Description
The ancient, distinctive, and formerly extremely rare shar-pei dog breed was created in China. It distinguishes itself from the crowd due to its bristle-like coat, wrinkled skin, and blue-black tongues. However, the breed is not recommended for new owners.
Origin/History
The Shar-Pei has a 2000-year history and its origins are in China. Statues suggest they originated from Dah-Lel, southern China, or Tibet, while their precise origin is unknown. Shar-Pei literally means “sand skin” in English. This is due to the rough coat that is distinctive to the breed.
Temperament
This very intelligent dog is independent, distant, and wary of new people. The breed may also be more susceptible to a number of illnesses. However, the shar-pei may also be a cuddly, fiercely devoted, and protective family pet.
Care
The maintenance of a shar-pei is rather straightforward. It is not well known for being vocal, and it does not have the same activity needs as many other breeds of its size. The dog is naturally tidy and frequently dislikes water, therefore it is doubtful that you will see your puppy having fun splashing around in dirty puddles. Given the breed’s reputation for being stubborn and willful, training success will depend on your ability to be persistent and patient.
Exercise
The shar-pei breed is not well known for having a lot of energy. It would be uncommon to observe them participating in agility. They are frequently recognised as dogs suitable for apartment living as long as they get regular, enjoyable walks that last around an hour each day and are kept suitably enriched in the home.
Grooming
The grooming process for shar-peis is straightforward. Their coats don’t require a lot of upkeep; often, just a weekly brushing to remove dead hair is needed. They do shed, but not in large amounts.
If they do require a bath, the most important thing is to make sure you thoroughly dry them in between the folds if they are especially wrinkled. The possibility of skin infections exists. Additionally, they might require mouthwash following a meal.
Furthermore, infections in their little ears are a possibility. It’s typically advised to make sure they’re cleansed with a superior cleanser.
Training
A shar-pei needs to start off with the right socialization and training. They can have a high hunting drive and are frequently suspicious of other dogs and strangers. They thrive better when they are the lone pet in the home for these reasons.
They dislike roughhousing, thus it’s crucial to use positive reinforcement techniques when training them. The majority of the time, forcing a shar-pei to cooperate will not go well. Most of the time, forcing a shar-pei to cooperate will not go well.
Diet and Nutrition
Like any other dog, it’s crucial to provide them with a high-quality, precisely portioned diet and to ensure that they always have access to a fresh water source. If giving a wet or raw diet, more care should be taken to ensure that any residue is washed away from the mouth area after eating because the shar-pei is more susceptible to bacterial skin diseases. If they like to guzzle their food quickly, it could be recommended feeding them from a slow feeding bowl because they are also known to be prone to gastric torsion.
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