Frequently asked Questions about Shar-Pei
Shar-Pei are a medium sized dog. On more than one occasion I have had people surprised that they are not the size of a Rottweiler or Mastiff (although behind a door or gate they sound it!). A full grown Shar-Pei stands somewhere (depending on the bloodlines) between 16-22" tall. The average being around 19-20". A full grown dog in reasonable condition will weigh around 20 kilograms. This makes them an easy size to pick up and put in the bath and not too much of handful on the end of a lead.
Contrary to popular
belief Shar-Pei are not a difficult dog to care for. Their full grown weight
averages around 20kgs which makes them an easy dog to bath, walk and own. Providing
you give your dog the time, attention and affection it requires your Shar-Pei
should live to the average dog life span of 10+ years. Shar-Pei are surprisingly
energetic and love to go out for walks and meet people and other dogs. Socialisation
at an early age is an important part of their development. I recommend all new
dog owners take their puppies to obedience school. This is not only to help
create a well behaved dog but to teach the owners the best way to handle their
puppy and get the best from it. Keep one thing in mind.....they are not unlike
children. If you don’t intend to let them sleep on the bed or sit on the couch
as adults.....don’t let them do it while they are a cute little puppy. You'll
only confuse them when you decide they’re getting to big to do what has always
been accepted before. Shar-Pei are good with cats if they are reared with them...same
goes for children. They make excellent inside dogs, they house train very easily
and don’t like soiling where they live. They are naturally protective of their
own territory and will bark at intruders with a very deep impressive bark. When
new guests are invited into the house the will gladly accept them at their own
pace. Shar-Pei are naturally aloof and choose who they will befriend. They are
very loyal....do not always rehouse easily and are very intelligent. Treat them
like a part of the family and you will be rewarded with a content, loving pet
for many years to come.
Shar-Pei are not hard to look after providing you are sensible in the dietary management and the conditions they live in. They are a people dog and thrive on love and affection. They are easy to train, being attentive to their owners and willing to please. Shar-Pei can be prone to allergies the same as people suffer hay fever, this can be displayed by either watery eyes or itchy skin. I recommend that they are not fed red Meat and are given a high quality chicken and rice based dry food, that doesn't contain artificial colourings or preservatives as the foundation of their diet. At the end of the day a Shar-Pei is a dog and sensible health management including vaccinations and parasite protection along with a healthy balanced diet is the basis for good health.
Shar-Pei are not smelly dogs and their short coat makes them easy to maintain. No, Shar-Pei do not have problems with their skin unless their is an underlying problem. A weekly shampoo is sufficient to keep them clean. It is important to ensure that you wash all of the shampoo out so as not to cause dermatitis. I use a coconut based shampoo called Melrose that you can buy at health food stores, it is quite thick and I dilute it in another bottle with 50% water. I also add essential oils to the mix, not only to make the dog smell nice but for the therapeutic aspect. Tea-Tree will help to keep away fleas whilst, Chamomile and Lavender are calming. If the skin is dry the coat can get the appearance of dandruff like flakes, in this instance it is sensible to wash the dog with a dandruff shampoo the same as you would for a person. A good brand is Nizoral, which is available over the counter at the chemist. Don’t be alarmed if their prickly coat gives you a rash if you cuddle them or pick them up, it's all part of the unusual breed that they are....I have found thatcalamine lotion helps when I et "prickle rash" from my dogs.
I may be biased
but Shar-Pei are great dogs!! I grew up with Shepherds and then owned Alaskan
Malamutes, I decided that I like a dog to have a reasonable level of intelligence
and malleability to be trained. Shar-Pei make great guard dogs, they have a
big dog bark that warns off intruders but they are not attack dogs that will
bite. Once a Shar-Pei has decided that it is comfortable in it's new home it
will let you know when something is not right. I do not ignore the bark of my
dogs as they are not stupid and do not bark unnecessarily. They are offish with
strangers until they have decided to make friends.
I believe temperament in any breed is crucial and my dogs are all well socialised
with other dogs and my children. I have seen over the years that temperament
is inherited and I strive for a good nature in all of my dogs. In saying that,
not all people breed alike and some see the physical traits outweighing a bad
temperament. The way a dog is treated will obviously effect the dogs nature
also. I believe there is no use in having a pretty looking, bad natured dog.
