pei obssessed

SWIMMING? she must be partly lab (at least a tiny bit :lol: ), as I've tried everything to make Hippo swim with no luck--wading is as far as we've got--and only heard of Pei not liking water. But, maybe you just have a special pei-baby :angel:

[quote name='guest'] This breed does have some potential behavioral problems: aggression, biting, dominance, territorial, and other dog aggression. [/quote] yes, i agree, but so do many other breeds... [quote]"Sadly, aggression can be a problem in improperly bred, selected and reared shar-pei, possibly harking back to the dog

I didn't take it as an insult to the breed 8) And I personally don't think that Shar-pei are known for dog aggression, or that there is any reason to say dog aggression is common in the breed. And no, I'm not basing my opinion solely on my very friendly Pei (with dogs and humans), but also on what I've heard and read about Pei. Now I don't mean to imply that Sassy was a bad dog--just that what happenned is a dog behaved like a dog... I don't think the answer is in the breed in particular (it can be anywhere from dog instincts to breeding to socialization). Just my opinion...

[quote name='ThePoutyPitbull'] I forgot to mention something before, but keep in mind what purpose Sassy's breed was used for in the past..fighting. That may have an impact on how she behaves. Just something to think about..it's early don't mind me![/quote] Actually they were used for fighting only for a short time in the past. They have a far longer history of being farm dogs (watchdogs, hearding dogs) :wink:

I don't really like the idea of a shock collar either, but I've heard of a citronella collar that seems to work--whenever they bark, the collar gives off an odour that's unpleasant for them.

I meant to reply a while ago, but kept putting it off because I never had enough time. So here it goes... First off, you said Sassy was never very friendly with her trainer--is there any reason for that, does she not like strangers (if that's the case, she needs more socilization)? If the trainer doesn't use only positive reinforcement, I'd look for another one. I know there are people who advocate phisical force--yanking on the leash, holding your dog down, etc., but it does NOT work with Shar-pei, as they are stubborn and would respond to force with force. Now the meeting on-leash... like carolk9s said, it very likely won't prove anything. Very many dogs act differently when on a leash (and I know that my girl is very vocal when on a leash--she would growl at the other dog to play with her but if you don't know the signals you can easily take that for aggression). And male-female relations are tricky, as a dominant female will try to put the male in his place right away (Hippo can tell unfixed males right away and gives a short warning growl before they even try anything with her :lol: ). On the other hand, I am aware that testing Sassy off-leash is difficult right now... but I'm just saying that the on-leash testing is likely not to prove anything. And, finally--her attitude... Shar-pei are very loyal, and very attached to their owners. If you are upset with her, and don't treat her exactly like you used to, Sassy would be very quick to pick up on that and change her attitude. If you give a command and you don't sound firm enough (because you're a bit afraid of her after what she's done--just a supposition, obviously :D ), she'll be able to tell. So maybe she is very insecure right now... on top of her being at that adolescent age when they're brats anyway :D Believe me, I wasn't trying to find excuses for what she's done to Pepper, but I just wanted you to be aware of all these other things that might contribute to her present behaviour. Make sure you're working with a trainer who uses only positive reinforcement (I'd say food-training probably works best with Shar-pei, but that's a matter of personal opinion)... If with all your work and the help of a good tariner, she's still instable, then there might be something wrong with her. But I'd make sure I've tried everything before making a decision. Goodluck, shar-pei girl 8)

[quote name='mouseatthebusstop']Gladis won't eat her food unless I hand feed the first bits then off she goes[/quote] Isn't she playing you well, mouse?! :lol: You know, if you weren't there to hand feed her, she'd have to eat anyway :D

About the itching--it might be something else if you say there is a spot that's almost going bald... But I just wanted to say that when I put Hippo on Nutro within a few days her skin was all dry and flaky. As soon as I switched her to another food, the problem went away. She wasn't scratching though, she just had very dry skin...

I must say: I have the best dog! :angel: I've been doggiesitting today Hippo's best friend who's a shnoodle. Now, they're a very interesting pair: they wrestle continuously (at the park, and in the apartment), and none of them is submissive. Hippo will lay down on her back sometime, but still going for his face, and Cosmo never lays on his back and if he thinks he's losing, he gets snappy :roll: Soooo with these two and no one giving up, you can imagine what a day I've had :lol: Anyway, why I have the best dog is because she's so calm, never gets snappy... even when I invited Cosmo up the couch to sit with us, she didn't get upset. He snapped at her because she wanted to come closer to me! So, all in all, even though I like Cosmo a lot, I like my doggie much better. But then again, I guess we all do :angel: I even like the fact that she's not a cuddling lovebug, but her own little person :silly:

[quote name='Lucky Chaos'] At night I usually find her all curled up with like a dozen stuffed animals sleeping peacefully. :angel:[/quote] This is so adorable :angel: Hippo steals MY stuffed animals too, but she slobbers all over them :evil: She just does it to get attention :roll:

Hippo loves any new toy--after a few days when it's no longer new, it doesn't present any interest anymore. With the exception of nylabones and tennis balls which she destroys in an hour or two (after which time, they are removed, so she doesn't have time to get bored of them)... And she loves anything any other dog has, so she'll chase, pester, pull on that dog, until she successfully removes the toy from him/her--then she runs in circles with "her" new toy :lol:

she'll be ok... maybe you can even take her home earlier if she misbehaves enough (our story: I worried about my baby. vet said I can take her back by 8 if she's well enough. I call at 5 and they're telling me that I can come take her right away. Guess why? Little monster hates being confined in very small places and she was barking her head off driving everytbody at the vet's office insane :)) I know, we worry, worry, worry, but they are ok in the end....

