Character of Shar Peis. Shar Pei: breed characteristics and proper care

“We came back from a walk, and suddenly the dog became sad, refused to eat, lay down on his bedding and lies...” “My dog ​​didn’t run out to meet me, but she always meets me from work. When I called her, she came up to me with her tail hanging down, and I noticed that her hind legs were swollen...” “The puppy is behaving strangely: he’s hunched over, lethargic, his legs are shaking.”... “My girl’s muzzle is swollen, she won’t let anyone touch her!” This is only a small part of what frightened owners who first encountered the manifestation of Hereditary Shar-Pei Fever write about on the Shar-Pei forum.

What is hereditary Shar Pei fever?

Hereditary Shar-Pei Fever (HSF) is a genetic disease, the first and most important symptom of which is systematic, causeless rise in temperature.

The famous American veterinarian Jeff Widt believes that fever should be considered when the temperature rises above 39.4 degrees. However, in practice, an increase in temperature to 39 degrees is already enough for the dog to feel unwell, become lethargic, and refuse to eat. Higher temperatures may be accompanied by swelling of the joints (usually one of the hind legs in the hock area). Inexperienced owners, when they see equally inexperienced veterinarians, are convinced that “the dog has arthritis,” which is why the temperature has risen and the paws have become swollen. The veterinarian prescribes non-steroidal drugs (Dexafort), which causes even greater harm to the dog’s health. The swelling can be localized on the face - the Shar-Pei's cheeks become dense, any touch to them is painful for the dog. In rare cases, a dog may experience pain when touching any part of the body - the so-called. general pain syndrome.

In most cases, an attack of NLS, if not stopped with antipyretics, lasts 12-24 hours. When using antipyretics, the dog returns to normal within 1-3 hours. If this does not happen, and the temperature rises again to 40 degrees or higher, you need to sound the alarm, since there is almost certainly a more serious illness. Do not try to bring down the temperature again and again on your own. Prolonged attacks that are difficult to control with anti-inflammatory drugs are rare and, as a rule, they affect dogs that have already had a long history of the disease.

Why do fever attacks occur?

To begin with, let us remember that an attack of fever can only occur in a dog that is sick with NLS. The triggering mechanism is always stress. It can be both physiological and psychological - this is not important for the body. I have no goal to delve into the physiology of stress, so as not to make this article difficult for ordinary owners to understand. So I’ll say it simply: any time your dog is worried about something, is experiencing separation anxiety, has been in a fight, or even just wanted to fight but was not allowed to, he is experiencing stress, which can cause an attack of fever if he has NLS. Visiting exhibitions, changing place of residence, traveling by transport or in a car, punishment, changing food, going to the veterinarian for vaccinations or other procedures, mating, estrus, ovulation - all this can cause stress and trigger an attack of hereditary fever. As an example, I can give a male dog who grew up with a young mistress in her mother’s house, and when the mistress got married, she moved in with her husband and left the dog in her mother’s house, where he was born. Despite the fact that she visited him often, the dog was constantly stressed due to the forced separation, and as a result, he had attacks of fever every week. He eventually died before he was 3 years old from kidney failure, the most common outcome for dogs suffering from regular bouts of fever.

Why is this fever dangerous?

Each bout of fever causes the body to produce so-called amyloid proteins. They are needed and beneficial to the body during fever (inflammatory process). However, after the temperature has gone away, the body must “remove” these proteins. Protein excretion occurs through the kidneys. The trouble is that in many Shar-Peis the mechanism for removing amyloid proteins is “broken” at the genetic level. In such Shar-Peis, these amyloid proteins begin to accumulate in the kidneys (or in other organs, for example, in the liver), being located in the only free place - in the intercellular space. As a result, the kidney cells become surrounded by these proteins like waxy partitions, and the kidneys stop working. At autopsy, you can find that the kidney has a “marbled” appearance when cut. This is the so-called “amyloidosis” of the kidneys. Doctors very rarely diagnose it during life, and we are talking about a general diagnosis - renal failure.

It is important to know that the problem of removing amyloid proteins from the body is not directly related to NLS, so a dog that often suffered from viral diseases or gave birth a lot can die from amyloidosis (rise in temperature during milk flow, rise in temperature during contractions, cesarean section, etc. ), fought a lot and received wounds, including abscesses. That is, any inflammatory process is dangerous for the Shar Pei. “May” does not mean “should,” but it is still something that owners need to keep in mind so that they take proper care of their pets and do not expose them to unnecessary risks.

It is also interesting that in history there are several real examples where dogs that had a confirmed diagnosis of NLS lived to a ripe old age and did not have amyloidosis. These happy stories have one explanation: the mechanism for removing amyloid proteins worked well in these dogs, and their internal organs did not suffer after each attack or each inflammatory process.

Is every fever an attack of NLS?

This is the most important question. Reading American veterinary articles, as well as communicating with breeders in the USA and Europe, I realized that they tend to consider any rise in temperature in a puppy or adult Shar-Pei dog an attack of hereditary fever. It's hard to agree with this. For example, if a human child has a fever during teething, or temperature fluctuations occur within a week or two after vaccination, no one would even think of looking for some other genetic reason for this. No one will say that a person has hereditary Mediterranean fever if he has a fever after being bitten by a dog, or during a rampant ARVI. No one will tell a woman who has given birth that she has a hereditary fever if her temperature rises during the establishment of lactation. There are explanations for everything in other breeds as well. So why is it proposed to consider any increase in temperature in Shar-Peis as an attack of NLS? This is not only erroneous, but, at times, extremely dangerous if, for example, instead of urgently treating a dog for piroplasmosis, leptospirosis, anaerobic streptococcal infection, the owner and veterinarian inject the dog with a triple and wait for the “attack of fever” to end "

I would like to remind everyone who is inclined to see an attack of NLS in every rise in temperature: the difference between an attack of hereditary fever and other febrile conditions (and temperature is a fever) is in the absence of reasons for its occurrence. Of course, when you see that your dog has a fever, the first action is to try to bring it down. But if it doesn’t go astray in two steps, look for a deeper reason.

Dr. Jeff Widt describes toxic streptococcal shock syndrome (an anaerobic infection by a flesh-eating bacterium) as one of the complications of an attack of NLS. We cannot agree with this. Over the past three years, cases of anaerobic infection among dogs of various breeds have become more frequent in Russia. Moreover, according to veterinarian A. Serbsky, young foxes in the fur industry suffered from the same disease, and in large numbers. So what kind of complication of NLS can we talk about if toxic streptococcal shock syndrome occurs even in wild animals? The idea that an attack of hereditary fever can initiate the appearance of an anaerobic infection in a dog’s body is beyond criticism. Anaerobic streptococcus, which eats flesh, does not live in the animal’s body, like most opportunistic bacteria, and for it to manifest itself, the animal must be infected with it. And any infection, especially one as aggressive as streptococcus, which eats flesh, will naturally cause inflammation, swelling in the areas of its growth and a strong increase in temperature. That is, in this case, the temperature is a consequence of infectious inflammation, and it cannot be called asymptomatic. It is extremely dangerous to classify an anaerobic infection as a possible variant of the development of hereditary fever, since, fighting the fever, you can lose time, or even the life of the animal. But this is a topic for another article.

What to do?

If your dog is acting strange, does not greet you at the door, does not run to the food bowl, does not show joy in anticipation of a walk, hunches his back, droops his tail, lies in his place sad, shakes - first of all, take his temperature. A temperature of 39 degrees is a sufficient basis for the use of triad (Analgin, Diphenhydramine, No-Shpa) as an antipyretic. If they are not at hand, use other antipyretics, do not wait until the temperature rises to 40 degrees. Once again I would like to remind you that an attack of fever can be stopped relatively easily with triad within 1-3 hours. If this does not happen, do not wait until your dog becomes very ill, start looking for the cause of the temperature together with a veterinarian (preferably an intelligent one).

If you cannot say with certainty when exactly the attack of fever began (if you were away from home for 8 hours, and the dog already had a temperature upon your return, then there is no guarantee that the temperature did not rise 7-8 hours ago), in addition to the antipyretic To prevent toxic shock, a one-time antibiotic should be used. The puppy is given the antibiotic Sumamed for children, in suspension - 2.5-3 ml per 10 kg of puppy weight. For an adult dog - two injections of a cephalosporin antibiotic (Claforan, also known as Cefotaxime, is the most preferred of them; in the form of a two-time intramuscular injection of 2.5 ml of solution with an interval of 8 hours, diluted with 1 mg of dry matter in 10 ml of water for injection).

It is not so rare that owners ask the question whether it is possible to get rid of NLS forever. Unfortunately no. Like other hereditary diseases, NLS is “coded” at the gene level and cannot be treated. But it is in your power to provide your dog with comfortable living conditions without stress and an adequate response to the slightest jump in temperature.

Is it possible to predict NLS in a puppy?

To some extent, yes. If a male and female dog themselves have NLS, then their puppies, without exception, will suffer from the same disease. By mating a dog without signs of NLS with a dog that has this disease, you (in the most successful case) will get carriers of the gene for this disease. And if an apparently healthy partner himself turns out to be a carrier (this does not manifest itself in any way, because carriers themselves do not get sick), then 6 out of 8 puppies will have NLS. This should not be forgotten when you are planning matings: a sick animal will never produce healthy offspring. At best, you will get carriers of the disease who will pass it on to the next generations of dogs. In a breeding of carriers, 50% of the litter will be diseased, 25% will be carriers, and only 2 puppies out of 8, following the theory of probability, have a chance of being genetically free from this disease.

If your bitch has strange increases in temperature from time to time, do not be tempted to breed puppies from her. This will greatly shorten your dog's life, in addition to making life much more difficult for you as the breeder and the owner of her puppies, most of whom will probably end up sick, just like their mother.