Essentially at the end of the day a dog is a part of the family and should be
healthy and good natured towards people and other dogs.
Dog Food!!! I cook for my dogs daily including all the veggie scraps, rice and chicken and a clove of minced garlic (helps keeps the fleas away). Chicken meat is a good source of oils to keep the coat in good condition along with a good quality chicken and rice based dry food. I feed my puppies on a diet of Supercoat Puppy ( black & pink bag), which is readily available in the supermarkets.. The diet needs to be kept on a balance of 80% dry food and 20% extra’s. A diet of meat is not balanced and will lead to nutritional deficiencies. Feeding Supercoat will ensure your puppy gets the required protein levels along with the calcium and minerals they need to develop as they grow without the need for any additional supplements...and Shar-Pei grow very quickly. Avoid feeding beef, Kangaroo or any red meats (lamb is ok). Shar-Pei can develop skin problems if fed rich meats, canned food or dry foods with artificial colourings. Resist the urge to feed them things you like. If a food reaction occurs don’t hesitate to call me. Don’t feed onion, curry or potato peels...they can all be toxic. Milk must be diluted with water 50% to avoid causing diarrhoea. Do not feed raw egg whites as they bind up important nutrients and prevent their absorbtion. Lamb Flaps are ideal to chew and they clean the teeth. Feeding bones wears the dogs teeth down and can leave you with an old dog with little or no teeth. Feed your puppy 3-4 meals a day until it is 6 months old then drop it back to two meals a day but increase the portions. Small puppies can’t eat enough in one sitting to sustain the growth their bodies are going through. Don’t chop and change food brands or your dog will get diarrhoea. Fresh, clean water must be available at all times.
Shar-Pei live the average dog live of ten years. I have heard of dogs living to 14 years old. A good diet, maintenance of health and a happy lifestyle will all bode well for the dog living as long as possible.
Shar-Pei are prone to Entropian. It goes with the territory of having lots of skin & just because the parents have good eyes doesn't’t guarantee the pups will too. I have discovered that the plainer dogs tend to have less problems with their eyes...but they have hardly any wrinkle and not the highly sought after boofy heads. With the fashion of Shar-Pei being towards the bigger heads and adult body wrinkles Entropion is harder to avoid, I have the puppies eyes tacked if it is required . Just because your puppy has had it’s eyes tacked doesn't mean it will inevitably end up requiring surgery later in life. Tacking is often all that is required until the puppy grows into it’s wrinkles. Likewise a dog that has never had tacking can develop Entropion at any stage in it’s life from a reaction to something as simply as a dusty environment, a hayfever type reaction or another stress. Entropion can happen to one eye, both eyelids or just the top or the bottom. If you think your dogs eye’s are irritated have a look and see if you can see all the eyelashes all the way round the eye...don’t be scared to wipe them, but remember that as soon as you go to look your dog will close them tight as possible to protect them. Depending on the age and the severity the dog may need tacking, entropian surgery or may simply have a case of conjunctivitis. Either way a vet is the only person who can tell you the exact problem. If you are after a good Shar-Pei vet email me and I will find the best nearest vet to you.
The ears on a Shar-Pei can quite often be as wrinkly inside as the dogs is outside! This can make it difficult to keep them clean. Also the ear carriage being tight to the head doesn’t allow airflow. Check your dogs ears regularly. I wash my dogs ears out with a wet flannel while they are being bathed and then use cotton buds to remove any gunk that may be in there after the bath. ( DO NOT DIG AROUND AND MAKE THE DOGS EARS SORE!) If your dog is shaking it’s head, is smelly or hanging it’s head to one side...check it’s ears and get veterinary help if necessary.
Length essentially, a horse coat has a very short coat (like a horse). A brush coat can be up to one inch in length. Both types of coat in their correct form should be harsh to touch and offstanding from the body.....basicly prickly. The name" Shar-Pei " means sand skin and this name is indicative of the rough coat. You will find soft coated shar-pei, but they are not correct. A good shar-pei coat will generally give you a rash? This may not sound like a dog you want to cuddle but if you stick on your pants and a long sleeved top you should be safe. Remember this is one of the few things that make this breed the unique creature it is.