*Good With Children? They are good with older children, especially if they have been socialized at an early age. As a reminder, never leave a young child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.
*Good With Other Pets? They can tend to fight. Some are good with other animals if they are socialized with them early on.
*Trainability: They are highly intelligent but may be manipulative. They really require an experienced owner.
*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the Chinese Powder Puff is 18 to 20 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 35 to 45 pounds.
*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Chinese Shar-Pei is no exception. Be on the look out for skin problems, fevers, and amolydosis (kidney failure). This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.
She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.
*Grooming. The Chinese Shar-Pei has a short, harsh coat with plenty of loose skin on the head and body. You should check folds of skin regularly to insure that there is no irritation. Brush daily if possible to help her maintain a clean and healthy coat, help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her.
Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.
Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net.
*Life Span. The Chinese Shar-Pei can live between 7 and 12 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.
* Chinese Shar-Pei History. They are an ancient breed from China dating back to 200 BC. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1991.
Some Registries: *The Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America, Inc *UKC United Kennel Club *NKC National Kennel Club *CKC Continental Kennel Club *APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc. *AKC American Kennel Club *FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale *NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club *KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain *ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club *ACR = American Canine Registry
*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS Good watch dog. Good Guard dog. Very clean dog. Very easy to housebreak.
*SPECIAL BAD POINTS May be aggressive to other dogs. Needs early firm training. Very sensitive to over heating. Keep on a lease when in public to avoid fights with other dogs. Some people might be allergic to them. She may try to take over. She needs an experienced, firm handler. She may be stubborn. They do not like water.
*Other Names Known By: Chinese Fighting Dog
*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.
Keeping regular appointments when a veterinarian who is aware of the problems specific to the Shar Pei breed is the best way to avoid health problems with your dog.
If you notice any signs of an ear infection it is important to get your dog to a veterinarian right away. The key to keeping your dog healthy is getting medical attention for conditions such as ear infections as soon as possible.
You will know your Shar Pei has problems with their eyes when they begin pawing at them. Due to their wrinkles, the Shar Pei has problems with the lids rolling in. Sometimes it can affect just the top lid or the bottom lid and occasionally both lids will be affected. It is important to correct this Shar Pei health problem as soon as possible because without the operation your Shar Pei can eventually go blind. For the dog it is the same as having an eyelash stuck in your eye and everyone knows how painful that can be.
The most common Shar Pei health problems that are seen by veterinarians are skin conditions. A Shar Pei without skin problems is actually a rare dog. Too much bathing can sometimes lead to skin problems. After you bathe your Shar Pei it is important to rinse them thoroughly. To help with the itching you can use human Benedryl and it won't hurt your dog.
Another important part of Shar Pei health is to check between their paws from time to time. Sometimes a Shar Pei can get sore paws and you will know this when your dog starts to constantly lick their paws. Your veterinarian can recommend an antibiotic salve that won't harm your Shar Pei if they lick it. The antibiotic will also help to relieve the soreness between the paws.
The Shar Pei makes an excellent pet despite the numerous Shar Pei health problems. If you get your Shar Pei from a reputable breeder you have a better chance of avoiding breed specific health problems. Although getting a Shar Pei from a puppy mill or an unknown source could result in health problems.
It is important to carefully consider the puppy and the person you are getting them from before taking a Shar Pei into your household. If you have any concerns about your Shar Pei's health then you should talk with your veterinarian who is trained to handle breed specific problems.
Both Mitch Endick & Melissa Coleman are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Mitch Endick has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Puppies Dogs and Education. Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website developer for the popular pet site petpages.com.