Breeders' responsibility

The reality is that most modern Shar-Peis remain carriers of the NLS gene. It is even more difficult to eradicate than, for example, hip dysplasia (HJD). Many generations of service dogs are tested for the presence of DTS, culling sick individuals, and yet this problem remains relevant in many breeds, since the tests only indicate that the dog itself has normal joints, and not what it carries genetically. The same is the case with NLS: there are no tests that can distinguish a completely healthy dog ​​from a healthy carrier of NLS. Therefore, when mating two carriers, some of the puppies are likely to be sick.

Does this mean that the breeder is responsible for the birth of puppies with NLS in his kennel? Yes, but only if he deliberately used in breeding dogs with NLS or dogs obtained from parents with NLS. The culling of all NLS carriers, although it seems logical, would in fact lead to the extinction of the breed. Considering that almost all modern Shar-Peis are carriers of NLS, there would only be a few dogs left in breeding, and not always the best in terms of appearance, as well as those dogs whose owners would simply keep silent about the fact that these dogs carry the NLS gene. Therefore, in breeding it is necessary to adhere to a reasonable middle ground: culling sick dogs and using apparently healthy ones with caution. If we draw a parallel with DTS: no breeder in his right mind would allow a dog with dysplasia to be bred. Just as no reasonable breeder will adopt a puppy whose one of the parents has dysplasia. But if, when mating two dogs of a high conformation level and with normal joints, a puppy with dysplasia is born, these producers are not discarded, but only take note of the combination in which the puppy with DTS was born, so as not to repeat it in the future. Of course, we are talking about prominent manufacturers. There is no point in keeping mediocre dogs in breeding if they also have genetic problems along with their conformation imperfections.

You have decided to buy a Chinese Shar-Pei puppy or you already have this wonderful dog, then you should read this article. Although Shar-Peis enjoy good health, Chinese Shar-Peis do suffer from some unusual health problems that are not common in other dog breeds. Many of these problems have not yet been described in the veterinary literature, and therefore, even veterinary specialists have some difficulty understanding the pathology in these animals. However, this article is not intended for veterinary professionals, but rather for pet owners to help you understand some of the unique diseases of Chinese Shar-Peis. The article describes only those diseases that occur more often in Shar-Peis than in other dog breeds, or those that occur only in Shar-Peis, for example, hereditary Shar-Pei fever.

FEATURES OF IMMUNOLOGICAL STATUS AND DISEASES RELATED TO THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.

Shar Peis suffer from very specific immune system disorders that are not found in other dog breeds. One such disease is hereditary Shar-Pei fever.

Hereditary Shar-Pei fever. The disease has several names: Shar-Pei intermittent fever, jumping fever syndrome, Shar-Pei fever. The main clinical sign of the disease is an increase in body temperature from 39.5 to 41°C and above, with a normal temperature of 38.5°C. This condition is usually self-limiting after 24-36 hours. Throughout this period, the dog looks very sick, its tail and ears droop, and a peculiar stilted gait is noted. Some dogs experience anxiety or, on the contrary, are severely depressed and do not accept food or water. About half of dogs experience painful, hot swelling of one or both ankles. Approximately 25% of Shar-Peis with hereditary fever develop renal amyloidosis fairly quickly (1 to 3 years), which quickly leads to death due to renal failure. Amyloid is a stress protein that is typically excreted in urine. However, in Shar-Peis, excess amyloid produced during fever accumulates in the space around the glomeruli, compressing them. Gradually, the filtering function of the kidneys decreases, and the kidneys stop working. A similar process can occur in other organs, such as the liver, spleen and lungs, but here the process develops more slowly and less dramatically. It is important to emphasize that Shar Pei fever and renal amyloidosis are not the same disease, but these dogs have a sharply increased risk of this condition, so it must be prevented. First aid for Shar Pei fever is to reduce the fever and pain. In Europe and America, aspirin is used for this purpose every 12 hours. In severe cases, it is prescribed every 6 hours during the first 24 hours, and then for another 2-3 days, 2 times a day. Monitoring your dog's temperature is extremely important. A very high fever, or one that does not improve with aspirin, will require more serious therapy, possibly corticosteroids. In addition, measures must be taken to prevent the occurrence of heat shock, especially in hot weather.

Dogs with persistently recurrent Shar-Pei fever should be treated with colchicine to prevent renal amyloidosis. In addition, dogs with recurrent episodes of fever should undergo ongoing urine testing, primarily for elevated urine protein levels and urine specific gravity monitoring, both of which are crude markers of kidney function. Biochemical blood tests with determination of urea nitrogen and creatinine will also help assess kidney function.

There is a genetic basis for this disease. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive gene, so dogs with Shar-Pei fever should not be used for breeding. In addition, it must be borne in mind that Shar-Pei with fever are more often exposed to streptococcal toxic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, heat stroke, and Shar-Pei fever can be confused with other severe syndromes, such as various para-oncological and infectious-toxic shocks, which can have serious consequences. Every Shar-Pei owner should be aware of these characteristics of their dogs in order to deal responsibly with potentially dangerous conditions.

Masseterian myositis (Immune-mediated masseterian myositis). Masseters are muscles involved in opening and closing the mouth and in the act of chewing. Clinical signs of the disease are characterized by pain when opening the mouth, low fever and pain on palpation of the masticatory muscles. With a long course of the disease, muscle atrophy is noted and the appearance of the animal’s head changes; bony protrusions appear, which are easily palpated. Laboratory tests reveal antibodies to myocytes. High doses of corticosteroids lead to clinical improvement, but recovery cannot be achieved.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Autoimmune thrombocytopenia. Autoimmune anemia is an immune aggression of one's own immune cells against one's own red blood cells, a similar condition against platelets, characterized by a decrease in platelet levels - thrombocytopenia. Both of these processes may be associated with a reaction to drug therapy, and other immune-mediated conditions, infectious diseases, and dirofilariasis. Females suffer from these diseases more often than males. These are life-threatening diseases that require rapid intervention. Clinical signs are somewhat vague: lethargy, depression, lack of appetite and a slight increase in temperature. Hemolytic anemia may have additional signs such as port wine-colored urine and sometimes jaundice or a yellow color of the skin, sclera, and mucous membranes. The mucous membranes may be pale and even gray-white. Thrombocytopenia is accompanied by bruising of the skin, small areas of bleeding on the gums, bloody stools or urine, and bleeding from the nose and mouth. Treatment for these conditions is with immunosuppressive doses of steroids and sometimes additional chemotherapy agents are used. If the disease is primary, then lifelong therapy is required.

Glomerulonephritis. Immune-mediated kidney damage with predominant damage to the glomeruli and the development of fatal renal failure. Shar Pei are the leaders in kidney disease among all dog breeds. Almost every 10 Shar-Pei suffers from kidney damage. In the first stages, the disease is manifested by excessive loss of protein in the urine. In this case, screening biochemistry reveals hypoalbuminemia. Intact kidneys always retain albumin, and it remains in the plasma; with glomerulonephritis, damaged glomeruli leak albumin into the urine and its amount in the plasma decreases sharply. If a low amount of albumin is detected in the blood, a detailed biochemical blood test and a general urine test are performed. Treatment includes a low-protein diet, antihypertensive and corticosteroid therapy.

Retinal degeneration syndrome. Another condition is more common in Shar-Peis than in other dogs. It is characterized by sudden loss of vision in a healthy dog. Blindness is permanent and cannot be further controlled.

RESPIRATORY TRACT

The Chinese Shar-Pei is classified as a brachycephalic breed, similar in appearance to bulldogs, boxers and other short-facial dogs. Due to the fact that Shar-Peis have a short nose, they, like all brachycephalic (short-skulled) dogs, are characterized by the so-called brachycephalic syndrome, clinically manifested by snoring and acute attacks of airway obstruction. This syndrome consists of a number of anatomical abnormalities.

1. Stenosis of the nostrils (narrow nostrils) - almost all Shar-Peis have this sign to one degree or another, clinically it is characterized by wheezing, and if the dog is excited, breathing through the nose becomes impossible.

2. Elongated soft palate. The soft palate in dogs is the equivalent of the uvula in humans, but much larger. Some Shar-Peis have a soft palate so long that it can periodically block the entrance to the trachea, causing snoring in mild cases and fatal tracheal obstruction in severe cases. If your Shar Pei snores very loudly, this is a reason to be evaluated for brachycephalic syndrome.

3. Enlarged folds of the laryngeal mucosa. In the short larynx, folds of the mucous membrane gather, just as the skin gathers in folds on the neck. The tops of these folds protrude into the lumen of the larynx and can block access to air.

4. Hypoplastic trachea. The diameter of the trachea in this pathology is much smaller than required for a dog of this size, and breathing difficulties arise.

5. Soft trachea. With forced breathing, the trachea “collapses” and inhalation becomes impossible. Breathing may be forced due to other types of obstruction mentioned above.

Each of these factors individually can cause obstruction of the upper respiratory tract and even death, but the combination of these factors, even if not clearly expressed, leads to a decrease in the respiratory reserve of the animal. Attacks of brachycephalic syndrome most often occur in hot weather, when the blood vessels in the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract dilate and its folding becomes even greater; heavier breathing contributes to the “sucking” of the soft palate into the trachea and its blockage during inspiration. In this regard, Shar-Peis do not tolerate heat and heat stress well; if they have brachycephalic syndrome, they may develop respiratory distress and the animal may die. Such conditions require rapid cooling, sedation of the animal with medication, and in severe cases, surgery.

Pneumonia. Some Shar Pei puppies are prone to developing bacterial pneumonia, which usually develops between 6 and 12 weeks of age. They have a constant cough that leads to vomiting, sometimes the urge to vomit masks the cough and it is difficult to understand what comes first. Typically, such animals experience an increase in temperature and loss of appetite. Shar-Peis have pneumonia associated with congenital IgA deficiency; this defect is most common in this breed. In this case, pneumonia is very severe and requires immunoglobulin replacement therapy. In addition, such dogs very often develop chronic rhinitis, characterized by constant purulent discharge from the nose.

