Health care - Feed a Shar Pei a well balanced diet throughout its life

Feed a Shar Pei a well balanced diet throughout its life. With a fairly sedentary lifestyle than other dogs, Shar Pei do not require a high protein diet. Quality commercial dog food should be fine. Look for skin irritations if you are trying out a new food for the first time.

Shar Pei - Dog Lover

Health care - Choose a well-bred, healthy puppy to start

Choose a well-bred, healthy puppy to start. While you may think you are saving a less healthy puppy, the costs involved and the ultimate demise of the dog may be too much for you and your family. A healthy puppy should already have its first year of vaccinations done prior to adoption. These should include: DA2PP, corona virus, rabies, bordetella (kennel cough) and worming.

Shar Pei - Dog Lover

Skin care - Brushing

Proper grooming of your Shar-Pei will keep her skin healthy. Brushing your dog when it is shedding will prevent irritation and discomfort to the skin. The Chinese Shar-Pei does not shed all year. Rather, these dogs shed once a year when they rid themselves of their winter coats. When your dog is shedding, use a rubber brush or grooming glove to loosen the shed hair.

Daily brushing using a rubber brush keeps the coat shiny, but this is not necessary when you are focusing on Shar-Pei skin care. The shedding season is the only time your dog's coat may irritate his skin.

Shar Pei - Dog Lover

Skin care - Bathing

Because the Shar-Pei is prone to skin irritation, many owners assume they need to bathe their dog frequently to avoid this problem. However, according to Hong Ming Kennels, a Shar-Pei breeder, this is not true. Only bathe your Shar-Pei once every one to two months, or when your pet has gotten dirty.

Choose your shampoo carefully when bathing your Shar-Pei. Use Murphy's Oil Soap diluted one part shampoo to three parts water, or use Mane and Tail shampoo. Baby shampoo works as well. Dandruff shampoo can help dogs with flaky skin. Avoid other dog or human shampoos, as they may dry out your Shar-Pei's skin.

Wet your dog thoroughly, rubbing water into the coat, as as a Shar-Pei's coat naturally repels moisture. Once your dog is damp, use the shampoo to cleanse him. Carefully rinse him, paying close attention to the skin folds to ensure that all of the shampoo is out. Thoroughly dry your Shar-Pei using a towel, again paying close attention to the wrinkles. If you are bathing a puppy, take extra time to dry the many wrinkles on his body.

Shar Pei - Dog Lover

Skin care - Shar-Peis are prone to skin infections if their skin is not cared for properly

The Shar-Pei breed is known for its rough coat and many skin folds. These defining characteristics also give the breed special skin care needs, because Shar-Peis are prone to skin infections if their skin is not cared for properly. if you own a Shar-Pei or are thinking of getting Shar-Pei puppy, learn about the proper skin care for Shar-Pei dogs so you can keep your pet comfortable and healthy.

Shar Pei - Dog Lover

Training tip - Play music or leave the TV on when you are gone from the house for long periods of time

Play music or leave the TV on when you are gone from the house for long periods of time. If your normal practice, when you are at home, is to have a particular music or TV playing, leave one on. Shar Pei's are very smart and will associate the quietness in your home with your absence. The awareness of your not being home may cause it to bark or react in a negative manner.

Shar Pei - Dog Lover

Training tip - Purchase specific chewy and play toys for your Shar Pei

Purchase specific chewy and play toys for your Shar Pei. Correct it early on by presenting a chewy toy when it goes for shoes or other inappropriate items. Your Shar Pei is smart and will catch on quickly.

Shar Pei - Dog Lover

Training tip - Take your Shar Pei puppy outdoors for potty training hourly in the beginning

Take your Shar Pei puppy outdoors for potty training hourly in the beginning. This is especially important to do just after it has had food or water. Its immature bladder can't hold urine for long periods of time. It is better to praise your Shar Pei for a job well done, rather than reprimand it for a body reaction it can't control well. With just a bit of training, you will find that your Shar Pei prefers to go to the bathroom outside in the same place each time. This is wonderful for clean-up purposes.

Shar Pei - Dog Lover

Training tip - Socialize your Shar Pei early on

Socialize your Shar Pei early on. Because Shar Pei's are an independent breed, they may seem to be fine as an only dog in the beginning. However, if it is not socialized early, it may have problems interacting with other dogs as it grows older. Take your Shar Pei to the dog park weekly, especually if there are no other dogs in the family. Your Shar Pei will be small, so keep a leash on it and watch closely that older dogs do not harm it.

Shar Pei - Dog Lover

Training tip - Direct your puppy in simple commands

Direct your puppy in simple commands in short time periods. As a puppy, Shar Pei's have short attention spans. If you overwork it, it may show some stubbornness. It will retain more with frequent, short-training bouts.

Shar Pei - Dog Lover