I too thought that feeding this health food is going to be far more expensive than the rest... but it's not that expensive and because the food is of better quality, you have to feed less of it. If you wanna see what your local petstore has--check the ingredient list of different foods and see which food has as a first ingredient chicken, or beef, or lamb (not chicken meal, or chicken by-products), and the next 3-4 ingredients aren't corn or soy stuff. sorry I can't be of more help, but maybe someone else knows of a cheaper food, still of reasonable quality.

Treats might be the culprit here--I started to top up the dry food with little bits of stuff, but just sometime... well, soon enough my spoiled monster wasn't eating her food without toppings :evil: Sooo... new rule is: dry food only goes down 10 min in the morning and 10 min at night, and if she doesn't eat it, she has a chance next time. Treats are also limited at bribe during off-leash walks :lol: And I have to say that I've solved the problem--she's now happily eating up all her food. Also, please don't think I'm being nosy... but I'd change her food asap. Purina is a really horrible food whose first ingredient is corn, I believe--and many Shar-pei are allergic to corn & soy. She might not be eating it because the novelty of the food worn off and she just doesn't like it (because it's bad)... Mine hated Innova (which is a good food that I've heard lots of good things about), so after 1 and a half bags I just had to switch it--she's now eating a Prairie brand (Nature's variety) and she loves it. Another brand I've heard good things about is Wellness. At my petstore they give you samples of the health foods and you can see which one your doggie likes. But anyway, please consider changing her food to something that would be better for her... and sorry I'm being nosy :wink:

yep, they won't let themselves starve, so if you want them to eat just dry food (with no toppings), you can only give them that. the food goes down for 10 min in the morning and 10 min at night. if they don't eat any in that time, bad luck! they have another chance at the next meal. and make sure they're not getting any treats so that they understand that dry food is the only thing they'll be getting...

so sorry mouse... but you are doing what's best for her after offerring her a long happy life--that's what you have to keep telling yourself...

poor poppy.... I'm so sorry to hear that :cry:

yes, like luchychaos said, you can use a human SOFT brush, or a doggie one. and you have to use the doggie tooth paste because it tastes good to them and then they let you brush their teeth (my Hippo actually loves to have her teeth brushed :D )--it's not hard at all, you'll see...

oh, my dog! shar-peigirl, I haven't had time to come here in a while, but I'm sooooo happy another pei lover found her way here.... watch out, the wrinkles are taking over the world! :evilbat: I love your pei baby 8)

K, we live in an apartment, and housebreaking was very easy. It's not my merit though, as much as Hippo's (she was paper trained when she came, and she preferred going on grass, so if taken out every 2 hours, she would only go outside--except at night when I'd be too lazy to get up and the poor puppy would be whining asking out before finally going on some paper :oops: ). So I don't have advice on how to do housebreaking--my pup knew herself :lol:

[quote name='behle']Max is already spoiled rotten and after several more days of spoiling rotten treatment at home he will no doubt be totally disgusting... :D ....and totally pleased with himself! :o :roll: :wink:[/quote] :lol: :lol: :lol: A little extra spoiling never hurts :lol:

i LOVE puppy pictures... Rowie, 6 mo Golden is still puppy to me :D And I won't believe you have pic until I see them! What I'm really curious to see is a pic of Rosebud's Italian Greyhound (I've never seen a puppy one), please, Rosebud.... Here's Hippo, at 2 month, as big as my shoe (size 8 :D ) [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QQCGKfgStWE5I!gLDVf*oDI364e1BoK3PoNlQZELBYRc*Ayadma3ABXCzQu6oxS!VdZCfrA!6XpV960zpNSgOqdXucHsj2ooiqd18jXi*Ho/hipo%207.jpg?dc=4675428455426572125[/img]

Oooooooooooooh, so it is your new pup--I've seen your post in the picture forum and didn't understand if he was YOUR pup... Congratulations, he's adorable, such a cutie pie... you must be so happy... puppy breath and puppy adorability :lol: What do Chelsea and Daisy think of the new baby?

if you mean height, I think it's the Irish Wolfhound.

I wouldn't recommend doing any of the physical punishment--I know old school people stand by pushing your dog down when he misbehaves, and even nipping him back, but in my opinion, these can very easily make your dog more aggressive and/or ecited to be pushed around and coming back for more... Positive reinforcement (what coutnek and cassie explained) works much better to have a dog who does what you want him to not because he is afraid of you, but because he wants to listen to you and please you (or get treats :D )