Ciliary dyskinesia. This syndrome is associated with impaired development of cilia on the ciliated epithelium lining the bronchial tree. Normally, on each epithelial cell lining the upper respiratory tract, from the nasal cavity to the bronchioles, there are up to several thousand microvilli that make oscillatory movements outward. This phenomenon allows you to cleanse the airways of dust and pathogens. If these villi are defective, dogs develop severe pneumonia and the prognosis for recovery is always poor.

Vocal Puppy – This condition occurs in Shar Pei puppies usually within the first 2 weeks of life and is characterized by a highly active puppy that constantly makes excessive noises. These puppies usually require additional care and feeding, otherwise they may die. To date, there are no convincing explanations for this behavior of some puppies in the litter of dogs of bradymorphic breeds.

DERMATOLOGY

Dermatological problems are the number one problem in Shar-Peis. It is important to remember that the skin responds stereotypically to many influences, so various diseases of the skin and other organs manifest themselves in the same skin problems. In addition, the skin and its changes can be affected by not one, but several diseases, which greatly complicates the correct diagnosis and natural treatment of skin diseases in Shar-Peis.

Symptoms can be very varied and often mimic those of other skin diseases. But the main symptom is itching. In addition, the dog almost always loses hair, its quality decreases, secondary skin infections and lesions of the outer ear can develop.

Diagnosis is made based on clinical signs, allergy testing, and response to various therapies. Treatment consists of various combinations of hyposensitization, antihistamines, fatty acid supplements, a hypoallergenic diet, and, in difficult cases, corticosteroids. Very important in the treatment of allergic dermatitis is patience on the part of the veterinarian, and most importantly, on the part of the animal owner, since effective therapy is selected by trial and error, and it takes a lot of time to make sure which scheme will work best.

Demodecosis. Among all dogs, demodicosis takes the worst forms in Shar-Peis, and the disease is most common. Mites colonize the puppy's skin in the first days of life and then are constantly present on the animal's skin in very limited quantities, but in some animals they actively reproduce and cause disease. The localized form is observed in young dogs under one year of age. It manifests itself in local areas of hair loss on inflamed and reddened skin. The affected areas are most often located on the limbs, trunk and head. Diagnosis is based on the detection of mites in skin scrapings. For the most part, localized demodicosis is self-limiting with age. To control the disease, it is enough to treat the affected areas with special preparations. Bathing dogs with Mitaban® is, as a rule, not recommended for this pathology.

Thus, local forms of demodicosis are not a serious problem. But some dogs may develop systemic demodicosis after a year. This is a very serious and often incurable, life-threatening disease. In this case, the mites cause progressive severe dermatitis, which is always complicated by a secondary skin infection. In these cases, bathing in baths with Mitaban® is indicated, but the effect of treatment is not always obtained. Another treatment such as oral ivermectin may be effective but will require lifelong use.

Sarcoptic mange. Another skin condition caused by scabies mites is common in young Shar-Peis. This mite causes itching and can infect human skin. Although the disease is treatable, diagnosis is difficult because the mite is difficult to detect in skin scrapings.

Pyoderma or superficial bacterial skin infections. These are fairly common skin lesions in Shar-Peis. They can be primary or secondary. Primary pyoderma usually develops due to problems with the immune system, such as IgA deficiency, or combined immunodeficiency, which has been described in this breed.

Secondary pyoderma is a more common disease as a complicating factor in allergic diseases, scabies, dermatitis due to hypothyroidism, fungal skin diseases, etc. The disease is usually controlled by long-term administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and some dogs require daily antibiotic pulse therapy. A new direction in the treatment of these diseases is the use of immunomodulators, but this direction is still developing and does not give good effects.

Hypothyroidism (underfunction of the thyroid gland). Hypothyroidism is a common condition in Shar-Peis. It can mimic the appearance of other skin diseases, and thyroid function testing is always performed in suspected cases. Classic hypothyroidism is manifested by weight gain and lethargy. Skin lesions are characterized by hair loss with hyperpigmentation and thickening of the skin, which becomes chronic. Other signs may include infertility, neurological disorders and behavioral changes.

Mastocytoma (mast cell tumor). Mastocytoma is one of the most common skin tumors in Shar-Peis. The first feature of mastocytoma in Shar-Peis is that it initially develops as a very aggressive malignant tumor, unlike other dog breeds in which this tumor can be quite benign. The second feature of mastocytoma is that in the initial stages the tumor may look like a small area of ​​redness on the skin and may not cause suspicion of a serious illness not only among animal owners, but what is more sad, even among veterinary specialists. As a result, time is lost for effective treatment of the disease, and after some time the animal can no longer be cured.

In this regard, any areas of skin redness, especially if they are even slightly raised above the surrounding tissues, should be subjected to cytological examination. When a diagnosis of mastocytoma is made, urgent surgery is required after preliminary chemotherapy with mandatory monitoring of “dirty” edges.

Histiocytoma. It is a benign tumor that is also very common in Shar-Peis. Histiocytomas can appear at any age, usually on the face and limbs. The tumor is not dangerous, but requires mandatory differential diagnosis with mastocytoma.

Mucinoma. Localized accumulations of mucin in the skin that look like a tumor. Cutaneous mucinosis is a peculiar skin condition in Shar-Peis, and is the norm for these dogs and always a pathology for dogs of other breeds. Mucinosis appears as "blisters" or blisters on the skin primarily on the legs, under the neck, and on the flanks. These “bubbles” can burst and release a clear viscous liquid - mucin. Mucin can also accumulate in the deeper layers of the skin, leading to permanent wrinkling.

Treatment for mucinosis in Shar-Peis is not required, but dogs can injure these blisters, after which they become infected and form acute moist dermatitis, requiring antibiotic therapy.

Abscesses. Shar Peis are very prone to abscesses, which develop several days after bite wounds and various penetrating wounds. Therefore, in case of any damage to the integrity of the Shar Pei’s skin, it is better to use antibiotic therapy according to the indications of your veterinarian.

Seborrhea. This is a skin condition characterized by oily hair with flakes of dandruff, and a peculiar, rancid odor appears from the animal. Typically, this disease is secondary to other skin diseases, such as bacterial diseases, scabies, allergies, etc. The process can be controlled by using tar and hay shampoos, but it is necessary to treat the underlying disease.

Shar Pei cutaneous syndrome. The syndrome is associated with friction in the folds of the skin, which leads to itching and irritation. The appearance of the skin lesion looks like that of many other diseases, so the diagnosis can be made after other diseases have been excluded. Skin folds in Shar-Peis usually do not cause any problems. But when excessive folds form around the hocks, hair between the folds may be lost, and hair follicles stop functioning due to pressure and degeneration. If mucin accumulates here, then favorable conditions are created for the development of bacteria and Malasezia, and dermatitis develops. Treatment is only corrective. For simple alopecia, no treatment is required.

Malasseziosis. Dermatitis caused by malassezia yeast is common in Shar-Peis. In this case, there is loss of hair, thickening of the skin, changes in its pigmentation and the appearance of an unpleasant-smelling plaque on the skin. Diagnosis is based on skin scrapings, which reveal the characteristic Malassezia cells under a microscope. Therapy is carried out with antifungal shampoos, and if malasseziasis is a complication of another skin disease, then complex treatment is carried out. Skin lesions caused by other fungi are no more common in Shar-Peis than in other dogs.

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Clinically manifested in Shar-Peis in the form of two syndromes. The first is characterized by damage to large areas of the skin in the form of a hard crust, which spreads in depth and is nothing more than deep necrosis of the skin; after rejection of this crust, extensive wound surfaces are formed. Because the lesions can involve almost the entire body, these dogs usually die. The second syndrome is characterized by acute death due to infectious-toxic shock, without any preliminary clinical manifestations. The causative agent of the disease is beta-hemolytic streptococcus; today the diagnosis can be made using PCR analysis. If you suspect the onset of shock of any etiology, it is necessary to remember this unique condition and immediately begin therapy as for infectious-toxic shock. It is impossible to cure such a dog at home.

EYES

One of the main problem areas for Shar-Peis is the eyes.

Entropion (entropion) is a term that describes a condition where the eyelid is turned toward the eye with the eyelashes inward; in Shar-Peis, this can occur on both the upper and lower eyelids. When the eyelid turns up, the eyelashes rub against the surface of the cornea and conjunctiva, which leads to irritation and redness of the eye, coupled with lacrimation.

The main signs of the disease are lacrimation and profuse, sometimes purulent discharge, irritation, redness, the animal constantly squints its eyes, sometimes the eyes are completely closed. Entropion is diagnosed during a routine eye examination. The result of this disease is severe damage to the cornea, which can lead to blindness.

In the case of Shar-Peis, the situation is complicated by the fact that the breed has two separate but overlapping syndromes.

The first syndrome is observed in puppies and, as a rule, appears from 10-14 days of age, that is, from the moment the puppies begin to open their eyes. Puppies experience depression, poor appetite and profuse mucopurulent discharge from the eyes caused by friction of the eyelids on the cornea. It is believed that this is due to excessive skin folds around the eyes of Shar Pei puppies (secondary entropy). If measures are not taken in time, corneal ulcers develop, which lead to blindness. Treatment must be started IMMEDIATELY! It consists of plastic surgery of incorrectly positioned eyelids, in which a small area of ​​skin is removed on the outer surface of the eyelid; after stitching the resulting defect, the eyelashes return to their proper place and no longer injure the cornea.

But you need to know that in Shar-Peis, unlike other breeds, this is only a temporary effect, as the puppy grows, new folds will appear, and the skin will again become “more than necessary”, including around eye, which will lead to re-entropion and the need for repeated operations.

Glaucoma is a disease characterized by increased pressure inside the eyeball, its gradual stretching, retinal atrophy and blindness. Glaucoma can be primary or secondary. Shar-Peis are more likely than other dogs to have secondary glaucoma associated with lens luxation. Dislocation of the lens develops as a result of its separation from the ciliary ligaments due to their insolvency and injuries. In this case, the animal experiences an enlargement of the eyeball, clouding of the cornea and dilation of the blood vessels in the white membrane of the eye (sclera). The condition is a medical emergency and often leads to blindness despite medical or surgical interventions.

