Q: I've heard of the Chinese Shar Pei being a fighting dog, is that true? A: At one time, decades ago (or longer), the Shar Pei was used as a fighting dog in China. They are now a cherished pet in American households. They are very gentle dogs, but if not socialized or adversely trained, this breed can be agressive.
Q: Are Chinese Shar Pei a good watch dog?
A: They are loving family members, but will guard their home turf with a vengance. They will patrol the yard and can bark up a storm if left unchecked/untrained, which is very important in close quarter living arrangements.
Q: Do Chinese Shar Pei shed?
A: Yes! Shar Pei will shed with the seasons. They may lose a lot of hair, or in spots, which appears as a "shot gun" look on the horsecoats. The hair is prickly, and will stick to everything, and is not easily vacuumed.
Q: What health issues are most important to know about Chinese Shar Pei?
A: Be careful when searching for your new friend. Make sure the breeder is knowledgeable. Never buy from a pet store! You can run into a host of health issues, if you're not careful.
Ears - the tiny ear canals and flaps can keep the canal from staying dry, in which yeast infections or a smelly, waxy buildup can occur. Check the ears often, gently cleaning with a Q-tip.
Skin - Here's where good breeding is VERY important. Shar Pei can have an oily skin, and with regular bathing, can alleviate any issues. When shopping for a Shar Pei, look at the parents' skin as well as the pups for redness, sores, or other odd signs and ask the breeder about them. Note: The mother Shar Pei will have varying degrees of hair loss (some get pretty bald) right after the pups are born. The important thing here is the condition of the skin underneath the former coat.
Eyes - Shar Pei can develop a condition called Entropian. This is the eyelids rolling in and the lashes irritating the cornea. This can happen at any time in the dogs life, from 2 weeks of age forward. Don't be alarmed if you see a pup with corrective stitches in its lids at a very young age. This is the treatment taken to help the pup grow into it's eyelid wrinkles. If the entire litter has this condition, you may want to look elsewhere, but one or two is not uncommon. The stitches are eventually removed after a few weeks. If this happens in an adolescent or adult, surgery may be required. Check with your breeder to suggest a good veterinarian to correct this. Some eyes are mistaken for entriopian candidates when they may have a slight allergy or even an ear infection! Some tearing in the eye is normal, but if the dog is rubbing it's eye(s) or can't open them, it's time to make a call.
Allergies - Depending on the quality of the dog, most allergies are limited to skin types in the Shar Pei. Primariy caused by poor quality foods, check with your breeder for recommendations. Dry foods are a good choice for ecomical and nutrition reasons. I NEVER buy grocery store brands, with the exception of Nutra Nuggets Lamb and Rice/Kirkland Brand Lamb and Rice. My show dogs feast on Purina Pro Plan.