A Guide To Owning and Raising
The Chinese Shar-Pei
New Puppy Supplies For The Chinese Shar-Pei
The supplies listed below are things that we use as breeders and are just suggestions.
Food – Nutros Natural Choice, Lamb & Rice Adult Maintenance dog food. This food is available at most pet supply stores. We always feed the adult food instead of puppy food as this breed grows too quickly and tend to do much better on the adult formula.
Shampoo – Murphy’s Oil Soap or Mane n’ Tail are the best products, available at all retail outlets (Wal-Mart)
Nail Clippers – reesco or similar guillotine nail clippers and Kwik Stop. Available at most pet stores.
Kennel or Crate – Vari Kennel #300 or #400, available at most pet stores.
Chewtoys - Nylabones (not gumabones) either Souper, Knotabone or Wolfe Size. Nylabone is the strongest and safest product for this breed. NEVER FEED RAWHIDE OF ANY KIND TO A SHAR-PEI.
Dog dishes – we use stainless steel, medium size bowls for food and plastic automatic waterer. Shar-Pei need a very large supply of water and should have access to it at all times.
Your new puppy will bring you lots of joy in the years ahead. He’ll become a close companion, a playmate, and a reliable friend; however this does not happen without some effort. You should begin to train him in the early days so he will become a welcomed addition to your family. Not unlike a baby, your new puppy requires regular feeding, sleeping, playing, training and socializing.
We realize that new dog owners have many concerns. We have put together this info sheet to help you get off to a good start. Included are some basic tips that have worked well for us. We have only scratched the surface therefore please do not hesitate to contact us if you have more questions or concerns.
Welcoming Your New Puppy
Remember that he will be experiencing a number of changes when he arrives. He will miss his mother, brothers and sisters and will be surrounded by strange sounds and new smells. Be cheerful and encouraging with your new puppy. Give him lots of affectionate attention, and let him explore his new surroundings and become familiar with them. After your puppy becomes accustomed to his new home and to you and your family, you can begin to expose him to others. Take him to a family gathering or for a walk in the neighborhood to meet people and other animals.
Your Puppy’s Needs
The first thing that your puppy will need is a suitable bed. A bed or crate with clean bedding raised off the floor away from drafts makes an adequate bed for your new puppy. Make sure that if you buy a crate that it will be big enough for him when he is full grown. He will feel safe and secure here. Why? A cave was the home to the dog’s wolflike ancestors, so your puppy instinctively feels cozy and safe in anything remotely cavelike. Respect your puppy’s privacy when he is in his special place: don’t let children bother or tease him as he needs to feel safe in his special place. Try not to leave him locked in the crate for long periods of time and don’t banish him to his place when he’s been bad. Doing that will convince him that it’s a place of punishment rather than a comforting refuge. It can be a safe place to put him when you are unable to watch him and to know that he cannot get into any mischief while you are out. Even before he is fully house trained he will have an instinctive dislike of fouling his own bedding. To prevent accidents, spread paper on the floor around his bed. While your puppy is very small and still learning it may be a good idea to partition this area off to make sure that he doesn’t stray. It is important to remember that if you do not catch him in the “act”, he will not remember what you are scolding him for. Even though he may look “Guilty”, it is just a reaction to your tone of voice rather than recognition that he has done something wrong. (more tips under housetraining)
While you are making preparations for your new puppy, it is important to remember to look around your house for things that might be potentially hazardous. Your puppy may tug and chew on electrical cords, so make sure that there are none within his reach. Also check your yard or area that he may be exposed to for holes, fencing problems, or toxins such as antifreeze (smells and tastes great to animals but is extremely lethal).
Your puppy should have his own food and water bowls as described in the supplies list. All puppies love to play and chew so it is a must to get him his own toys and save your shoes and furniture.
For the first few nights your puppy will probably be restless and whimper when he is alone. Try not to go to him every time he makes a noise, it is better to reassure him from the next room or even cover the front of his crate. A puppy may settle down if you imitate his mother’s companionship by wrapping a hot water bottle in a blanket and placing it is his bed.