Retinal dysplasia. According to foreign authors, retinal dysplasia occurs in more than 10% of Shar-Peis; the disease is characterized by the formation of folds and small defects in the retina. Usually diagnosed during routine fundus examination and is not associated with any other problems. But, nevertheless, an animal’s vision can suffer to varying degrees.

"Cherry Eye" This is a general term for prolapse of the third eyelid gland. The third eyelid is similar to car windshield wipers, located in the inner corner of the eye, it is involved in the mechanical removal of dust particles from the eye, but in addition, its glands produce more than 50% of all tear fluid pouring into the conjunctival sac. The loss and sharp enlargement of the third eyelid leads to the sudden appearance in the corner of the eye of a formation similar in shape and color to a cherry, hence the name. The formation is painless, but it disturbs the animal due to its large size, blocking the view. Previously, veterinarians removed the third eyelid, but now they preserve it by applying fixing sutures and setting it in place.

Chemosis. This term refers to swelling of the mucous membrane of the eye and conjunctiva. In this case, the mucous membrane looks puffy and watery, sometimes sticking out like a ridge around the cornea. For all dogs this is a pathological condition, but for Shar-Peis it is a normal condition not associated with any problems, including allergic ones, and does not require correction.

EARS

The breed standard for Shar Pei describes hard, triangular ears that fit close to the head. This breed characteristic results in the Shar-Pei being predisposed to diseases of the external auditory system due to poor aeration of the external auditory canal and difficulties associated with adequately maintaining the cleanliness of this organ.

Malasseziosis (pytyrosporosis). The most common problem in Shar-Peis is an overgrowth of the yeast Malassezia pachydermatis. These fungi are normal microflora of the ear canal in all dogs, but if the dog's ear canal is too narrow, then it creates a moist and warm environment necessary for the growth of the fungus, and its reproduction becomes excessive. In addition, excessive proliferation of Malassezia quickly leads to the accumulation of nutrients for pyogenic bacteria and their proliferation in the ear canal, and chronic purulent otitis media develops.

The key to preventing this problem is routine ear care, frequent examinations and regular ear cleaning. The Shar Pei's ears can be left untreated only if you take care of them regularly. Malaseziosis manifests itself in Shar-Peis in the form of dirty discharge from the ear canal, and there are no other clinical signs until infection occurs. When pyogenic microflora is attached to the ears, an unpleasant odor, redness appears, the ears are painful, and the discharge can become profuse and thin. Treatment consists of thorough sanitation of the ear canal with antibacterial and antifungal drugs.

Hyperplastic (proliferative) otitis. Hyperplastic otitis media develops in some Shar-Peis as an outcome of chronic otitis media of any etiology. In this case, wart-like hyperplasia of the skin is formed in the upper part of the ear canal. These growths can completely close the ear canal, which interferes with the care of the external auditory canal and greatly increases the pathogenicity of any other ear diseases. Caring for the ear canal becomes impossible; in this case, recovery can only be achieved promptly by widening the ear canal.

Stenosis of the auditory canal. About half of all Shar-Peis have an external auditory canal that is narrower than normal. The degree of stenosis may vary, but in any case, this condition also interferes with normal care and cleaning of the ears. In cases of severe stenosis, and especially if it is complicated by other diseases of the ear canal, surgical intervention is usually required.

MUSCULOCAL SYSTEM

The Chinese Shar-Pei is classified as a "giant" dog breed in terms of its growth rate and susceptibility to various bone and joint diseases.

Panostitis and hypertrophic osteodystrophy. These are two musculoskeletal conditions that are often seen in young, rapidly growing Shar-Peis. The causes of these diseases are unknown, but they are characterized by inflammation in the bone, including the bone itself, the surface of the bone (periosteum) and the inside of the bone (endosteum). Dogs aged 6-12 months are most often affected during the period of rapid growth. Symptoms include intermittent claudication, pain on deep palpation of the affected limb, fever, and lethargy.

To clarify the diagnosis, an x-ray may be needed; treatment with nonspecific anti-inflammatory drugs has a good effect, but relapses may occur.

The puppy is a “swimmer”. This puppy is usually 2 to 4 weeks old with a flat chest and splayed limbs, the puppy is unable to walk and makes swimming movements when trying to move around. This is a polyetiological disease that most often develops in very quickly growing overweight puppies kept on too flat a surface (flooring without lining). Abnormal nervous system development and poor muscle tone also play a role in the development of this condition.

Treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian, using orthopedic bandages. In addition, they try to reduce the weight of the puppy and place it on a non-slippery soft surface.

Weak wrist joint. The disease develops at the age of 8-16 weeks. Clinically, the disease manifests itself in the fact that the wrist joint moves forward or bends to the side. The disease usually occurs in large, fast-growing puppies. Treatment is to switch to a lower calorie diet, which will slow the rate of growth. In addition, it is possible to splint the affected joints to support weakened ligaments. In most puppies this condition is reversible.

Dislocation of the kneecap. This is a hereditary disease associated with the structural features of the knee-femoral joint. Normally, on the lower part of the femur there is a platform for the kneecap, bounded by two ridges, forming a patella block in which the kneecap is placed. In Shar-Peis, one of the ridges of the trochlea is smoothed, which leads to the kneecap sliding off the trochlea platform and a dislocation develops. As a rule, the dislocation occurs inward, while the quadriceps muscle attached to the cup is abnormally stretched, forming hyperextended joints of the hind limb, and lameness develops. A luxated kneecap must be surgically reduced before irreversible damage to the joint develops.

Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee joint. The cruciate ligaments are located at the center of the knee joint and stabilize it as it moves back and forth. A rupture occurs when there is excessive pressure on the leg in a bent position and if the dog suddenly turns around with the hind limb fixed or slips. Shar Peis are prone to this type of injury due to the powerful muscles in the back of the body and the increased stress on the joint. A ligament tear must be repaired or permanent lameness will develop.

Hip dysplasia. This is a hereditary disease that includes various malformations of the hip joint. Recently, breeders have made great strides in selecting animals without this pathology, but the problem is still common. Proper feeding plays an important role in the formation of the animal's bones. Shar Peis should not be overfed to achieve high growth rates. Proper nutrition will allow you to control the intensity of growth and form the correct skeleton. It may be unusual for domestic novice dog breeders that heavy feeding can lead to very sad consequences, even if the dog does not get fat, but grows very quickly.

Elbow dysplasia. Consists of a number of disorders associated with fragmentation of the coronoid and coracoid processes of the elbow joint. As these conditions develop, degenerative arthrosis develops, leading to permanent lameness. Correction should be carried out as early as possible, preferably immediately after the onset of pathology, in order to avoid permanent problems.

Osteochondrosis dissecans is a disease of the articular cartilage that is recorded in young dogs aged 6-12 months, most often this disease is observed on the shoulder joint. In typical cases, lameness occurs in the forelimb after exercise. The disease also requires surgical correction.

So, if your dog develops lameness, do not delay visiting your veterinarian.

GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT

Megaesophagus is a hereditary disease characterized by a sharp dilation of the esophagus with retention of food in it and constant regurgitation (the release of just eaten food through the mouth). The supply of food to the body is disrupted, the dog loses weight, and in addition, when food regurgitates, food particles enter the respiratory tract, causing constant pneumonia. Diagnosis is made using x-rays. The prognosis for this disease is very cautious, the disease is poorly corrected.

Immune-related inflammatory bowel diseases. Shar-Peis are more likely than other dogs to develop immune-related lesions, the clinical manifestations of which are chronic vomiting and diarrhea. The animal has constant loose stools, sometimes mixed with blood and almost always with mucus; the animals lose weight due to impaired absorption of nutrients.

The basis of the disease is the infiltration of the intestinal wall by cells involved in inflammation. This happens due to a disruption in the functioning of the immune system. X-rays and ultrasound show thickening of the intestinal wall. Such intestines do not produce digestive enzymes well, contract weakly and absorb nutrients, and the animal quickly loses weight. An accurate diagnosis can only be made on the basis of a biopsy of an area of ​​the affected intestine followed by examination of this area using histological methods. Treatment varies greatly depending on the severity and type of lesion. In some cases, only dietary restrictions are possible. Hormonal therapy is required in severe cases, but can effectively control the disease.

Feed hypersensitivity. Very often there is a connection between feed hypersensitivity and immune-related gastrointestinal lesions. The diagnosis is made empirically based on the administration of a hypoallergenic diet and the resolution of the clinical picture after this. Elimination of foods intolerant to animals leads to disease control.

Adenocarcinoma. Shar Peis are predisposed (more than other dogs) to developing intestinal adenocarcinomas. The reasons for this are not clear, but it appears to be related to heredity. Adenocarcinoma is a malignant tumor that affects the small intestine. Perhaps the predisposition to this tumor is due to the fact that Shar-Peis develop immune-related intestinal lesions more often than others. At the same time, the clinical pictures of these diseases do not differ; in any case, the diagnosis is made on the basis of histological studies, and after the diagnosis is made, the issue of therapy is decided.

Foreign objects of the gastrointestinal tract. Shar-Peis with immune-related gastrointestinal lesions are more likely to ingest foreign objects than healthy dogs, so if problems with the gastrointestinal tract occur, plain X-rays are necessary.

Acute dilatation of the stomach. Some lines of Shar Pei are predisposed to acute gastric dilatation and volvulus. Clinical signs are characterized by a sharp dilation of the stomach, retching and severe pain. The disease is very life-threatening and must be treated urgently. Treatment is surgical; in most cases, even after a successful operation, the mortality rate is very high. To prevent the disease, it is recommended to soak dry food before feeding, feed in small portions but often, limit drinking and feeding before physical activity.

