Shar Pei Resource / bearposhsharpei Winnipeg Manitoba Canada

I am on my 3RD Shar Pei. Posh was the most friendly thing ever towards other dogs until she was attacked for the 5TH time. After that, and it was BAD, she turned rather nasty. As one would fully expect! I could no longer trust her with other dogs. Had she not been attacked, I fully believed she would have stayed friendly all her life.

Zephyr is a real BOY. He is like the push, mouthy in your face kid in grade school. the one that is very much ADHD! Zephyr, up until 6 months of age went to a doggy daycare once or twice a week. i did this in hopes he would learn how to play well with others. For the most part I think it worked. Now that Zephyr is 15 months old, his personallity has changed someone. He is still ADHD, but acts totally different depending on the sex of the other dog in front of him. He's a flirt! he loves the girls! Boys dogs are a whole other issue. He acts like a bit of a jerk to be honest! I always ask owners, "male or female?" If it's a girl, I let Zephyr say hello. If it's a boy, I only let them get nose to nose, that's it. (Zephyr is great with Jovi, but still ADHD and persistent as hell!)

I fully believe Shar Pei are different then other canines. They look different, act different, play different, smell different, taste different......They are different. And other breeds know it. These difference's can be an issue in my opinion. Also, Shar pei are, as a rule, very vocal. This vocal behavior can scare other dogs. This is my experience. I think as a responsible Shar pei owner it is incumbent upon us to KNOW and beable to READ or dogs. It can mean the difference between a dog playing well with others, or getting attacked!

Devi

I find Chloe is great with other dogs EXCEPT one incident. I find Chloe changes her beliefs based on other dogs. She was once playing with a golden and they were having a BLAST! Then then neighbors 13 year old dog came out and over to us and is a cranky old thing and was barking everytime the golden went near her - Chloe instantly changed and started to chase the golden meanly, and then they were snarling and lunged at each other but me and the other owner already had our dogs by then, even on leash they HATED each other. Even when the older dog left, they hate each other. Even when we walk by the goldens house and he barks from in the house her hackles raise and she stiffens right up.

It was the weirdest thing ever!

I also believe that Shar pei are different. Other breeds of dogs dont know what they mean or are doing, like playing, most dog get confused why she wants to always wrestle and they stop playing.

Another Shar pei though - and they have a blast wrestling! lol

Aurora is my second Shar Pei. My first Shar Pei was very aggressive to all dogs and people unless it was someone she knew.  She was an absolute sweetheart to my grown children, grandchildren and granddogs.  With Aurora, she is 2 1/2 months, I am socializing her as much as I can.  Creating playdates,dogwalker 3x/wk, introducing her to every dog we meet on our daily walks,visiting with kids waiting for the school bus,taking her with us wherever we go and doggy daycare.  If anyone has any other suggestions I would appreciate hearing from you.     

I think you are doing it all right Susan. You get the point that socialization is majorly important. If you do consider daycare, the PetPlanet across from the Flying J is amazing! Always remember that Shar Pei look, act, smell and taste different then anyother breed. Other dogs DO see a Shar Pei as NOT a canine. More often then not this is where the problems arise from in my opinion. Shar Pei are very oral, vocal and pushy as a rule. This scares many many dogs of all breeds. Play dates are great! Just always be on guard with the OTHER dog, not yours. It's more likely the other dog will read Aurora wrong and react. Also note as she gets older her personality will change. She may get aggressive even with all the correct socializing. Lets just hope not. In my opinion having doggy friends is a great thing!

Devi