Feeding Your Puppy
Nutros Lamb and Rice Adult Maintenance Formula is recommended. Dogs are very routine animals and they thrive on eating at the same time every day. Your puppy will have to eat at least 3 or 4 times a day. It is best to split his meals into smaller portions and spread throughout the day. Even though they have puppy teeth it is generally better to soak the kibble in hot water until it is a little softer. Eating and drinking bowls should be placed in a quiet, out-of-the-way place and the puppy should not be disturbed while he is eating. Use a bowl that your pup cannot tip over easily. Free feeding (access to food all day) is not recommended. It can be okay while your puppy is still young because his nutritional needs will be so high. As the puppy grows older and his activity levels decrease, obesity can be a problem; it can also tend to produce a picky eater. The best method is to let the puppy eat his fill and then pick up the bowl right after he walks away; this will teach him to eat when it is given and that when it is gone there will be no more until his next feeding time. Remember that dogs do not need to eat human food. This type of treat will only cause you puppy to have loose stools or even diarrhea. Dog treats like Rollover or milkbones are good for all types of dogs. Always feed dog treats in moderation as some Shar-Pei can get overweight quickly. Never feed your dogs chocolate or chocolate products as the cocoa bean (or chocolate in certain amounts) can be lethal to dogs.
House-Training
Training should start as soon as you get your puppy. Shar-Pei as very clean dogs and usually take to training right away. A young puppy will have to urinate or defecate frequently. There are certain signs you should watch for. If your puppy walks around in circles, sits or whines at the door or voluntarily gives you the “look” – sustained eye contact with a slightly anxious expression – it’s time to go outside. When he shows these signs, place him on newspaper in a location convenient for both you and your puppy, he will prefer to use this paper rather than a hard surface. Over a period of days, gradually move the newspaper towards the door at the same time reducing the area covered until finally he is going outside. Thereafter, take your puppy out: first thing in the morning – which is usually shortly after sunrise, right after his naps, upon returning home to a puppy that has been left alone in his area, right after meals, last thing in the evening, before you go to bed (restricting water after 8PM generally helps here), and as soon as he gives you the “look”. When your puppy performs, he should be given lots of praise and he will associate the words “pee” or “potty” with the desired reaction as he will be happy to please you. Of course, accidents do happen. Should you discover a mess, do not raise your voice, spank your pup or rub his nose in it. He will certainly cower in fear, but he is too young to connect your reprimands with his mess. If he is caught in the act, immediately take him outside to finish. When he does, praise him for his efforts. Always keep a clean yard and scoop the poop.
Chewing
Puppies teethe between the ages of 3 and 6 months, and they need to chew on something to help the teeth come in. A puppy isn’t a picky chewer – he doesn’t know the difference between your best shoes or his toys. Help avoid destruction by giving your puppy rubber Kong toys, Nyla bones, or rope toys. (all toys must be big enough that the pup does not swallow or choke on it). NEVER Give ANY type of RAWHIDE or GREENIES to Shar-Pei. This product is very unsafe for this breed and they will try to swallow it whole and possibly choke and die. Make your pups chew toys attractive to them by playing games with it. Give the Nyla Bone to the pup when ever he starts to chew an undesirable object: say “no” sternly, take the forbidden object away, and replace it with the chew toy. When he starts to chew on his own toy, praise him for good behavior
Health Care
A good diet and plenty of exercise are key ingredients to a healthy dog. All dogs need to be exercised daily. Also important are regular checkups. Get your puppy used to being handled: he should accept stroking, grooming, and a thorough once-over as part of his daily routine. Once a week or so, take a good look at your pup’s eyes, ears, mouth, paws and nails.
Eyes – Check your pup’s eyes for redness or inflammation, a half closed lid, excessive watering (Shar-Pei eyes do tend to tear especially on windy days) and blueness or opacity of the cornea. A pup with an eye problem will rub at them, so if you notice a lot of rubbing going on, take a closer look. You can help prevent problems by keeping you puppy’s eyes clean. Wipe each eye gently with a clean cotton ball or face cloth, soaked in warm water. Always consult a Shar-Pei knowledgeable vet if you have concerns with the puppy’s eyes. Never do entropion surgery on a puppy under 8 months of age.