Amyloidosis of the liver. Clinical signs are characteristic of any liver disease and, as a rule, are nonspecific and can be vague and nonspecific - depression, periodic vomiting, loss of appetite. More severe lesions manifest themselves in the form of jaundice and yellow sclera of the eyes, due to the deposition of bilirubin in the tissues. The diagnosis is made based on the results of a urine test, biochemical blood tests, and finally a liver biopsy.

Ulcers. Gastrointestinal ulceration often accompanies renal failure but may also be considered secondary to the use of aspirin in the treatment of attacks of hereditary Shar-Pei fever. Clinical manifestations include blood in the vomit and stool, as well as dark, tarry stools.

ENDOCRINOLOGY

Hypothyroidism is a fairly common disease in Shar-Peis. With this disease, the thyroid gland produces insufficient amounts of thyroid hormones. Clinically, the disease is manifested by increased body weight, lethargy, as well as skin lesions, decreased mental status, etc. Treatment is with thyroid hormones.

Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism). The disease is characterized by overproduction of glucocorticoids in the body. These hormones are synthesized in the adrenal glands, although only 20% of dogs have Cushing's disease due to adrenal disease (usually tumors). The remaining 80% of dogs with Cushing's disease suffer from damage to the pituitary gland. Microadenomas in the pituitary gland of the brain synthesize an increased amount of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which leads to the overproduction of corticosteroids. Clinically, the disease is manifested by an enlarged abdomen, atrophy of the muscles of the limbs and a high need for water. The dog drinks a lot and urinates a lot. The animal usually has a good appetite; the dog may be obese. Treatment includes the prescription of special medications.

Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism). The condition is now associated with glucocorticoid deficiency due to adrenal atrophy. Symptoms include weight loss, weakness, and gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea. The diagnosis is made based on electrolyte abnormalities and the results of hormonal studies. The disease is treatable, but requires lifelong therapy.

BEHAVIOR FEATURES

Historically, Shar-Peis are multifunctional dogs. This is a guard dog, a hunter, and a fighting dog. In this regard, Shar-Peis have some behavioral features that owners of these animals should take into account:

1. They are very independent, dominant and strong-willed dogs.

2. They are attentive, intelligent and very responsive animals.

3. Shar-Peis have a low threshold for aggression.

4. They have a low tolerance for other dogs.

5. Most Shar-Peis are very calm until it comes to nail trimming, ear cleaning, medical procedures and other physical stress.

6. You will not be able to physically dominate an adult Shar-Pei, he will fight to the death for his leadership.

• Due to their powerful build and low center of gravity, they are very strong and powerful dogs. Excessive use of force in restraining these dogs will usually result in the animal becoming extremely aggressive. If it is necessary to restrain a Shar Pei for any reason, tranquilizers must be used.
• Excessive restraint can lead to the dog's death due to complications associated with brachycephalic syndrome, airway obstruction syndrome and stress. For this reason, gauze muzzles are preferred for Shar-Peis over leather or nylon muzzles.
• The owner of a Shar-Pei puppy must undergo a period of Shar-Pei training using the elements of owner dominance and early socialization, since these principles are perhaps more important in keeping Shar-Pei than in keeping dogs of other breeds.

Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor S.N. Kartashov

There is an opinion that the Shar Pei first appeared in China, but this is just a hypothesis. Marco Polo, who lived in China for several years, described the Chow Chow in 1271, but never mentioned the Shar Pei.

The most likely version of the origin of this dog breed dates back to 1751, when the Emperor of China initiated maritime trade. At that time, a popular game among English sailors was dog fighting. The British also used mastiffs. The Chinese, not to be outdone, mixed their Chow Chows with English breeds to create a fighting dog. Despite this, the new breed still could not compete with the strong bulldogs.

Shar Peis were also widely used as hunting dogs. Hunting was a popular game among the nobility; they even started entire packs of Shar Peis, who were distinguished by their strength and intelligence.

In the 1940s, Mao Zedong called this cute breed “a symbol of the uselessness of the privileged class,” and terrible times came for Shar-Peis - they began to be exterminated en masse, and exorbitant taxes were imposed on wealthy owners of purebred dogs. This led to the breed being almost completely destroyed. In 1950, only a few Shar Pei litters remained in Taiwan. Shar Peis were practically exterminated. Fighting dogs are preserved only in the capital.

After 15 years, the world recognized the Shar Pei with the nickname “Lucky”. He was born thanks to S.M. Chen. Then the dog was bought by an American breeder, Herman Smith, and Lucky became a pioneer immigrant to the United States. Another breeder, Matgo Low, saw an article in Dogs magazine about endangered breeds with a picture of a Shar Pei and the inscription “The last surviving representative of the breed”, asked all four-legged lovers to save these dogs from extinction.

From 1970 to 1975 enterprising people looked for dogs and restored the breed. Thanks to them, these dogs were able to spread throughout the world and delight us with kind smiles, soft faces and huge blue tongues.

Description of the breed

Never underestimate this breed! At first glance, it may seem that Shar Peis are soft plush toys, unpretentious and gentle.

Few people know that Shar Peis were originally bred as hunting, guard and fighting dogs. This gave the breed a stubborn character and leadership position, quick reaction, intelligence and loyalty.

Definitely, Shar Peis are suitable primarily for experienced owners, people with a strong character and free time. Without early socialization and training, a Shar Pei can become aggressive and disobedient. With good training, the Shar Pei will be friendly, calm and affectionate. What your Shar Pei will be like depends on you.

Breed standard: main characteristics of Shar Pei.

Shar Peis have a recognizable “hippopotamus” face and a compact but strong body. They have average height, folds on the head and withers, small ears and a lot of charm.

Although when we think of a Shar Pei, we first of all think of a large number of folds, according to the breed standard, multiple folds on the body are undesirable. Acceptable places for folds are the cheeks, forehead, withers and base of the tail with moderate folding.

The tail is usually set very high and can take any position, but its absence is unacceptable. Of course, these rules apply only to show dogs.

The Shar Pei's coat is usually short and stiff, looking like bristles from one to two and a half centimeters.
The coat color can be any color except white. Only the tail and hips can be lighter than the whole body, and the muzzle, on the contrary, is darker.

Size

Height from withers to ground - from 44 to 51 cm. Males are usually larger than females.

Shar Pei weight is from 18 to 35 kg.

Shar-Peis are a little boxy and slightly awkward in appearance, but their gait is always well-balanced.

Lifespan

Unfortunately, Shar Peis have a short lifespan of 10 years. In order for your dog to be happy and please you for a long time, you need to properly care for him and train him.

Intelligence

Shar Peis are excellent guards; their natural high intelligence and distrust allow them to accurately determine the intentions of a stranger. At the same time, he will not bark in vain and treats children well.

Despite the fact that this breed of dog is a fighting type, they will never be the first to get into a fight unless absolutely necessary.

Shar Pei character

Shar Peis have a personality that matches their appearance. These are strong, good-natured dogs who, if necessary, can both protect their owner and play with him.

• Good disposition. Here you need to remember that sharpeis, if not properly raised, can show aggression due to their origin and independent nature, so it is necessary to teach the dog good manners from an early age. In order for these dogs to be patient with children and other animals, they must be raised properly. The Shar Pei can also get along with other four-legged members of the household, be it a cat or another dog, if they were raised together.
• Attachment to the owner. Shar Peis are very attached to their owner, but this love must be earned. You should be confident, feel like the king of the situation and be the leader in your relationship with this breed. Otherwise, the Shar Pei will not obey you, and you will lose control, and your pet as well.
• Cleanliness. The cleanliness of Shar Peis is legendary. In front of a puddle, a Shar Pei will definitely stop and look at its owner: “Either go around, or go home.”
• Communication skills. Shar Pei easily make contact with early socialization.
• Energy. Dogs of this breed are very active and need frequent walks and games.
• Sharp vision. Despite the many folds on their faces, Shar Peis are very curious and notice a lot. Thanks to their good attention and keen eyesight, they can be excellent guards.

Shar Pei training and education

Training a Shar Pei is an integral part of a dog's growing up and upbringing. If you don't want the dog:

Training a Shar Pei is not much different from training other breeds. The main thing here is to follow the general rules and do everything in moderation.

The main thing to remember:

1. Proper puppy training will avoid many problems in the future. The rule “Hard to learn, easy to fight” applies here.
2. Shar Peis enjoy training because they feel important and needed, and are always looking forward to their next lesson.
3. Your Shar Pei will not love you less from daily training; on the contrary, you will develop close contact with your pet.
4. If the dog does something wrong, then most likely you are doing something wrong. Never accuse her of lack of understanding, do not scold her, and do not beat her under any circumstances.

All dogs have a general set of training rules. When training with a Shar Pei, in addition to these rules, you need to remember the character of the individual breed and take into account the disposition of your dog.

Rules for keeping and caring for Shar Pei

Healthy Shar-Peis do not require painstaking care; a set of minimum rules is enough:

After forest walks, always inspect your pet's skin.

What to feed Shar-Peis?

Proper nutrition is an important component of health and good mood. You can go two ways - choose ready-made dry food or natural food.

The main thing is not to mix. Decide: either natural feeding or industrial dry (wet) food from one company.

Never skimp on your dog! If you cannot provide your pet with quality food, it is better not to get one.

When feeding dry food:

• Follow the instructions on the food box.
• Keep an eye on the expiration date.
• Carefully switch to a new product, in small portions, preferably within a week.

When feeding natural food:

• Fresh food at room temperature.
• Teach your Shar Pei puppy to eat from a stand, and only from a bowl. Subsequently, this will protect him from poisoning on the street.
• If your pet is underfed, put the food in the refrigerator, and next time reduce the portion;
• After eating, wipe any remaining food from the face with a damp cloth, paying special attention to the lips and dewlap.

