Cunliffe Chinese Shar-Pei

A Comprehensive Guide to Owning and Caring for Your Dog
1. Auflage 2012
ISBN: 978-1-59378-967-1
Verlag: CompanionHouse Books
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 158 Seiten

Reihe: Comprehensive Owner's Guide

One of the world's most peculiar dogs, perhaps, is the Chinese Shar-Pei, known for distinctive wrinkles, his blue black tongue, and his extremely harsh coat. Few dogs have as fascinating a history as the Chinese Shar-Pei, an ancient breed rescued from the precipice of extinction in the mid 20th century. Devoted fans of the Shar-Pei describe the breed as affectionate, protective, independent, and calm. This Comprehensive Owner's Guide gives newcomers to the Shar-Pei all of the necessary information about socializing and training the Shar-Pei, preventing and handling potential health issues, and evaluating the compatibility of the breed to a new owner's expectations and life style. Author Juliette Cunliffe paints a realistic and revealing portrait of this extraordinary breed that requires an attentive, dog-smart owner to thrive., an account that all lovers of the breed will appreciate for its insight and candor.New owners will welcome the well-prepared chapter on finding a reputable breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy. Chapters on puppy-proofing the home and yard, purchasing the right supplies for the puppy as well as house-training, feeding, and grooming are illustrated with photographs of handsome adults and puppies. In all, there are over 135 full-color photographs in this useful and reliable volume. The author's advice on obedience training will help the reader better mold and train into the most well-mannered dog in the neighborhood. The extensive and lavishly illustrated chapter on healthcare provides up-to-date detailed information on selecting a qualified veterinarian, vaccinations, preventing and dealing with parasites, infectious diseases, and more. Sidebars throughout the text offer helpful hints, covering topics as diverse as historical dogs, breeders, or kennels, toxic plants, first aid, crate training, carsickness, fussy eaters, and parasite control. Fully indexed.

Juliette Cunliffe has owned sight hounds for 30 years. She judges competitions around the world and is a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer of Judges. Shw is the author of many successful dog books and lives in Shropshire, England.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Cunliffe, Juliette

Leseproben

It is easy to see why the Chinese Shar-Pei now has so many devoted followers. Not only is this an unusual-looking breed that, once seen, is rarely forgotten, but it also has many endearing characteristics. However, it must be stressed that the Shar-Pei is not a breed that suits everyone. The breed has had much publicity, largely due to its unique appearance, but publicity is not always a good thing and prospective owners should seriously do their “homework” before deciding that a Shar-Pei should share their lives.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Chinese Shar-Pei is best known for his loose skin and frowning expression, with his rather large head and unique, well-padded muzzle, bulging slightly at the base of the nose. There is also padding on the lower lip, but this should not be so excessive as to interfere with the bite.

This is a substantial, strong, squarely built dog, with dogs being more powerful than bitches. According to breed standards in both the US and UK, height should be between 18–20 inches at the withers, though certainly both taller and shorter Shar-Pei are to be found, particularly when one looks at the Shar-Pei population in the world as a whole.

Another important breed characteristic is the Shar-Pei’s bluish-black tongue. On closer investigation, you will find that the flews, roof of mouth and gums are also black, though lighter colors are permissible in dilute-colored dogs.

COLORS AND COAT

A litter of Shar-Pei can comprise puppies of several different colors. Those accepted within the breed standard are the solid colors and sable. There is a wide range of solid colors, including dilute forms. Frequently there is lighter shading on the tail and back of thighs, but a dog patched with white or spotted is undesirable. As solid colors are desired, the black and tan color combination that crops up from time to time is not a recognized color.

The coat is another highly distinctive feature of the breed and sets the Shar-Pei apart from all other breeds of dog. It is said that the name “Shar-Pei” means “sandy-coated dog,” a description relating to the texture of the coat, not to its color. It is short, bristly and harsh to the touch.

Indeed, some of the very short coats in the breed, known as “horse coats,” can sometimes irritate human skin, so one should be fully aware of this before deciding on a Shar-Pei puppy. Of course, not everyone is allergic to the coat, but this should be considered and reactions assessed before making a long-term commitment to the breed.

The coat has no undercoat, is straight and stands off from the body, but is generally flatter on the limbs. Coats over 1 inch long are undesirable.

The range of coat types are mentioned in the breed standard, and they do differ considerably. An authority in Hong Kong even suggested that there are as many as ten different coat types in Shar-Pei, and the subject has certainly been a controversial one in recent years.

Looking back to the Hong Kong Kennel Club standard, a clear description of why the Shar-Pei’s coat was to be harsh was explained as it is was to be “absolutely too uncomfortable to be held in any canine mouth.” Some coats, known as “brush coats,” are longer but still conform to the standard; others are called “bear coats.” The latter are much longer and softer and are uncharacteristic of the breed, resulting from throwbacks to other breeds that were used in redeveloping the breed as we know it today.

