11 things to know before owning a Shar Pei
Chinese Shar-Pei is easily recognizable because they are notoriously wrinkled. More than aesthetics, it also serves a great purpose. When another animal grabs hold of the dog's skin, the dog may still have a chance to fight because of its loose skin. Their fur is bristly and typically sable in color. Some dedicated breeders in Hong Kong were able to maintain the species alive despite the regime's best efforts to exterminate it. Tai Lin, a small village in China's Kwangtung Province, is widely regarded as the birthplace of the breed. If a Shar Pei is what you're looking for, take the time to learn about it beforehand. Here are some things to consider before bringing home a Shar Pei!
This breed can be aloof and stubborn.
This breed does exceptionally well at home, although it is sometimes reserved and distrustful of strangers. The American Kennel Club also notes that despite the breed's intelligence, it is notoriously difficult to train because of its strong will and independence.
This does not mean that training your new dog will be impossible, merely that it may be more difficult than you have anticipated. These canines tend to be somewhat headstrong, which makes training them more difficult than with other breeds.
Shar-pei needs much love and attention.
The Shar Pei requires care, attention, and affection. Every dog should have a family that treats it with respect and provides it with the care it needs to thrive. If you are not prepared to make that kind of commitment, a Shar Pei is not the perfect dog for you.
Training and socialization are required for this breed.
Training the puppy will be required if you choose to adopt or buy one. This is to avoid untoward behaviors like so much digging and chewing. Shar Peis can be difficult to train because of their headstrong nature.
You can hire professionals to assist you in training the dog. You can even send the dog to camps where it is taught everything it needs to know to be the ideal household pet.
Always be consistent with your training. If you don't, you’ll allow unwanted behaviors to occur. If you don't employ appropriate discipline and if you don't stick to a training schedule, training any dog, let alone a stubborn one, will be extremely challenging. Consistency, therefore, will help you feel much more accomplished as you train your new pet.
Considering how apprehensive it is of strangers, you must start socializing this dog as soon as possible. It needs early and consistent socialization to help it overcome its natural shyness around strangers.
However, the good news is that this breed is completely at ease in your company and that of your loved ones. Whenever this breed is among its human family, it beams with love and happiness. Many people's fondness for this breed of dog can be attributed to this quality.
This breed requires moderate exercise.
The only way to keep this dog happy and healthy is to regularly take it for walks, runs, and other outdoor activities. On the bright side, getting your dog out for walks and exercise can serve as motivation for you to do the same.
Ideally, you'd like to give your Shar Pei an hour of exercise a day, but no less. This should ideally be broken up into a few longer walks where the dog is allowed to run around and play off-leash.
You should also provide your Shar Pei with training sessions, plenty of opportunities to play, and plenty of unstructured outside time.
Due to their strong hunting tendencies, they shouldn't be left to run free unless they have an excellent memory. Because of their short muzzle and slack skin, they may also struggle in hot conditions.
Shar Peis thrive more in an experienced household.
Shar Peis are a strong-willed breed that fares best with experienced owners who are familiar with the breed's unique characteristics. Despite their gloomy appearance, these pups have been lauded for their wit, intelligence, and devotion to their family.
Shar Peis, when placed in the appropriate homes, can be excellent, loving companions, but only if their owners are ready to meet all of their requirements. Although they make wonderful guard dogs and are extremely loyal, their independence makes them perfectly adapted to seasoned owners and those who are already acquainted with the breed.
Shar Peis are at risk of certain genetic conditions.
Unfortunately for this breed, they have the same predisposition to breed-specific diseases that plague numerous other pure canines. Shar Peis are susceptible to a variety of health problems, such as infections and inflammations of the skin's folds, entropion and ectropion, eye irritation, ear inspections, skin itching, and many more.
Symptoms of the inherited disease known as Shar-Pei fever include a high body temperature, painful swelling of the joints and face, and a plethora of gastrointestinal distresses. It is important to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible if your Shar Pei displays any abnormal symptoms.
Their flatter face might make breathing difficult due to a condition known as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. This breed is also prone to developing hip and elbow dysplasia, both of which are caused by issues with the hips and elbows.
Shar Peis are not known to be barkers but they snore.
The amount of noise your Shar Pei makes depends on the dog's nature, training, and expectations. Despite this stereotype, Shar Peis are not typically noisy dogs.
