Shar Pei Care

The Chinese Shar Pei: wrinkly, protective, docile--and most of all, unusual. These medium-sized dogs are usually pretty relaxed, but they can be independent, stubborn, and even aggressive if not taught proper behavior. Still, Shar Peis can be wonderful family pets, and don't require too much care and maintenance overall. They'll need regular exercise, occasional grooming, and early training and socialization.

Below you'll find plenty of details on raising a Shar Pei: puppy care and development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more are covered here. For answers to your questions about owning this unique breed, keep reading!

These dogs can be active and athletic, but they're also adaptable to their owners' activity levels--which means individual Chinese Shar Pei exercise requirements can vary, though they won't be too extensive overall. These dogs will need a variety of activities that condition them physically (walking, fetch) and stimulate them mentally (canine sports).

Though each Shar Pei is different, the average breed member, depending on its age and overall activity level, will need about 45 minutes of proper exercise per day; you can achieve this with a couple of walks and a moderate period of play. You can start exercising your Shar Pei puppy when it's three months old by taking it on short (5- to 7-minute) leashed walks, then you can increase the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows. And these early walks are a good opportunity to start teaching the pup obedience, through leash training: have the puppy walk beside or behind you on the leash, instead of being allowed to lead or "tug" on it. This, in the puppy's mind, establishes you as the leader, and usually makes training easier as the dog matures.

A few things to keep in mind when exercising your Shar Pei: first, puppies younger than nine months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping, running on hard surfaces, or navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And all Shar Peis, regardless of age, will need to be leashed when in public. These dogs can be bold, dominant, and even aggressive towards strange people and animals (especially other dogs), so they might be confrontational with unknown people or pets; a leash will help you control your Shar Pei in these situations. Shar Peis are also brachycephalic, meaning they have short noses that don't cool the air they breathe as well as other, longer-nosed breeds; they can overheat easily, so they shouldn't be exercised too hard in hot weather, and should have access to fresh water at all times. And finally: deep-chested breeds like the Shar Pei are prone to gastric torsion (also called bloat), an often-fatal digestive condition that normally occurs when a dog exercises just before or after eating. Breed owners shouldn't exercise their Shar Peis for an hour before or two hours after a meal.

Precautions aside, it's important to exercise your Shar Pei every single day. Though not very high-strung, without consistent exercise these dogs will become disobedient and destructive, they'll bark excessively, and may even be aggressive. Regular physical activity will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! A few exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 15-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: These dogs will love chasing a ball, stick, or Frisbee
• Tug-of-War: Good indoor, rainy-day activity; use a rope or old towel
• Canine Sports: Shar Peis can excel at obedience and agility trials, cart pulling, and other events
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity; bonus if you can find a remote area where the dog can be off-leash

When indoors, it's a good idea to give your Shar Pei access to one or more balls or chew-toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy; breed members are known to be frequent chewers, so better a toy than your favorite pair of slippers! It's also recommended that you establish a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks in the morning and evening and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs don't need a ton of care. Chinese Shar Pei shedding is light for most of the year, but heavier during the spring and fall shedding seasons; drooling isn't much of an issue.

Shar Pei coats can vary a bit in length, from the short "horse coat" to the medium-length "brush coat"--but neither coat variety sheds very much throughout the year. During the spring and fall, though, these dogs go through intense shedding periods, and the shedding can be a good bit heavier. Owners can brush their Shar Peis weekly with a rubber grooming glove to keep the shedding to a minimum, and cleanup--vacuuming the floors and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will only be needed occasionally. (Brushing and cleanup will obviously be necessary more often during shedding season.)

And a Shar Pei might drool a bit in anticipation of food, after drinking water, or when especially excited or nervous--but the drooling is definitely not a regular problem. If your Shar Pei is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

Like all breeds, Shar Pei dog food will need to include plenty of animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness--which means the best food type for this breed is the premium dry kind. Premium food, while more expensive and difficult to obtain, contains balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients, all of which your Shar Pei will need to maintain its health.

The typical adult Shar Pei, depending on its age, size, and activity level, will need about 2½ cups of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals. Shar Pei puppy food portions, again depending on age, are a bit less: 1¾ cups per day, divided into three meals (not two) until six months of age.

For more info on feeding your Shar Pei from puppyhood through maturity, see the following chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a bit more adult food to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

If possible, try and stick to the above-listed portions. Dogs of this breed will quickly become overweight if overfed and under-exercised--and a fat Shar Pei, puppy or adult, will have major joint, breathing, and digestive problems, not to mention a potentially shortened lifespan. You can help control your Shar Pei's weight by establishing consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time, thereby allowing it to eat anytime it wants. It's better to put your Shar Pei's food bowl down only at mealtimes, then pick it up a few minutes after the dog begins eating.

If you're worried your Shar Pei is overweight, give the dog this simple test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time. Reduce the dog's daily food consumption by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule.

Though opinions differ over what's the best dog food for Shar Pei puppy and adult dogs, the most popular and sensible choice is premium dry food. This food type has the necessary nutrients these dogs need to maintain their health in the long term. Cheap, generic food is not recommended for the Shar Pei, because it contains mostly empty "filler" ingredients that are unhealthy, are harder for the dog to digest, and may even shorten its lifespan if consumed on a regular basis.

Blue Buffalo, Royal Canin, and Taste of the Wild are three recommended brands that carry excellent lines of premium dry food.