Behind all these wrinkly and cuddly faces hide the qualities of the best guard dogs. Shar Pei has origins in the Cantonese area of southern China. And have an ancient lineage of excellent watchdogs. Their strong character and intimidating build may scare strangers and potential intruders. On the other hand, Shar Pei are affectionate and protective of their families.
Shar Pei are a dominant and sometimes aggressive breed that needs early socialization and obedience training. You can get a fierce dog without regard for instructions or commands or a bold dog that protects your family faithfully and is docile based on their training.
So, can a Shar Pei become an ideal guard dog for your home?
Shar Pei are known for their loyalty and distinctive appearance. Their instinct to be aware of strangers (unlike Retrievers) and impressive physical build make them a perfect candidate for guard dogs. Here are a few key points you should remember to train them:
Let’s find out how to train a Sher Pei in more detail.
Before we continue exploring the guard dog capabilities of a Shar Pei, let us bring two more breeds to light. Borzois and Greyhounds are both sighthounds that can be good as guard dogs.
The above line might shock you or leave you in disbelief. It's a common misconception that sighthounds are terrible guard dogs. Some might become watchdogs, but guard dogs? No way! While Shar Pei are ideal guard dogs due to their protective nature, without specialized training, they may not be your perfect breed.
Similarly, a Borzoi can be good guards with a sense of independence and loyalty. Fun fact? Some are still employed as guard dogs or for their hunting skills. What else can convince you of their guarding nature? On the other hand, we have a Greyhound. Their appearance, size, and asset of vigilance can be helpful in the context of guarding.
We have always heard of the Borzois vs Greyhounds comparison in the hunting ground. But while Shar Pei's loyalty and guarding instinct makes them excel in this field, Borzoi and Greyhound have their unique strength. They may not be a common choice for guard dogs, but we assure you these breeds can become valuable members and provide security with proper socialization and training.
Photo Credit: Xavier Altimiras/Pexels
So, how do you train your wrinkle-mouth Cantonese fighting dog Shar Pei?
First off, respect the puppy's weaning period. Puppies develop socialization and behavioral problems if separated from their mothers too early. Later, we suggest teaching them when they are three months old. You can begin simple obedience training with commands like sit, come, walk with you, or get off the couch. Taking your puppy on walks will expose them to the outer world, the environment, animals, and other people.
This socialization will help them to associate individuals with positivity and reduce fear. You can introduce tricks when they are 6-12 months old, such as bringing the ball back or rolling over. Do not overcomplicate the training sessions, or the dog gets frustrated. Keep the sessions fun with games and treats so the puppy stays invested.
Socialization with new people, animals, and the environment helps Shar Pei eliminate fear and social anxiety and associates it with positive experiences. It will aid in the well-balanced development of the Shar Pei. Socialization also boils down to aggression. Therefore, begin with small walks and later expose them to different environments and individuals.
This Chinese dog is stubborn. To get Shar Pei disciplined, start obedience training from a young age. Begin with simple commands and let them know about your likes and dislikes.
Dog barking is crucial to guard dogs. The dog will alert you of potential intruders if they bark on time. But unnecessary barking may lead to missing a real threat. To manage excessive barking, teach commands like "bark" and "quiet." These commands will help you get better control over them. And don't forget to use treats and comforting words during this training.
Keep your Shar Pei interested in the training by introducing tricks and treats. They easily get bored. Hence, keep the training sessions short (5-15 minutes) and use positive reinforcements. Shar Pei is an intelligent breed. But confusing the dog may show counter-productive results. You can include diversity with mental and cognition exercises.
Shar Pei is easy to distract. Training a dog is hard when they're busy admiring random stuff. Thus, find a distraction-free place. Look for a peaceful environment. Find a quiet area free of noise from the streets, other animals, or strong smells. A distraction-free place is as important as setting the duration of the session.
Change the locations so your dog will understand the meaning of your command. Dogs associate commands with location. To avoid any confusion, keep changing the location. Frequent changes can help produce the desired results.
Ask a friend to knock at your door and give your dog the "bark" command. Over time, your dog will learn to associate the door knock or the doorbell with barking. You can use this mock scenario to teach them the barking and quiet commands. Give a reward every time they react correctly. After considerable training, they will learn to bark at unusual people or doorbells without your commands.
Once done with the training foundation, you can move to specialized training. If you're training your dog to alert you of intruders, then your work is done here. But if you're willing to train them as personal protection or guard dogs. Training a guard or personal protection dog requires a lot of time, confidence, and different levels of intense training.
You are dealing with a considerably aggressive dog. A guard dog training involves multiple skills, knowledge, and equipment to teach a dog properly. Professional programs have many people around to act behaviors the dog needs to recognize. And identify a threatening dog's behavior. So, no matter how much confidence you have in yourself or your dog, this training can be dangerous.
Instill positive behaviors during your training sessions. Use treats, gentle strokes, or comforting words to let your dog know they are doing good. If they listen to your commands, bark at potential threats, stay alert in unfamiliar situations, and get hold of the quiet command, use positive reinforcements. It will keep them motivated during the training.
Consistency and patience are necessary for a Shar Pei or a Golden Retriever. Regular and repetitive practice may help in learning a command or behavior. But it can also be frustrating for pet parents. Luckily, Shar Pei are intelligent dogs. They take 3-10 days to learn a skill. But their stubbornness and willingness to get distracted by a mere sound could be a problem.
But no matter what, you can rest assured that your bone-mouth Shar Pei will excel in their practice and become a reliable guard dog- with time. So, never raise your voice and a big no to curse words. It will make your pet anxious or furious. Both outcomes can break the bond between you two. Be very patient and treat your fur baby like a human baby.
Char Pei has been an independent and loyal partner for ages. With a history in guarding and key characteristics, this dog has all the potential to become a great guard dog. Simultaneously, with the right approach and proper training and socialization, your Shar Pei can become well-mannered and friendly.
Training requires reviews, too. Review a command or behavior at least twice weekly so they polish their talents and never forget them. Your Shar Pei will become a vigilante protector with lots of praise, hugs, patience, a positive attitude, and a bucket of consistency and dedication. In addition to providing love, they can also offer security and peace of mind.
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