Forbidden:

Healthy:

• Buckwheat
• Lean beef, if it does not cause allergies
• Mutton
• Rabbit meat
• By-products (no more than 40% of the daily meat allowance)
• Poultry meat
• Sea fish, but with great care

At one meal you can give cereal with raw or boiled meat, taking into account the meat norm - 15 grams. by 1 kg per day. The broth from the broth is harmful to Shar Pei.

You can add zucchini, pumpkin, cauliflower or broccoli to the porridge.

Grated raw vegetables can be given with the addition of vegetable oil.

Vegetable oil is very useful for Shar Pei; in winter it can be added to any dishes, one teaspoon at a time. This will make the coat shiny and prevent cracks in the paw pads.

Please note that no owner will be able to correctly calculate the content of nutrients, microelements and other things. Therefore, when it comes to natural nutrition, it is necessary to include complex vitamins in the diet. Take in courses according to the instructions.

Shar Pei diseases

Prevention of all problems is your love and attention to your pet. If you regularly examine your dog, monitor his behavior and well-being, and also perform routine examinations at the veterinarian, then your dog will be healthy and happy.

Puppies

Shar Pei puppies open their eyes at 1.5 - 2 weeks. On the 21st day, be sure to call the veterinarian to have the eyelids stapled or sewn on. The puppy will not experience severe pain, and there will be no scars on the skin. This procedure is necessary to avoid many eye diseases.

Until the 3rd week, puppies do not require special care, the main thing is to ensure that they receive enough food from their mother. Sometimes the puppy may be far from its mother and get to the milk without help. If it is the first litter, the mother may not understand why the puppy is whining.

Puppies should be kept in an absorbent diaper and changed regularly.

The first feeding of puppies is at the beginning of the 4th week. It is best to soak puppy granules in kefir and place them in the puppies' mouths. Within a week they will be able to eat from a saucer on their own.

On the 30th day of life, puppies can be given solid food.

Until 2 months after the birth of Shar Pei puppies, it is better not to separate the puppies from their mother.

If you decide to buy a Shar Pei puppy, remember 4 things:

1. Comfort. If you adopted a puppy who was abandoned by its owners, get ready, it will be a difficult path through thorns to the stars. Surround your baby with comfort and all the conditions so that he can get used to you. If you purchased a Shar Pei from a nursery that has a good reputation, you don’t have to worry - the pet will be easy to contact.
2. Care. A dog is a small child that requires a lot of attention and care.
3. Love. Remember the popular wisdom “Treat others the way you want to be treated”? This rule also applies to dogs.
4. Patience. Shar Peis can be aggressive by nature, so in order to suppress this inconvenient quality, the dog must be painstakingly trained. If you decide to buy a puppy, be prepared to be restrained and strong.

Choosing a puppy

Price for a Shar Pei puppy in Russia: 12,000 - 20,000 rubles.

Price for a Shar Pei puppy in Moscow: 15,000 - 25,000 rubles.

If you want to purchase a show-class Shar Pei, then only an experienced breeder can help. The merits of the parents are not always an indicator of the success of the puppy.

If you do not plan to participate in exhibitions and competitions, then choosing a healthy Shar Pei puppy is not difficult at all.

The puppy must be two months old and have:

1. Clean ears;
2. Open eyes;
3. Shiny wool;
4. Active behavior:
5. Well-fed appearance;
6. Large square head;
7. Wide muzzle;
8. Ears pressed tightly to the skull;
9. Compact body;
10. High set tail;
11. Wool up to two and a half centimeters and even color;
12. Blue tongue and gums. Pink spots on the tongue are allowed.

He should not have lameness, defects of the jaw, paws, or ears. There should be no soft spherical growth on the tummy (umbilical hernia).

After a thorough examination with your mind, you can begin to choose with your heart. Look carefully at each puppy and listen to yourself - with this wonderful creature you will become one and give each other many pleasant moments.

Video

At what age is it best to get a Shar-Pei puppy?
The answer greatly depends on the free time you have, your tolerance for a baby who has not yet fully mastered the rules of decency in the house (toilet, chewing on everything, etc.).
If there is someone in your family who is at home most of the day, then you can adopt a puppy as early as 2 months - he still cannot walk outside, does his business on a newspaper, and must eat 4 times a day.
If this is a problem - take a 3-5 month old - he already walks on the street, knows that it is better to go to the toilet outside the house (though this does not guarantee that he will not do anything like that at home :o) and demands to eat 2 times a day .
If you don’t have time to raise a baby, take a grown-up puppy - 7-9 months old - he is already quite sane, knows what is good and what is bad, the toilet rule is ironclad.
The puppy’s attachment to you and to the family does not depend on the age at which you take him from the kennel - because... puppies living in a kennel, as they say, do not have a pronounced individuality, and begin to show it when they get into the house of a permanent owner. It also happens that a grown-up puppy, realizing that you have chosen him, singled him out and placed him in your world, experiences greater gratitude and affection for you than the one that was brought into the house when he was 1.5 months old. Any age has its pros and cons - small puppies look like toys, they are cute, they are pleasant to cuddle, but they do not always grow up the way we would like them to be, and the grown-up ones have already grown enough for us to imagine what they will look like adults - sometimes this is important if you are afraid of being disappointed :o)
What I don’t recommend is adopting a puppy before it reaches 2 months of age. The temptation is great, but there is also a lot of hassle. With such a baby, you just need to take “maternity leave” if you don’t want to traumatize the baby’s psyche by leaving him completely alone for several hours. It was easier for us - when we adopted Bonita (at 1 month and 19 days), we already had Cherry, and she did not feel lonely and abandoned - Cherry nobly took on the mission of a loving mother: o)
And one more important point: as practice shows, having experience in keeping dogs (not Shar-Peis) is not a guarantee that a person can cope with a Shar-Pei puppy. The experience of keeping other breeds should under no circumstances be projected onto the acquired Shar-Pei. This is a DIFFERENT breed. And the conditions for handling it DIFFER from those of a shepherd, collie or basset... This also applies to the relationship with the Shar-Pei, its feeding, and its care.

What is the difference between "show" and "working" puppies. And most importantly, which one to start?
Let's start with the puppy class. In general, Shar-Peis have three of them:

1. show class
2. breeding class
3. pet class

As for “working” dogs, this is a theorem that still requires diligent proof: o) Among about 30 dogs that I personally know, only one is worthy of a working diploma - and that one, by the way, is a bitch, not a male: o) And another bitch (personally unknown to me, but trained by our handler) recently passed the 2nd degree ZKS diploma.
Now about these three classes. The concept of a "show puppy" means that we are talking about a dog with a great show future. However, at 2-3 months it is impossible to say with 100% certainty that this puppy is a show puppy, and this one is a breeding puppy. Of course, it is possible to cull unpromising ones. But to determine that this particular puppy will have a brilliant show career is somewhat presumptuous. Basically, this label is given to puppies from champion parents from birth. But history knows quite a few cases where outstanding sires gave birth to mediocre puppies, and vice versa. Genetics is a probabilistic woman... In addition, a show puppy is a puppy who will not have to undergo eyelid surgery and/or lip surgery either now, or in 2-3 months, or later. In 2-3 months, the breeder can give such a guarantee with great tension... A few more points - joints, movements, proportions, dampness (so-called folding). At 2-3 months, all this is also predictable, but not predetermined. for example, the first suspicions of dysplasia arise by 7-9 months (and even later), and, no matter how one of the breeders swaggers, dysplasia does not always depend on their breeding work, especially if the puppy is in the 1st-3rd generation in the pedigree There are imported dogs, about whose heredity little is known. That. real show puppies are sold fully grown, at 7-9 months, when the dog’s potential is really visible, and they are not cheap - from 1000 USD. (more on pricing policy later). And at 2-3 months they sell just cute, cool pedigree puppies.
Breeding class is a dog for breeding work. If you get a show puppy for the prestige of the kennel or your own (to let dust in your eyes), then you need to get a breeding dog if you plan to breed Shar-Peis. Otherwise, potentially good healthy blood will be wasted. A breeding dog does not always have show qualities, and a show dog does not always turn out to be a good breeding dog. Although sometimes these concepts are confused and champions are bred, resulting in mediocre but expensive puppies (no hints!!!). A breeding dog, as a rule, is good not in itself (it is enough for it to simply be correct in terms of appearance), but due to the blood that is inherent in it and the health that it possesses. As a rule, professional breeders raise such dogs purposefully, selecting certain sires for mating, selecting the desired qualities, etc. Such puppies rarely fall into the hands of “mere mortals”. What's the point of giving a breeding dog to someone who will use it as a sofa cushion?
Pet class. This is the largest clan of Shar-Pei. This includes simply correct, pedigree, or in some ways not very correct dogs - pets. Some of them (breed) can achieve good exhibition results, but they will never be the stars of the show. If the owner does not have serious exhibition ambitions, and it is enough for him to know that his dog is purebred, a pet-class puppy is quite sufficient. Another question is that many puppies that really only qualify for the pet class are trying to be shown as show dogs...

How much does a Shar Pei puppy cost?
Price range - from 250 USD to... And here's what the cost of a puppy consists of:
1) The breeder's appetites. Different breeders can sell puppies of the same quality with a range of 200-300 dollars.
2) A big name for the nursery. The more famous the name, the more likely it is that an ordinary puppy will cost $200-300 more than from a private breeder you've never heard of.
3) Big names in the pedigree. If the mother, or father, or both parents of the puppy are champions, or expensive imported dogs, then its price automatically increases by several hundred. a puppy from unknown, simply good dogs will cost much less, even if it is better than the one born from champions.
4) Your specific wishes for choosing a puppy. The more stringent your requirements in choosing a puppy, the greater the chances that you will be jacked up on the price based on the principle that demand creates supply. The more interest you show in a specific puppy from specific parents, a specific color and gender, the more likely you will be increased in price.
5) Exterior of the puppy. In principle, at 2-3 months all puppies are adorable, but an experienced eye can see the difference - where there is at least some potential and where there is not. In addition, it has now become fashionable to differentiate the price of a puppy depending on color: a black puppy is the cheapest (a glaring injustice, since these are also very beautiful Shar-Peis, and Europe and the USA are full of champions of this color), mahogany and blue ( and varieties of blue - lilac and isabella) - the most expensive. Therefore, even a pet-class puppy of these colors can cost 500-600 USD. Well, the gender of the puppy also plays a role - females, as a rule, are cheaper than males :o)
By the way, I deliberately put the puppy himself in the very last place, because... half the time it really is the latter.
Let's summarize: if you buy a puppy from a well-known nursery, from champions, of a rare color, and you also want to be told that this is a show-class puppy, then 500-700 is the minimum price that you will most likely hear: o). At the same time, sometimes you can “swoop in” by buying a standard purebred dog under the guise of a show puppy. And if you just want to have a good pedigree Shar-Pei, the titles of his parents do not matter to you, and you are not embarrassed that his nickname will not have a loud prefix from a famous kennel, then you can always find a really decent puppy for an average of 350 .e. plus or minus 50.

