When Can a Shar-Pei Be Weaned From Its Mother?

The Chinese Shar-Pei is an alert, medium-sized dog that has a "hippopotamus" head shape and wrinkled skin. The name "Shar-Pei" means sandy coat. The coat of this dog breed is its most distinguishing feature. The Shar-Pei can have a horse-coat or a brush-coat. The American Kennel Club recognizes any solid colors. This popular dog breed can live up to 15 years, but most only live between nine and 12 years. A typical litter of a Shar-Pei is four to six puppies. Like with other puppy breeds, the Chinese Shar-Pei puppy can be weaned when he or she is three weeks old.

  1. Puppies Can Be Weaned at Three Weeks

    • You can start to wean Shar-Pei puppies once they are three weeks old. In the first two to three weeks of the puppy's life, their mother will be enthusiastically feeding them. However, once the puppies start growing their teeth, the mother dog may become more reluctant to allow her puppies to suckle. Some mother dogs will stop allowing her puppies to suckle at the two or three week point. Other mothers will allow her puppies to suckle until they're four weeks old. Three weeks is usually the average time that the Shar-Pei puppy starts to be weaned off his or her mother's milk.

    Shar-Pei Puppies Seek Alternative Food Sources Between Three to Five Weeks

    • As the Shar-Pei puppies get bigger, they get hungrier. Their mother may be less likely to nurse once they hit three weeks old, so they will start looking for alternative food sources. Between three and five weeks old, as the puppies are being weaned off their mother's milk, you may want to start blending water-soaked kibble with a soupy infant rice cereal. Shar-Pei puppies, like most puppies, will overfeed and overeat, so it's important that you supervise them during their meals.

    Puppies are Eating Dry Food by Eight Weeks Old

    • A Shar-Pei puppy should be able to handle eating dry puppy food by the time he or she reaches eight weeks old. A dog owner can also give a Shar-Pei puppy canned food, since puppies love eating wet food, but it's best to mix the dry food and wet food together. Most Shar-Pei puppies won't overeat dry food.

    About the Chinese Shar-Pei Puppies

    • Adult Shar-Pei puppies have loose skin and wrinkles around their withers, neck and head. Shar-Pei puppies have abundant wrinkles all over their body, not just their head and neck. They tend to lose most of these wrinkles as they age; however, some Shar-Pei adults have more wrinkles than others. Compared to other breeds, the Shar-Pei is one of the easiest dogs to potty train. Shar-Pei puppies are ready to go to their new human homes once they reach eight weeks old. By this time, they are fully weaned and eating dry kibble.