those wrinkly wee faces people fall in love with.

"I have a bitch from Russia who is just 15in tall and we're hoping to get our first litter of miniature puppies from her in spring.

"It takes years to breed down to smaller sizes but each miniature pup will sell for about £2000. I expect to have a long waiting list of customers."

Jen, of Stevenston, Ayrshire, has her own website and got £1400 in Scottish Enterprise grants.