GROWING INTO THEIR SKIN

Shar-Pei puppies should have much fuller, more wrinkled skin than they will have in adulthood. One has to admit that they look absolutely adorable as puppies, seeming to grow into their skin as they mature.

TAILS AND DEWCLAWS

The tail of the Chinese Shar-Pei is set extremely high and is never docked; even the breed standard states that a lack of a complete tail is a disqualifying fault. The tail itself is rounded and narrows to a fine point. It is carried in a curl and can fall over either side of the dog’s back.

Dewclaws on the front feet may or may not be removed, this being left to the discretion of the breeder. Removal of hind dewclaws, however, is mandatory. This should be done when the puppies are around three days old.

PERSONALITY

Active and alert, the breed has a calm, independent nature and is very affectionate. The Shar-Pei is devoted to people and loves to live as an integral part of the family, but one should always bear in mind that the breed might not necessarily be so friendly toward strangers.

TALES OF THE TAIL

Tails of Shar-Pei vary quite considerably. Frequently a puppy’s tail does not curl until it is older, but even a puppy’s tail should be set high, as is correct for the breed, and it should be thick at the base.

The Shar-Pei is very much an Asian breed, and like others from this region is usually prepared to protect both his home and owners. Alert to the slightest sound, he is quick to come between his much-loved owners and anyone he considers may be a threat. However, in most cases, the Shar-Pei is content to pin down any adversary, rather than to bite. This is not generally an aggressive dog, but it is always important to consider that a Shar-Pei is capable of doing damage, so must be trained from an early age to know what is and is not acceptable behavior.

The Shar-Pei is a good guard dog, for this behavior is instinctive in the breed. And although the breed’s fighting days are long since past, one should always keep in mind that ancestors of the present-day Shar-Pei were used for fighting, so any tendency displayed in this regard should be kept well under control.

Another aspect of the breed’s nature, about which one should be aware, is the hunting instinct. Shar-Pei have very good eyesight and employ great patience in stalking their prey.

A Shar-Pei is an inventive dog and will undoubtedly provide his owners with many hours of fun and amusement, especially while growing up. This breed enjoys playing games, both with other dogs and with humans, and it can be absolutely fascinating to watch a Shar-Pei think things out before apparently deciding on the most appropriate action to take.

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

The Chinese Shar-Pei is not a breed without health problems; fortunately, dedicated breeders have done their best to eradicate problems that have occurred in the breed and their efforts have paid dividends.

SWOLLEN HOCK SYNDROME

Swollen hock syndrome is of particular concern with the Chinese Shar-Pei. It can also be known as familial Shar-Pei fever and systemic amyloidosis. Although a dog may show no signs of the disorder, he can be carrying it genetically, so two dogs mated together, both with the defective genes, can produce puppies that either have or carry the syndrome.

The disorder is caused by inability to break down and remove amyloid protein. Instead this protein builds up, eventually taking all life out of the kidneys and liver. In consequence, Shar-Pei that are so affected die at an early age from either liver or kidney failure.

WRINKLE CARE

Because of the Shar-Pei’s wrinkles, it is important to take special care of the skin. Ensure that particles of food and dirt do not get trapped in the wrinkles, for this can easily lead to an irritation.

Symptoms are lethargy, poor appetite and sometimes a high temperature, combined with shivering. The breed’s large muzzle may also be swollen and the eyes puffed up, symptoms similar to a wasp sting. The dog may scream in pain when the muzzle is touched. The joints can be stiff and the dog may have difficulty in placing either or both of his hind legs on the ground. The back legs can become swollen and thickened. Yet another sign in puppies that are affected is a roached back, due to abdominal pain. The puppy may also vomit and have diarrhea.

COMMON MANGE

Demodectic mange is the most common type of mange found in the Shar-Pei. Caused by parasitic mites thriving in hair follicles, some dogs have an inherited inability to resist them. An early sign is the appearance of small bald patches, with the skin later becoming reddened and scaly.

Attacks occur with varied frequency. An affected dog might have an attack virtually every week, or may have only a couple and then never again. However, even if the attacks are few, the cause must be thoroughly investigated and if the reason is swollen hock syndrome, the dog in question must be eliminated from breeding programs.

The usual age at which the syndrome affects Shar-Pei is between 4 and 18 months, but it has been known earlier, and others have shown no sign until adulthood.

To alleviate the discomfort as much as possible, the dog’s temperature must be kept normal. You can wash behind the ears and the dog should be kept in a cool, quiet room. The dog should not be forced to eat food, but drinks of honey water are good.

Keeping an affected dog on a low-protein diet (16–20%) is beneficial, and natural sulfur can help to purify the system. Fresh parsley can help the kidneys.

ENTROPION

Entropion is a rolling in of either one or both of the eyelids, and good breeders are trying hard to eliminate this problem from the breed. It causes constant irritation to the eye as the eyelashes come into contact with the cornea.

Although by no means a problem specific to the Shar-Pei, entropion in this breed is usually caused by an excess of wrinkle around the eye. Sometimes the problem can be so severe that...