Things You'll Need
- Crate
- Blanket
- Chew toys
- Collar
- Leash
- Treats
- Muzzle
Instructions
Invest in a crate to house-train your Shar Pei puppy. Purchase a crate that will allow your Shar Pei to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably.
Add a soft blanket and some safe chew toys to the crate and gradually introduce your puppy to the crate. The crate is not a punishment, so do not isolate your dog or crate your dog in response to bad behavior. Make sure your dog will be comfortable in the crate, and put it in an area where your dog will be near people. Once your dog is in the crate, watch for signs suggesting your Shar Pei needs to relieve itself. Signs of this include sniffing, whining or going around in circles. Crate training is based on the principle that dogs do not like to soil where they sleep, therefore your puppy will try its best to hold it.
Take your Shar Pei outdoors quickly once you notice it needs to relieve itself. Praise your dog lavishly for relieving itself outside. If you are diligent enough to catch your puppy right at the moment it squats down, say ''Do your business.'' This way your puppy will associate those words with urinating and defecating outdoors.
Socialize your Shar Pei as much as you can. Take your Shar Pei puppy with you to meet children, adults and other dogs. The Shar Pei breed has a tendency to grow aloof and may exhibit aggressive tendencies towards strangers and other animals when not socialized properly. Puppy classes are an excellent place to start socializing your Shar Pei towards other dogs and people.
Familiarize your Shar Pei to a muzzle if your Shar Pei is aggressive towards strangers. Put some kibble on the ground and put the muzzle on top so your Shar Pei will have to insert its nose into the muzzle in order to eat. Make safety your top priority and consult with a dog behaviorist should your Shar Pei manifest aggressive tendencies.
Handle your Shar Pei on a frequent basis. Shar Pei may grow resentful of being touched and may turn grooming and veterinarian visits into unpleasant occurrences. Hold your Shar Pei's feet, touch its ears and open its mouth. In short, mimic a veterinarian visit. Train your Shar Pei puppy to be handled by strangers. This will help desensitize your Shar Pei to being handled, and will reduce the risk of injury to your pet and others during veterinarian or grooming visits.
Introduce your Shar Pei to some basic commands. "Sit," "come" and "stay" are some basic but very important commands your dog should know. Group classes are recommended for Shar Peis, since these provide them with ongoing socialization. Group classes also teach them to obey under distracting circumstances.
Train your dog using positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement involves giving praise and treats to reward your Shar Pei for successfully completing a task or obeying a command. Training using positive reinforcement methods will help you bond with your Shar Pei, while helping to establish your role as leader.
Teach your Shar Pei proper leash manners. Shar Pei may have strong prey drives towards small animals and this may result in pulling on the leash. If your Shar Pei pulls, stop walking. Resume walking only once your dog is in the "heel" position, right next to you. If you are consistent, training to your dog walk on a loose leash is an attainable goal.