Q: My husband wants to get a shar-pei dog, however, we have small children. Are they good family dogs?
Are they aggressive? Is there any reports of attacks from these dogs?
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Answers and Views:
Answer by I Love my Pyr.
I don't think they are among the most popular breed. I have heard that they are mean when they get older but I don't know of any personally and that could be in the raising. Just socialize it well and lay down the rules in the beginning.
Answer by ChickenLiLsydney2770
I have a 7-year-old female shar pei and have never had an ounce of trouble with her fully toilet trained after 3 days most loyal and faithful dog I have owned and I have had quite a few she can be stubborn at times if there's an open gate but never goes far and always returns to a whistle. I'm also a new father and have a son of 6 months who she is rather fond of wants to always be close to him when he's nearby. The moral of my story is don't judge a dog by breed or apparent breed analysis.
Ps I originally purchased the dog as a guard dog and she has only had minor contact with friends and neighbors and has never shown any real aggressive behavior she will snarl a bit and stand her ground but I don't believe that she would hurt ANYBODY.
Answer by Lissa
Have to agree that it completely depends on the dog’s personal temperament and socialization as a puppy.
My family has had another shar pei before, but our current pei is just over a year old now. Extremely leery of strangers, but he is always friendly with kids no matter if he knows them or not. But we made sure he was exposed to children when we brought him home as a puppy and the breeder also had a young son so he was definitely properly socialized.
Even still, definitely not a dog for everyone. Mine listens to me well and is a serious love bug. Quite full of personality and even shows some manners. But he can be extremely stubborn (especially when it comes to listening to other family members) and it's really true that they need to understand the pecking order. A great plus, as mentioned by other reviewers, he was extremely easy to house train- very very few accidents from day one, and not once has he ever chewed anything up in the house. The only issue he has is being alone, he loves to be around people even if it's just a matter of being able to see you from down the hallway.
Overall, they’re extremely loyal and affectionate dogs but each dog has his own unique personality and needs serious training and socialization. And if you’re going to get one, who you choose to buy from is a big factor.
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Answer by Serch
Shar peis are not for everyone. If you are looking for a cute dog to play with you better get one of the smaller breeds. Shar peis are strong dogs, both mentally and physically. They need a strong leader who would set the rules from day one.
When I say set the rules, I mean it., I have a Shar pei, and she is very stubborn, but since I am the Alfa male of the house, what I say goes. If you can get your dog to understand it, you will have one of the most rewarding experiences ever. I haven't found a dog that is more loyal, affectionate, smart, sensitive than a shar pei. But watch out, you MUST be firm, but never violent with the shar pei (or any other dog for that matter)
My shar pei is EXTREMELY sensitive to family situations. The other day I had quite a strong argument with my brother and she just kept on licking my hands and did not leave my side. The next day she did not eat at all. Was very depressed. When we play and she bites me a bit too hard, she stops immediately and licks my “wound” like if she were apologizing… :D
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Liam says
We have a year old Pei (we had her since she was a pup) and she has been reared indoors as part of the crew. To date I have no complaints- she is really really good with our boys (6 & 3) she has an excellent temperment. As previous posters have said it all depends on the rearing. I know there are lots in shelters that need rehoming but like everything else be very careful as some may not have had a nice upbringing and may come with a few issues.
Health issues are heridetary- so always have a check on the parents before buying.
Liam says
Well here’s the update to our experience with our Pei- she has been the most mild mannered dog I have had to date. Yes she is supprisingly stubborn- that characteristic I have never come across before with my previous dogs. But perseverance does pay off. She is so loving even with our boys who love the rough and tumble and our pei throws herself into the middle of it, but I keep a close eye and never once have I had to come to the aid of the kids. Like all pedigree dogs there are heridetary issues- our poor girl is allergic to tree pollen so requires regular bathing. But other than this I have had not one bad experience to report.
Dog_trainer says
I've known some that were lovely dogs if they were raised properly, but as a family pet generally not a breed I recommend. They were originally bred as fighting dogs, and many are aggressive towards people and other animals. They are also expensive to buy and maintain – lots of health problems with their skin.
Go with a Lab or a Golden Retriever or another of the Sporting Breeds from a good breeder who selects for health and temperament.
neonlights1971 says
Never heard of them being mean to kids, but I can tell you they drool like mad mans and they stink even when given a bath.. my friends had one, they finally gave it away cause it stunk all of the time even with bathing him.. GOOD LUCK
Plus you have to teach the kids to respect the newest addition to your family as well.. there only defense will be biting.. And even lil dogs can bite hard..
~emerald dream~ says
get a poodle
Schatzi says
I have a rott/shar pei. My vet was a bit apprehensive around her at first, as he said many shar peis have bad temperaments. He was not worried about her being part rottweiler. I love my dog.
That being said…
I have read about them, and they can have aggression issues. Of course, many dogs can, regardless of breed, but it might not be the best choice for a house full of children. Plus, there are health issues regarding their eyes and their coat (for people) that you should read up on first.
Big T and A says
Shar-pei are good dogs but do become protective of thier familys. They also cause allergies in some people. I worked at an animal shelter and we couldn't care for them because two of our workers and our vet was allergic to them but not any other breeds.