Male or female... Which one to choose?
For some reason there is an opinion that a male is better. However, if there are small children, exalted grandmothers, etc. in the house, then it is optimal to get a bitch. Heating once every 6-9 months is not such a problem, believe me. Compared to the advantage that a bitch has over a male during the rest of the year: she is more attached to the house than a male, more obedient, more trainable (we are talking about the Shar-Pei female), she has more developed instincts of a protector and guard. It’s not for nothing that out of all the Shar-Peis that I’ve ever heard of, it’s mostly the bitches who have diplomas in protective guard service. In addition, the bitch will not show off her penis every time she feels good - as a male does (and if there are small children in the family, then you will have to answer the questions “dad, mom - what is this?”), and will not make mating cages with unambiguous movements on the legs and arms of guests and younger family members (which is typical for male dogs with rare or completely absent sex life). Males are more stubborn, often aggressive towards other dogs and are quite independent. In fact, I only know one male Shar-Pei so far who would be so unconditionally attached to his owner and so peaceful that he is even envious in a good way: o)

What is horse and how is it different from brush?
Despite the fact that I have both “brush” and “horse” living in my house, and perhaps precisely for this reason, I am inclined to think that brush Shar-Peis have a clear advantage over horse dogs on several points:
1) during molting, brush dogs look much better than horse dogs - horse dogs resemble an old mink coat, eaten by moths: o)
2) Horses are more susceptible to skin diseases of various origins.
3) Horses are more sensitive to cold, and can freeze in winter even in an apartment.
4) brush dogs look plumper and more voluminous than horse dogs.
5) scars on a horse dog (after a fight, surgery, injury) can remain noticeable for life, but in brush dogs their fur will hide them.
6) upon contact with the hair of a horse dog, local skin irritations occur more often - i.e. If a person’s skin is quite sensitive, then there is a high probability that he will not be able to pet a horse dog without getting itchy skin on the palms and above. Although, you can just get used to it - at least I got used to it :o)
7) for some reason experts love brush dogs more than horse dogs (a glaring injustice, because they are simply very different).
Just don’t misunderstand this tirade as an anti-advertising for the Horse Shar-Pei. I really like them - when they are well-groomed and look good. And the biggest confirmation of this is that after the “brush” I myself also got a “horse”. But you need to know all these possible difficulties in order to be prepared for them. It is much worse, having bought a horse puppy, to discover that one of the family members has developed skin dermatitis, and to be forced to give the dog back. And the sight of a shedding horse can, unknowingly, be very upsetting: o) Let's just say: the brush is optimal for beginner shar-peists. And the horse is for the experienced: o) True, there is one “but” here - if you want a blue Shar-Pei, then it’s practically impossible to find a brush one (maybe Anton will tell you if there are such ones in Moscow, according to my information, no).
As far as I have noticed, most Moscow breeders generally prefer not to get involved with Choros dogs. It's a pity, because... They are also very beautiful, and are much closer to the historical appearance of the Chinese Shar-Pei.

Do all Shar-Peis have blue tongues?
The breed standard specifies three color options for the Shar-Pei's tongue: blue (in different translations: purple, blue-black), lavender and blue with pink spots. A blue tongue is a mandatory attribute of a Shar-Pei of the main color (not dilute). Lilac is characteristic of dilute colors of Shar-Peis, especially light and chocolate ones. Blue Shar-Peis and Isabella also have blue tongues or have pink spots on the blue tongue that are acceptable in this color. However, similar spots on the blue tongue of a dog of the main color indicate insufficient pigmentation, which can be regarded by breed experts as a fault. A pink tongue with blue spots and a completely pink tongue in a Shar-Pei is unacceptable and is considered a disqualifying fault and such dogs are not allowed for breeding.

Can a Shar Pei be white?
No. Can not. This is the only solid color that is not allowed in a Shar Pei. It is not inherent to the breed and is associated with a huge number of genetic health problems. However, some people confuse cream and cream dilute colors with white. White is albinism, a lack of pigmentation on the skin. Cream and cream diluts can sometimes appear ALMOST white, but the ears, paws, base of the muzzle and back will be a darker shade. The nose will be almost black or black with a pink “patch” on the cream, and the color of fudge on the cream dilut. But never pink. The mouth is blue (in the case of cream) or lavender (in the case of cream dilut), but never pink. Shar-Pei eyes are ALWAYS dark: black, blue-black, dark brown, brown. Light eyes are not typical for this breed. If you are offered a white Shar-Pei, remember that this is a “breeding match” that carries with it a serious lack of pigmentation, which means potential genetic problems (primarily with hearing and vision).

I have seen an adult Shar-Pei that had virtually no folds. Is this a marriage?
No. Despite the fact that in childhood Shar-Peis look like ruffled hippos, an adult Shar-Pei actually has minimal wrinkles. If you open the modern breed standard, you will see that in an adult dog folds are allowed only on the muzzle, withers and at the base of the tail. All other folds are considered undesirable, and excessive folds on the back and, especially on the legs, are considered disqualifying defects. However, not everyone knows this modern standard, including some experts who are not familiar with it. That is why sometimes at exhibitions preference is given to the Shar-Pei, which is excessively loaded in weight and folds. However, a healthy and “correct” adult Shar-Pei is a creature with several folds on the withers and deep folds on the muzzle (with a well-filled muzzle with lymph, the folds are generally localized only on the forehead, with a deflated muzzle - also on the sides). No more.

What is a Shar-Pei - “extreme”, and why is it bad?
"Extreme" is slang for a Shar-Pei with an excessive amount of folds. We are not just talking about a lot of folds running down the back, but about deep, heavy folds throughout the body. In such dogs, the skin hangs down even on the legs (mainly on the hind legs). Excess skin makes the dog inactive, overweight and clumsy. The extreme dog is highly susceptible to skin infections, dermatitis, immunodeficiency conditions, allergies, ear infections, eye and sinus problems. The lifespan of such a dog is 2-3 years, and only the happiest live up to 5 years. The modern breed standard does not accept this extreme type of Shar-Pei. Such dogs were acceptable at the beginning of the process of restoring the breed, but over time and with experience, it became clear that a healthy Shar-Pei is a dog with a strong athletic build and a minimum of folds on the body. This is exactly what the historical representatives of the breed looked like. This is why extreme dogs are considered a breeding match throughout the civilized world. However, everywhere, both in Russia and in other countries, there are breeders who, in order to please consumer demand, deliberately breed such “extreme sports”. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people everywhere who want to buy a Shar-Pei that would remain “super-folded” into adulthood. As a rule, such people are unaware of the underwater part of this iceberg.

Why does the Shar-Pei dislike it so much and even shy away to the side when someone approaches it quickly (from the side or behind) or raises their hand above their head?
This is not due to the temperament of the breed, and not to the psyche of a particular dog. It's all about the Shar Pei's eyes. They are small, deep-set and framed by folds. All this greatly limits the dog’s peripheral vision, and it is difficult for the Shar-Pei to follow who is approaching him from the side or from behind. Therefore, when you suddenly approach a Shar-Pei from the side or behind, or raise your hand above its head or back, you take it by surprise and, therefore, scare it (since any dog ​​has a strong need to control the situation in which it is ). In order not to create such situations, try to make sure that your Shar-Pei sees you and your intentions are clear to him. If this is a dog that is unfamiliar to you, or a dog that you rarely see, approach it from the front and calmly extend your hand to it so that it can sniff you and understand that everything is okay. Sniffing is for dogs what greetings are for people.

How do Shar Pei treat children?
A Shar Pei will not harm a child, just as it will not harm a small dog or puppy (I mean in normal, non-stressful situations). However, the Shar Pei may have some difficulties in its relationship with a child. First of all, they are associated with what was mentioned above: the limited peripheral vision of this dog. Small children are impulsive and impatient; it never occurs to them that a Shar-Pei can be offended or frightened by unexpectedly sharply placing your hand on its back or head, grabbing its back paw, trying to catch it, etc.. This is reminiscent of “playing dog.” ", when the Shar-Pei is perceived as some kind of doll or teddy bear. An adult dog can tolerate such treatment stoically, but such an environment can be traumatizing for a puppy. I know of several real cases where brave adult dogs were terrified or even aggressive towards small children. The roots of these reactions lie in situations from the childhood of the dogs themselves - all of them were periodically or constantly frightened by small children. One of my Shar-Peis, at 4 months of age, was actually harassed by a 5-year-old child during a picnic (the child was just trying to play tag with my puppy and grabbed him by the back). As a result, over the next few days my Shar-Pei would growl aggressively and “pucker” its fur at the sight of every child of about that age who simply walked in his direction. Thank God, this was an isolated case of such stress, and the aggression gradually faded away. However, if I had allowed similar situations to happen a few more times, my puppy would have grown into an aggressive dog, wary of children. Adults need to keep this in mind when teaching their children how to interact with Shar Pei puppies. At the same time, the Shar-Pei is a very playful dog that can become an excellent partner for a child in playing ball, tug-of-war, racing, etc. children's games in which the Shar-Pei acts not as an object of play, but as a full-fledged player.