They have a reputation for being quiet and reserved pets that prefer to observe a situation from a distance before reacting to it. If your dog is making too much noise or barking too much, you should search for the cause or take it to your vet for consultation.
Your Shar Pei is likely to snore and snort daily since it is a molosser, a group of dog breeds characterized by "smushed" faces like those of bulldogs, which makes them very vocal.
Shar Peis are quite intelligent.
Shar Peis are well-known for their intelligence, but they tend to think for themselves, making it all the more important to begin teaching them as puppies using a positive, reward-based method.
If they get bored they may try to experiment with the boundaries of your home. In addition to providing a safe environment for your Shar Pei in the garden, you should provide it with plenty of stimulating activities. Shar Peis enjoy challenging puzzles very much.
This breed is pretty low-maintenance.
They seem like they have fluffy fur, but it has a slightly scratchy texture, They otherwise require little grooming. You can control the amount of hair they shed around the house with a weekly brushing and a regular hoovering.
Even though Shar Peis don't have very high maintenance, you still should pay special care to their skin wrinkles. To avoid a condition known as skin fold dermatitis, it is important to keep them tidy and dry at all times.
Use a cotton swab dampened in water to wipe them down, and then dry them completely. You should also keep an eye on your pet's ears to make sure the skin isn't red or uncomfortable and make sure it’s dirt free.
The rest are basic grooming needs like brushing the teeth and cutting the nails regularly.
This dog is not very good with toddlers.
Shar Peis make wonderful family pets and, with the correct amount of socialization, may even get along with slightly older children.
Shar Peis are great dogs, but they can be somewhat stubborn and prefer to do their own thing, so we wouldn't recommend getting one if you have young children.
It's important to be able to read your dog's body language so that you can prevent any tense situations from getting worse. Dogs should never be left unattended around youngsters or the elderly.
They are naturally wary of unfamiliar dogs.
Your Shar Pei may be instinctively suspicious of strange canines because of their protective attitude. It's crucial to introduce them to other dogs at an early age so they don't grow up fearful of them.
Given their extremely intense prey drive, Shar Peis should not be kept alongside any kind of tiny animal. When you take your dog for a walk, make sure to have a firm hold on its leash in case it gets the impulse to chase something.
You need to consult your vet for feeding directions.
When feeding your Shar Pei, you'll need to take into account how old it is. Maintaining a trim and healthy dog requires a diet of high-quality, all-natural dog food.
How much food your Shar Pei needs to eat is something your vet can advise you on. Typically, it is advised to have them eat their daily allotment in two meals. Treats can be useful in teaching and rewarding good behavior, but if you give your dog treats regularly, you should minimize the number of treats they normally get.
Treats are fine but should be in moderation because that can throw off their dietary balance. It's important to wait at least an hour between meals and workouts.
These dogs are aggressive.
Before, Shar Peis were bred specifically for their hostility toward other species, including humans. As a guard dog and a pit fighter, they benefited from a fiery disposition and an air of self-assurance.
All dogs have the potential to be harmful if they are not properly raised and cared for. It's more dangerous to have a dog around who has experience guarding or fighting and is strong-willed and self-reliant.
Of course, not all Shar Peis are vicious, but the possibility of encountering a dangerous dog is higher with this breed. Despite the breed's rarity, it has been the subject of research on child face bites.
Expert vets have also noted their high level of aggression. However, with proper socializing and reinforcement training, one can increase their chances of success.
They can’t see properly because of their wrinkles.
The wrinkles make it harder for the dog to see and these dogs will shy away when you try and pat their head.
They don’t see you until you are right in front of them, they don’t have much in the way of peripheral vision. When you approach them you will need to do it from the front.
In conclusion, members of this breed are easily recognizable by the excessive wrinkles that cover their skin. The Shar Pei's history as a guard dog has given it the traits of loyalty and self-assurance. They're good pets for city dwellers, although they need moderate activity regularly. It can adapt to any living situation and make itself at home in a house, an apartment, or a dorm room. You should put as much effort as possible into training it because it is just as stubborn as it is smart. As soon as you establish your authority over it, it will follow your direction and regard you as a leader. Is this the kind of dog you’re looking for? If yes, congratulations are in order! You will surely have a great time together.
