January 16, 2009

Raising A Shar Pei Rescue Dog

by Melissa Coleman

Deciding to adopt a Shar Pei rescue dog and give an abused pet a second chance is a wonderful and humane thing to do. Once the dog gets settled into your home you will start to see that personality come through that Shar Pei dogs are known for.

It will take some time but after a while, when your Shar Pei rescue dog starts to feel comfortable in your home, the real personality of your dog will shine through and you will start to see the traits that make a Shar Pei so unique. But in the meantime there are things you can do, and behaviors you should watch for, while your dog is settling in.

Give your dog some space just for a little while. Your dog will never truly be comfortable unless it can get a feel for where it is and have a chance to take in all the new sights and scents of your home. Once the dog realizes it is not in the abusive situation anymore it will start to relax but give it that chance first.

A Shar Pei rescue dog is going to need time to adjust to the hustle and bustle of a new home and even though they are very intelligent they are still going to need time to adjust. A lot of commotion or quick sudden movements towards the dog are going to confuse it so make sure you reduce the amount of clatter that goes on in your home and make sure no one is constantly lunging at the dog or else it can get confused.

The Shar Pei is one of the most intelligent dogs there is and they take to training very well. However an abused Shar Pei is going to be cautious at first and may seem like they are hesitant to be trained. Be patient and do not punish the dog. You should use only positive reinforcement when training your dog and also be prepared for later on when that hesitation can turn to boredom as your dog gets bored of the repetitive nature of training.

There is an aggression with the Shar Pei that comes from its original breeding as an intelligent fighting dog. However they are also fiercely loyal to their family and once they develop that habit they become a wonderful family pet.

But your Shar Pei rescue dog may come to you with some of those aggressive behaviors still intact as defense mechanisms from their abusive past. Love and patience will work through that as the Shar Pei is smart enough to move on to a better situation so just give the dog time and it will come around.

Your new Shar Pei rescue dog has the potential to be a wonderful family pet but only if you take the time to help it work through its past. A Shar Pei is very smart and after a while it will begin to realize that it is in a new situation with a family that loves it and it will respond to that. Just give it time and enjoy your new dog!

About the Author:

Melissa Coleman is a passionate lover of the Shar Pei and has a popular website that can show you how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved Shar Pei. Among other topics there, you can also learn all about Shar Pei Adoption Questions plus a whole lot more.