Why do trainers consider the Shar Pei to be a stubborn dog?
As a rule, this opinion is expressed by trainers who are accustomed to dealing with working dogs, for example, shepherds. The fact is that, unlike “well-trained” dogs, the Shar-Pei is a thinking and decision-making dog. It is not enough for him to give a command and force him to carry it out. The Shar Pei needs to know WHY he is doing this. Many trainers who work using the method of rewards and punishments perceive this style of Shar-Pei behavior as stubbornness. And indeed, outwardly it looks exactly like this: the Shar-Pei is one of those breeds that picks up everything on the fly, quickly understands the meaning of this or that command and just as quickly learns to carry it out correctly. But... they very quickly become BORED of having to do the same thing ten times, for the same reward. Positivity and variability of motivation in classes is the only way to train a Shar-Pei. This has its challenges, but the result is worth it: you will get a brilliantly trained intelligent companion and even a security guard.

Why does my Shar Pei smell bad? Maybe it needs to be washed more often?
We must remember that a healthy Shar-Pei has practically no odor (some compare this smell with the subtle aroma of a child’s clean skin, others with the smell of Angora wool; personally, it reminds me of the aroma of a chicken that has recently hatched from an egg). But unpleasant, sharp, sweetish, etc. smells are an alarm signal for the owner of a Shar Pei, indicating that something is wrong with the dog. Most often, this is a manifestation of a food allergy to something that the dog ate at one time, or to something in its food. But there are also more serious cases - for example, secondary skin infections against the background of reduced immunity. In both cases, washing will not help matters. We need to look for the cause of the bad smell. At the same time, if we are talking about a skin infection, then it is not even recommended to wash it until recovery. But if it is an allergy, then washing with medicated shampoo can relieve skin itching and reduce irritation. Read more about this in the "Health" section.

The muzzle is “blown away”... what can influence this process?
The Shar-Pei's muzzle is a mysterious thing. For example, you punished him for stealing from the table by giving him a slap in the face, and... after a couple of hours you look - and there’s no face, just a skin hanging on his skull. Or a male dog lives next to a bitch in heat, but they don’t let him breed her - it also happens that he gets blown away. A dog got into a fight, they grabbed it on the cheek - it’s also possible that it will blow away. She feels bad, her tummy hurts, she has no appetite - her muzzle may also fall off. During illness - even more so. But everything is very individual. For some this happens all the time, for others God has had mercy. Moreover, if the skull itself is small (the bone is not wide), then the deflated muzzle is visible instantly - the muzzle becomes like that of a fox, only in contrast to it, the skin of the Shar-Pei hangs down. But in bony dogs this is not so obvious. How much I observe this process using different examples, I come to the conclusion that the deflation or non-deflation of the muzzle is more likely due to mental factors than physiological ones (physiology, of course, is important, but it already reacts to mental signals). Our Cherry, for example, deflated his muzzle when we brought Bonita into the house - he suspected for quite a long time that we had “exchanged” him for her, and only when he realized that his status in the family was not in danger did his muzzle begin to puff up again: o )

The name of the Shar Pei breed comes from the Chinese name for "Sand Hide". The dog is a good watchdog and companion. Useful in hunting. The breed has an unusual appearance. It seems that the dog is clumsy and clumsy.

People immediately wonder: what kind of breed does it look like? Such thoughts are evoked by the ubiquitous folds on the body. Previously, the breed was listed in the Guinness Book of Records, due to the great rarity of the Shar Pei. However, today the situation has changed dramatically, and “Sand Skin” is often found on city streets. The Shar Pei is considered a sociable pet and quite intelligent. The breed is not known for its friendliness towards strangers, but has been noted as a devoted servant. I consider the Shar Pei suitable for experienced four-legged lovers, due to its special disposition and independent character.

Compressed characteristic:

• birth of the breed: China;
• contents in the apartment: suitable;
• ICF classification: second group, second section;
• average life expectancy: up to 12 years;
• height at withers: cable: up to 51 cm, males: 51 cm;
• pet weight: from 20 to 25 kg;
• breeding: 3000 years ago;
• type of individual: companion breed;
• to what age do they grow: 8 months;
• price: starting from 5500 thousand rubles;
• shedding: moderate.

A Brief History of Shar Peis

When you look at a Shar Pei, you don't just see another artificially bred "lap dog". “Chinese fighting dog” is another name for the breed; it is a real historical atlas of the Far Eastern space. None of our smaller brothers can tell about the events of the region better than Shar Pei. The breed has passed all possible tests that can befall a dog.

She served the emperors faithfully, suffered from communist dictatorship, and was almost exterminated several times. If you have one of the most ancient breeds in your home, you are witnessing a heroic survival that not everyone can cope with.

The origin of the breed is not fully understood, however, during excavations of imperial palaces and other buildings, figurines are discovered that look like the Chinese breed (Han dynasty 206 BC - 220 AD).

It is suggested that the breed is the descendants of relict mastiffs and smooth-haired chow-chows.

However, one can only say from a DNA test that the breed has already existed on Earth for more than 3 thousand years. Thus, the Shar Pei automatically becomes one of the very first representatives of the descendants of the very first prehistoric dogs.

In the 3rd-2nd centuries the dog was the most popular in the Chinese state. The dogs were sophisticated fighters; thanks to their protective folds, it was difficult to remove them from a fight. During his reign, Emperor Qin Shi Huang destroyed the stud books that contained information about the origin of the Shar Pei.

The breed either gained popularity or lost numbers, experiencing famine, numerous wars and other adversities. However, in the XX century. The dog has become one of the most popular pets in China. When the Communist Party came to power, all pets were recognized as an “excessive waste of resources” and they began to massively destroy cats and dogs. This led to the fact that in the 50s, breeders miraculously managed to save several specimens. Today, the time of adversity has passed and the breed is officially recognized by associations (the American version is no exception). And the dog is ubiquitous.

Positive and negative sides

The advantages of the breed reflect the following advantages:

1. Neat behavior, do not mark territory.
2. Doesn't chew furniture.
3. Not intrusive.
4. Hunting abilities.
5. Friendly attitude.

The dog’s shortcomings can be described by the following theses:

1. Stubbornness.
2. Susceptibility to disease.
3. Pickiness in food.

Also, disadvantages can be identified in relation to other animals.

Intelligence

The dog has a high level of intelligence. At home, it jealously guards the territory. A member of a species can instantly choose a solution and react instantly. The dog tolerates loneliness calmly, although it needs communication with a person. The dog does not chew objects in the apartment as a result of neurosis, but patiently waits for the owner to arrive.

The Chinese Fighting Dog needs to sense territory while you are away, so there is no need to lock him in a crate while you are away. The dog's independence made her extremely intelligent. Training in capable hands is effective.

Character description is always a separate conversation for a dog. This is a pet that the owner must conquer. Other family members do the same, otherwise the strong-willed dog will begin a power struggle. The dog constantly strives for control, and positions all objects, including people, as his property, which he protects. However, all the dog’s ambitions towards its owners are devoid of all aggression.

A dog in the hands of an experienced lover will be obedient and attentive. The Shar Pei is quite sociable. He is affectionate with the residents of the house, but has a stubborn disposition. Sometimes it is difficult to force him to carry out the necessary command. The dog relies only on its own considerations and is often withdrawn. The dog does not like excessive attention and can become suspicious. It is necessary to cultivate communication skills in him from an early age, but not to go too far.

Socialization and training

The dog is devoted to its owners and family, prone to careful analysis of each member. Studying people's preferences. Representatives of the species live in harmony with others. Shar Pei knows how and with whom to behave. Sharpei is loyal to children and old people. The dog does not have a re-balanced psyche, they reduce the nervous tension of a person. The Shar Pei is thrifty and does not waste itself on communicating with strangers. The dog has poor peripheral vision and sudden movements can cause anxiety.

The breed is controversial when it comes to dogs. A fighting temperament can cause aggression, but puppies and, with early training, adult dogs can be tolerant. The child must communicate with the dog under the supervision of an adult.

External features of Shar Pei

External qualities with large folds attract attention. The fur may seem soft, but the wool is hard to the touch. Because of its purple-tinged tongue, the Shar Pei is called “the dog that licked the sky.”

• The dog's head is massive and has a flat skull covered with a mass of folds. The mouth is painted in a dark shade. The nose is black;
• the jaw received a scissor bite;
• small eyes are almond-shaped;
• the ears are mini-sized;
• the body has compact dimensions with pronounced muscles;
• the dog has a deep chest;
• the back received a short shape, sharply turning into the lower back, which gives a dwarf appearance;
• the tail process is thrown over part of the back;
• The limbs are muscular and well built.

Modern standards divide color into 14 types. Cynologists divide the breed into 2 subspecies: main and delta.

Delta (option A) includes species with dark pigments:

1. Deer.
2. Red deer.
3. Sable "zone gray".
4. Blue.
5. Isabella.
6. Red.
7. Cream.

There are also chocolate (brown) and other subspecies.

The second group “B” includes: dogs with the absence of black pigment. These include lilac, apricot, red and other deluts.

Health and care

Smooth-haired fur does not create any problems if the dog receives the correct daily diet. There is no smell of wool in the apartment, even if it gets wet. However, if care is not maintained, an unpleasant odor will immediately arise and the general appearance of the animal will deteriorate. The Shar Pei does not require frequent water treatments. Check your dog's ears regularly and make sure no moisture gets in there. After bathing, you should inspect the folds and remove all moisture.

The dog is prone to illness

The breed is sensitive to various diseases. Frequent ailments are: food allergies, entropion of the eyelid, which can lead to blindness. Skin diseases are common with poor care. The ears are also a vulnerable organ; they can easily become irritated and inflamed when exposed to moisture.

Thus, the dog is a loyal friend and useful member of the family. These and many other qualities have made the dog so popular on many continents.