Do Shar Pei Make Good Pets?

Chinese Shar Pei - the first thing most of us fall in love with are there adorable wrinkles and those fantastic faces, but once you own a pei you find there are a whole lot of other things to fall in love with like their personalities.

Shar pei are a great fit in any home. For the most part they'll take as much or as little exercise as you give them. Of course they love to get out and go for a walk or a play in the park, but while you are at work all day they're content to snuggle on the sofa and wait for you to come home, or go with you while you run your errands.

There are all those wrinkles that we fall in love with. I mean who couldn't love something that has more wrinkles than my Grandma (sorry Grams) but you should know that many of the full size shar pei lose a lot of those wrinkles when they grow up (wish I could lose my wrinkles) and will be left with a collar of wrinkles around their neck. So don't be disappointed if your wrinkle dog becomes less wrinkled.

They are one of the easiest dogs to housebreak. It's like they come nearly trained, which is a real bonus. They are excellent watch dogs warning you if something is amiss. They are excellent with kids and other pets, even the family cat, and they want to please. Whenever a dog wants to please good things happen.

They love to snuggle and keep you warm. They'll take an invite onto the furniture or bed if you give it but they're not bossy enough to think it's theirs in the first place. They like to play and they love to talk.

The shar pei really do have a language all of their own that is made up of snorts, grunts, growls, wheezes, and barks. It really doesn't take long to begin to speak shar pei..

We'd be remiss if we didn't mention that the shar pei do have some health issues. That shouldn't scare you away. Instead take some time to learn and understand what a shar pei is and is not. For example, it seems everywhere you read that shar pei need their wrinkles washed. That's not true. In fact, too much bathing and poor food can lead to skin problems.

Because the shar pei is not a common breed, it is often misunderstood. Is it an attack dog? Absolutely not but it will protect your home and your family if it must and it will warn you of trouble. Of course, in every breed there is the exception.The shar pei is a warm, funny, loving dog that has a unique bond with its owner that I haven't experienced with other breeds. Your shar pei will be content where ever you are. They are beyond dog smart, loyal, and loving.

Many don't really understand the shar pei and that may include your local vet. It may take a few phone calls to find the perfect vet for your pei. There's also lots of great help online including Dr. Vidt, Dr. Dodds, and Dr. Tintle all who have spent the better part of their lives with this breed. There are forums that can help such as the Shar Pei Health Board or the I Luv My Shar Pei Facebook page, and before long you can learn everything you 'll need to know about your shar pei.