12 Tips & Tricks – Dogster

The Shar Pei is a strong, confident, and loyal dog. Hailing from China, they have an imposing demeanor, a witty brain, and an affectionate heart. But they can also be incredibly stubborn. For centuries, this dog has been serving as a guardian, always relying on themselves. That’s exactly why obedience training is essential for this breed!

If you skip early socialization, the Shar Pei will grow into a dominant, bossy beast with little respect for the rules. On the bright side, if you raise them right, your dog will be a docile, even-tempered, and faithful protector. So, how do you potty-train a Shar Pei? How do you make them stop biting and barking? Read on to find out!

The 12 Tips to Training a Shar Pei

We begin our deep dive into Shar Pei training techniques with the basics. Being positive, steering the pup in the right direction with a calm yet firm voice, and keeping the sessions short are how you earn a Shar Pei’s trust. This is an obstinate, highly intelligent breed that only responds to a friendly and confident leader. Here’s how to train them.

General Recommendations

1. Put Positive Reinforcement to Good Use

This is the golden rule of dog training. Whenever the pup does something right, be quick to praise their performance. The biggest motivator is going to be a tasty snack, but the Shar Pei appreciates petting too. Don’t pat them on their back or head, though; instead, go for the chin and chest. Be generous with these reinforcements to create the right associations.

The puppy needs to learn that as long as they do what you want, there’s going to be a treat at the end. Even if the dog only gets half of the assignment right, you should still encourage them. However, never give the dog treats, hugs, or cuddles if they refuse to follow your lead.

2. Don’t Scold or Shout at the Shar Pei

Some pups take forever to learn a simple command, and that can be frustrating. Thankfully, that’s not the case with the Shar Pei. They are much smarter than the average dog and can master new moves in 3–10 days or even sooner. They do tend to be stubborn, though, and even a bit aggressive at times.

But no matter how anxious your furry friend is, never raise your voice at them, let alone use curse words. Treat the dog like a little kid (a very talented one), and try to be the adult in the room. If the dog is attached to you and gets a negative attitude from their human parent, that might break your bond. So, be calm and understanding!

3. Use Your Voice to Guide the Dog

Dogs are gifted with a great sense of hearing and can easily recognize human voices. Call to them from a dense crowd, and your pup will come running. More importantly, our four-legged buddies are capable of processing the differences in tone. That’s why in many ways, the tone of your voice is more important than the actual words you’re saying. In this regard, puppies are just like little kids.

For example, a soft, calm voice makes a dog feel safe and encouraged. In contrast, a firm tone has more authority and is best when teaching commands like “No” and “Quiet.” So, practice a bit before getting started with the dog. Otherwise, you might sound a bit too angry when saying these words, frightening them.

4. Keep the Training Sessions Nice and Short

Shar Pei get distracted easily and don’t like to participate in boring, repetitive activities. Therefore, long training days are a bad choice for this breed. Instead, keep the sessions short (5–10 minutes, three to five times a day) yet exciting enough for the dog to look forward to the next day. Also, try your best to make the training diverse by changing things up.

Shar Pei are smart and catch onto things quickly, so think about incorporating more fun elements into each session. Ideally, the routine should focus not only on the pup’s physical condition but also on their mental capabilities. That said, teaching a dog different commands simultaneously is not a good idea.

5. Start Obedience Training at a Young Age

We can’t stress enough how important it is to start “working” with the Shar Pei while they’re still a puppy. Most behavioral patterns in dogs are established at a young age (when a pup is 7–8 weeks old). Some dog experts recommend postponing the first training session until the pup reaches at least 10–12 weeks of age and letting them develop on their own.

But with a Shar Pei, the sooner you start, the better. The same goes for early socialization. Puppies are capable of exploring the world at a tender age and happily making new friends. If you let your fluffy friends develop the wrong patterns early on, it will be much harder to fix them in the future.