How To Breed a Shar-Pei

Shar-peis, otherwise known as "wrinkle dogs," originated in China as a working farm dog, though many have been used as guard dogs as well. They excelled at catching rodents as well as tracking and herding livestock, making them versatile and extremely valuable to local farmers. Shar-peis are highly intelligent, somewhat strong-willed, fiercely loyal and hardworking, making them a highly desirable breed for dog owners in the United States. Breeding healthy dogs, free from undesirable characteristics both physically and mentally, is a necessity.

Things You'll Need

  • Balanced dog food
  • Clean pen
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose your breeding pair. The most important aspect for breeding Shar-Peis is the parents. These are the dogs that will be passing on their DNA to the puppies you will be selling. Both the male and female should be 18 to 20 inches at the shoulder and between 45 and 60 lbs. Their heads should be in proportion to their bodies, neither too large nor too small. Both can be any solid color, but sable in the most desirable. The male and female should both be registered by a dog registering body such as the American Kennel Club.

    • 2

      Take the male and female to a veterinarian. This is to ensure that both dogs are in good overall health and are free from parasites, both internal and external. Blood samples will be drawn to ensure the dogs are free from infection and have no diseases affecting their kidneys, liver and heart. They also can be tested for diabetes or other metabolic conditions. X-rays may be taken to determine whether or not there are any muscle or skeletal abnormalities or internal organ problems. This process ensures that the breeding pair are healthy enough to reproduce and that they do not carry any genetic conditions that can be passed on to the puppies. Both dogs should receive vaccinations and dewormers during the examination.

    • 3

      Wait for the female to enter estrus. The female will only be willing to accept the male for breeding while she is in estrus, or heat. Most Shar-Peis will enter into estrus for the first time somewhere between 6 and 9 months of age and every six months thereafter. It is recommended that you wait until the third or fourth heat cycle before breeding the female to ensure that she is fully mature. The female will generally be ready to breed after three days of entering estrus.

    • 4

      When the female begins to show signs of entering into heat, introduce the male into her pen. The female will allow the male to breed with her when she is ready. Usually two to three sessions with the male will be enough to ensure that the female will conceive.

    • 5

      After the pair have bred, remove the male and place him in his own pen. There is no harm in allowing the male and female to cohabitate during this time, but if the female is not accustomed to having him around, it may stress her and cause unnecessary confrontations between the two dogs.

    • 6

      After a couple of weeks, you can take your female to the veterinarian to confirm whether or not the breeding was successful. The veterinarian will take an X-ray to determine whether or not any fetuses are present in the uterus.

    • 7

      Keep the female happy and healthy. Make sure she eats a well-balanced diet, gets plenty of exercise and is kept in clean quarters. This will ensure that the puppies have the best chance of being born healthy. Females will gestate for approximately 63 days before giving birth.