Ears – Check ears for discharge, excessive waxy buildup, or an unpleasant odor. Your pup will scratch his ears or shake his head violently if they are bothering him. Shar-Pei ears need to be cleaned regularly. Gently use a Q-tip to clean in and around the ear.
Nails – Clip your puppy’s nails frequently. If you hear them clicking on the floor when he walks, then it is time to trim them. Handle your Shar-Pei feet often. This breed can be very difficult during nail trimming time if you do not do it regularly. By handling his feet daily this allows for him to get used to the touch on his paws and can help with half the battle. Dog clippers are better than scissors or human nail trimmers. Hold the paw firmly, and clip a little at a time. Be careful NOT to cut the “Quick” ( the pink fleshy part under the nail) Usually take off the part just at the end where it curls.
Grooming – Shar-Pei do not need extensive grooming or bathing. Remember also they are big lovers of water, especially the horsecoat variety. For grooming the recommended choice is the rubber glove. This product is great for short coated breeds and tends to help with the shedding process (8 month puppy coat shed and the once yearly) and also to help promote good healthy hair and skin. The Shar-Pei should only be bathed when necessary. Over bathing can deplete the natural skin oils and dry out the skin. Bathing the horsecoat can be a challenge, as the coat naturally repels water, so it make take more time to get the water into the coat for efficient cleaning. For bathing, the use of Murphy’s Oil soap (diluted 1:3) is very good as well as the product Mane and Tail. When bathing the Shar-Pei remember to try not to get water and soap in their ears. Also dogs do not like to have water poured over their heads and it is preferred to start at the neck region and work your way back. Clean the head with a face cloth rather than soap and water method. It is very important to rinse the soap out well and thoroughly dry the dog. Towel drying is efficient and should be done all over the dog’s body including between the toes, under the armpits and belly area.
Training Tips
We highly recommend puppy kindergarten and obedience training for all Shar-Pei. Not only does this training help with the bond between you and your dog, but it is a great tool for socializing your puppy which is a must for this breed. As the Shar-Pei is a natural guard dog, they can be stubborn and possessive, however, they are extremely intelligent and respond well to praise and food reward training. Start with a light buckle collar and lead, and let him get used to wearing the collar around the house. Never leave your dog unattended if using a choke collar. Dogs can get hung up on several thing in the house and yard and can strangle themselves. After your pup is used to his new collar, attach the lead and gently let him get used to the idea that he is “attached” to you. Some Shar-Pei puppies can yelp and scream, struggle by pulling back and you can gently hold the led until he realizes that there is no escape and that he is not winning the tug-of-war. Make the training fun and enjoy the puppy as he will try to please you. Train the Shar-Pei needs patience and self-control as well as consistency and firmness. Remember that they are a dominant breed and will respond to consistent “alpha” response training. You should never have to hit your dog, you can be the boss by being firm and using voice commands. Shar-Pei are extremely loyal dogs and tend to bond with one member of the family more so than others. Even though they will love and respect everyone in the household, they tend to “pick” one person.
Socializing Your Shar-Pei
It is essential that this breed is well socialized with all types of people, animals and environments. Even though the breed is standoffish and aloof with strangers, they should become a well behaved member of the house. Exposing them to lots of people and other dogs during the first 8 months is the first step. The Shar-Pei is also a natural guard dog and will bark when someone comes in their territory or house. They are not generally boredom barkers but are alert barkers. Please remember that the Shar-Pei cannot withstand extreme heat or extreme cold. Do not leave your puppy or adult dog out side in extreme temperatures for long periods of time, and always make sure they have access to fresh water at all times inside or out. If you place a box of treats or cookies at the door and teach them to sit, this can make the guest a welcome sight to your new puppy.
Always have fun with your new Shar-Pei puppy and we hope that you will enjoy this breed as much as we have over the years. Give your dog lots of love and attention and you will receive just as must love and devotion in return.
•** This paper is written as a guideline, our opinion as breeders and based on what has worked well at our house. This is not meant to deter anyone from seeking the advice of a veterinarian.
