IVE HAD MY SHAR-PEI PUPPY SINCE NOVEMBER AND HE IS THRIVING.  HE IS 4 MONTHS NOW AND IS EATING JAMES WELLBELOVED KILBBLES AND JAMESWELLBELOVED POUCHES. MY QUESTION IS, JUST TO GIVE HIM A BIT OF VARIETY NOW AND WHEN HE IS OLDER ARE THERE ANY FOODS THAT I CAN GIVE HIM AS WELL AS HIS KIBBLES AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO HIS POUCHES?

REGARDS

Are you talking about completely changing his diet, i.e to raw feeding, or alternatives such as treats and things?

Im sorry ive just read the post again and you said as an alternative. As long as you pup is Ok (has no allergys) then you could offer him a whole variety of things. Pets at home sell tripe, liver, rabbit, game, etc all in frozen blocks which you could give now and again. You could also get mince and things from the butchers as an alternative. As for treats, i would stick to the more natural things-bones, pigs ears, chicken wings as opposed to the manufactured thing(pedigree deni stix for example) which are full of rubbish and additives, last 5 minutes, and are quite expensive. Your dog will enjoy a bone, get more benefit and it will last longer.
Im afraid my dog has allergys so i dont vary his diet much :-(  but do try to give him lots of nice healthy treats.
Im sure some more people will be along with more advice and maybe shar pei specific recommendations.

THATS EXCELLENT THANK YOU. I AM INEXPEREIENCED WHEN IT COMES TO SHAR-PEIS AND IVE HEARD SO MANY HORROR STORIES ABOUT THEM IM FRIGHTENED TO GIVE HIM TREATS ETC LIKE I WOULD WITH A "NORMAL" DOG. I WOULDNT HAVE THOUGHT PIGS EARS AND RAW HIDE ETC WOULD BE AGREEABLE TO SHAR-PEIS? UP TO NOW HE HASNT GOT ANY ALLERGYS AND BY GIVING HIM TREATS AND ALTERNATIVES IM FRIGHTENED THAT I MAY CAUSE ONE.  THANKYOU FOR YOUR ADVICE AND PROMPT RESPONCE. APPRECIATED.

Karen, I have no advice on feeding, but can you please turn your caps lock off as it is seen as shouting and is very hard to read :) :)
Lea :) :)

sorry!! Im new to this game :-)

Thats ok :) :)
It is net Etiquette :) :)
Lea :)

Karen,

If it aint broke don't fix it.  Your breed has many health/ allergy problems and in your words, "he's thriving" so you are doing a good job. I would think that tinkering with something that's going so well so soon, is asking for trouble.

The best person to ask would be his breeder, especially if there are dietary problems with the breed.

I would second asking your breeder for advice. Or other shar pei owners. As i said i dont know a lot about the breed. If they are prone ot problems then ditto what toolz says. If your dogs doing well, leave it at that. No point fixing what aint broke. :-)