If you are feeding a Shar Pei dog for the first time, then you need to pay attention to the following 10 common questions about feeding Shar Pei puppies.

Knowing this information will make it easier for you to grasp your little Shar Pei dog's living habits.

1. My Shar Pei does not guard the house, and doesn’t bark when strangers come? Answer: First of all, I believe you are not raising your little Shar Pei to be a guard dog; if you really want to protect your home, you should raise a Wolfhound.

But if you really want to know why, one possibility is it is still too young. In theory, all dogs will guard because it is their innate territorial instinct. Another possibility is some dogs by nature just do not like to bark, do not force it. If there is really a need, you can send it to a specialized training institution.

2. Why does my Shar Pei have bad breath? Answer: Like humans, Shar Peis should be raised with good oral habits from a young age. If the dog’s mouth is not cleaned regularly, bad breath will occur (especially dogs that often eat homemade food).

Therefore, it's important to develop a habit of brushing teeth once a week from a young age. Use a special finger toothbrush and toothpaste made for puppies because they are edible. At first, to help the puppy adapt, you can use a moist soft towel wrapped on your finger to gently massage the Shar Pei’s gums, and once it gets used to that, gradually transition to a toothbrush. If the puppy absolutely refuses to brush, you can use dental ropes and chew toys, which also help clean the teeth.

3. It’s been a few months, but my little male dog still squats to urinate? Answer: When young, both male and female puppies squat to urinate. When male dogs go outside and see other males lifting their legs, they will imitate them. However, owners should slowly guide the male dog to learn to lift its leg while urinating because leg-lifting is the male dog’s nature. Male dogs like to leave urine marks on utility poles, tree roots, and walls, as high as possible, so other dogs can smell and recognize their height, size, even identify the dog, thus marking their territory. But since these are pet dogs, this function is increasingly diminishing in urban dogs.

4. Why is my little Shar Pei so active? Is something wrong? Answer: Dog owners don’t need to worry about this because puppies are like children, and being playful is a sign of intelligence. Also, more activity in childhood helps the dog’s growth and development. However, owners should guide them and not tolerate destructive behavior, directing them to play correctly.

5. Why is my dog losing teeth? Answer: Between 4-6 months is the period when dogs lose baby teeth and grow adult teeth. At this time, do not feed hard things, or it can easily cause gum bleeding. It’s best to prevent the dog from swallowing its own teeth to avoid injuring the digestive tract, but if it happens, there’s no way to stop it…

6. Can I groom my Shar Pei puppy, like dyeing or trimming nails? Answer: Trimming hair and nails does no harm to dogs, but dyeing may cause kidney failure and death due to poor-quality pigments, especially for puppies. Even high-end dyes contain certain chemicals and can damage hair structure, so dog dyeing is not recommended. Use special dog nail clippers for trimming; human nail clippers are unsuitable. Also, dogs that frequently run on rough ground usually have less pointed nails and don’t require frequent trimming.

7. Why does my little Shar Pei bark at me? Answer: Don’t worry, because dogs bark to express unhappiness when they feel ignored. For example, when they have strong demands but people constantly ignore them, they will bark. Sometimes dogs bark just to seek attention, like asking for a little playtime, even if only briefly. On the other hand, it could be that the owner has neglected something, or the dog wants to lead the owner somewhere, such as a gas leak, burst water pipe, an open door, someone forcing windows, a sparrow flying indoors, impending earthquake, etc. But not all dogs respond to these situations.

8. My little Shar Pei is a bit fat. Can it lose weight? Answer: Moderate weight is healthy and beautiful for dogs. Although thinness is now favored, puppies that are too skinny are harmful to their health. Too thin dogs also experience more pain during injections, which is distressing for them. Proper feeding and moderate exercise will help dogs maintain balanced and proportional body shape. Don’t feed less just to avoid fatness, which causes malnutrition and poor bone and muscle development.

9. How do I get rid of parasites? Answer: Some puppies show abdominal swelling, which may be caused by parasites. The most common parasitic infection is roundworms, characterized by diarrhea, vomiting, gas, etc. Therefore, puppies should be dewormed at one month old. If hookworms infest, besides a swollen abdomen, there may be vomiting and slight bloody stools. Mild infections may go unnoticed, but if complications arise, such as intestinal problems and severe bloody stools, and if untreated, it can cause acute anemia or other complications leading to death.

10. Why does my Shar Pei eat feces? Answer: It may be because the puppy lacks trace elements or has pica disorder. Generally, dogs fed dog food with balanced nutrition do not eat feces. If the Shar Pei shows pica behavior, it needs correction. Whenever you see it eating feces, you must stop it, loudly say "No," "Stop," "Don’t," "Wrong," or gently tap its head or nose, or pull on the leash. Eating other dogs' or sick dogs' feces easily transmits diseases, so correct this habit.