Hello,
I'd like to ask you who know about these things, are Shar pei generally good family pets? My neighbour is obsessed with them and has wanted one for ages, but can only now think about it seriously. She's asked me for advice, and of course, I'm asking you all!! She's done a lot of research on the breed, and has a daughter of three. I've been on some websites for her, and they all recommend the shar pei as a good family pet, but she's worried they won't be affectionate, and that they'll be too aggressive and aloof to interact with her daughter . She wants a non-aggressive natural guard dog for her daughter, but also wants a playmate and companion. Her daughter is used to dogs, and cats, and seems very nice and sensible. I know a lot depends on how the pup is treated,etc, but as a generalisation, would this be a bad idea? I know Shar pei had a bad image, and were called fighting dogs, but I presume this stems from their history, as opposed to their character?? Also, would it cost her a fortune in vet bills, as when she mentioned it to her cat's vet, they said that Shar pei still have so many health problems? She has a small garden, which is fenced next to mine, and we have lots of open ground around us. She's at home most of the time. Any advice I can pass on to her would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
Beth x P.s. Do they need loads of exercise??

i wish you could of been sitting here today watching my older bitch cuddled into my 8 month grandaughter, ---as with any breed you need to buy from someone who breeds for good temperament, mine love children and i do have grandchildren, ive sold several pups to homes with kids and they have built up a bond with them, if you look on my picture gallery on my website theres kids and pei on there, ---i personally find the brushcoats kinder and calmer in temperament, others may disagree, but thats how i see it, having owned both coats,---- if your neighbour would like to ask me anything shes more than welcome, if you click on my board name it will give you my email addie-also my website----:D

H Dizzy,
thanks for that. Kay, my neighbour doesn't have a computer, but when she comes over next, I'll put her on it and get her to check you out. Thanks for the advice. I will pass it on.
Beth x

Morning Bobo

I to agree with the comment of the previous poster Dizzy, Sharpei do make wonderful companions for families.
My details complete with my website. are to on my "highlighted name icon" hope Kay finds a her dream wrinkle :-)

Best wishes
Karen

Hi Bobo

Why not drop Diz an email, I'm sure she'd give you her phone number so that your neighbours could give her a call. She's always willing to share her copious knowledge, and that's a fair bit:D She's far to modest to tell you but she is the current top breeder and owns the current top Pei, and yet she still talks to us normal folks :p :D (I shall now run for cover coz when she reads that I am in trouble)

Thanks to all who have replied. Spoke to my neighbour today, and apparently she's heard of a breeder in Essex who's charging over £1000, more for different colours, a pup. She has a friend who is going to have one of these pups, and as it's quite near to her, she's going to get in touch. I presume it's not right to ask opinions of individual breeders on this forum, but isn't that too much for a pet shar pei? I've given her Dizzy's details , and she said she would contact her from her mum's computer. Very impressive Dizzy, by the way!!!!
Beth xx

Hi,

Sharpai's are lovely dogs with the family, but do sometimes suffer from hereditary skin problems, so be a bit careful.

Some people unfortunately have found that the rarer breeds make money and charge stupid prices!!! Shop around and see what you can find and make sure they have owned the breed for a number of years.

manda
X

mandates-most of the "hereditary" skin problems where found to be food based, !!!! :rolleyes:
as for £1.000 , youd be mad to think of spending that much, i think youll find that not too may of the "COLOURED" pei are half as structurely sound as the red - red/fawn- blacks-creams etc, --theyve a long way to go before theyre a patch on the ones in the ring,

Bobo - yes it's too much for a Shar Pei ;)

Hello,
again,thanks for the advice. I did tell my friend that there can't be any good reason to spend that much,even if she wants a more unusual colour. Must admit, after looking at some sites, the shar pei seem a fascinating breed. Dizzy, why are the newer colours, in your opinion, not as sound as the more traditional colours? Just curious.Will pass all advice on. Thankyou again...I also think that most of the so called skin problems,etc have been almost wiped out by good breeders? Is that right?
Beth x

i feel a lot [not all] of breeders who breed for colour have only that in mind [colour] !!!! ive not seen too many that could fit the breed standard too well, -there are a few in quarantine that have been bought in by a breeder who breeds dilutes, and is going into colours too, but puts a lot into construction-type etc, so i know she will breed the best possible, -but as some can charge £1,000 just because its different, then they dont appear to be getting the soundness-type-bone etc desirable, theres also some breeding parti coloureds, these are throw backs, something the breed has tried for years to rid itself of, -but again we have breeders trying to get them and selling them for stupid money, so its each to there own-but it wouldnt be me!!!!!!
as i said above, a lot of skin problems where found to be food based, so easily sorted, plus pei dont have undercoat so when they cast can look very moth eaten, which vets not used to the breed will suspect is ringworm etc, although it wont be when checks are done,