Friday, January 14, 2011

Chinese Sharpei, guard and companion

Many of the traits of early Shar-Pei, such as an innate intelligence and a keen perceptiveness, were desirable and have been retained in today’s Shar-Pei. The Shar-Pei is very alert and highly responsive, but in excess, these characteristics can produce a highly strung, sensitive and somewhat reserved animal. The breeder’s challenge in the United States was to breed out those less desirable characteristics while keeping those that endeared the breed to its fanciers.
Today, the Shar-Pei has proven that that her innate intelligence is challenged when presented with worthwhile goals, and that her dedication to her master endows her with a willingness to please and participate in any activity where praise is her reward.
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The Shar-Pei as a Guard Dog
The breed seems to be well suited to this purpose as Shar-Pei seem to accept their home area quickly and establish boundary areas that they will actively defend. However, Rosie Lucitt, an experienced trainer and Shar-Pei breeder, says, I believe that the independence factor in the Shar-Pei makes the breed an unsuitable choice for guard-dog training. The instinct to naturally protect is there, but to guard ‘on command’ usually meets with resistance. I found that not only are they instinctively protective, but they enjoy their work. This probably is the hindrance to guard training as while they are working, they are very easily ‘carried away’ and what should have been an inhibited protective action (e.g., fierce barking, but no attack) turns to frenzy. This is not to say they won’t ‘guard’ as most people interpret the function. Most certainly, a Shar-Pei will bark at strangers and be an excellent ‘burglar alarm’ in his home. The question is, ‘How far will he go?’ Is his protective instinct readily controllable? What can be done about the high intensity of their aggressive reactions? And realistically, is that what you want the cute, wrinkley puppy to do?”
This does not mean that every Shar-Pei has an aggressive nature. Many are sweet, docile couch potatoes throughout their lives!


The Shar-Pei as a Hunter
Most historical references to the Chinese Shar-Pei mention the dog being used to hunt wild boar, or, in one case, the mongoose. While there is little demand for boar hunters in the United States, I find no reason why a Shar-Pei would not make an excellent hunting dog for other game. They have already proven adept at the basic concepts necessary for a good hunting dog: attention, sit, come, retrieve, heel. All of my Shar-Pei love playing ball and with a little patience will soon learn to retrieve the ball, drop it at my feet and, tail wagging, wait with tensed muscle to retrieve it again. Most have a good, sensitive nose and tracking ability, intelligence, and the strong desire to please the master. Our first Shar-Pei, Down-Homes Prophet, would often suddenly awake from a sound asleep, lift his head, sniff the air (all windows were closed, mind you) and let us know that a cat had passed through our yard. Upon checking, we found that he was always right!
It may also be argued, however, that the same instinct that prevents the Shar-Pei from becoming a reliable guard dog could also take hold when the dog has game in his mouth. Independent Shar-Pei may respond to their own strong instincts rather than obey their master’s orders.
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The Shar-Pei as a Herding Dog
It has been said that the Shar-Pei was also used for herding in its native land. One Shar-Pei breeder, Ann Nowicki, owner of Haleakala Kennels in Phoenix, Arizona, told about her “Shar-Pei Shepherds” in the First Quarterly 1992 issue of The Orient Express II, a magazine for the Chinese Shar-Pei: My Shar-Pei, Niblets, has always displayed some herding ability at home. She would keep any Utter of puppies together in a group. She would also ‘herd9 my smooth Chow, Kristy, all over the back yard. Niblets needed a little encouragement the first time she was on sheep. She wasn’t quite sure what she was supposed to do or even what the sheep were. This is not unusual as even traditional herding breeds may require three to four exposures to stock before they get the idea. But Niblets learned very quickly. She instinctively moved to the front of the flock to turn them and would stay back off the stock.
Herding is the most difficult event I have done with the dogs. Not only do you have to watch the dog, you also have to watch the stock and be able to read the animals. We have been herding for a little over a year now and both dogs enjoy it immensely and have improved considerably Fm sure a flock of their own is at the top of their wish lists! There were occasions when I thought none of us would ever get the hang of it. Now that my dogs and I have it all together, it is such a feeling of accomplishment because we have done a job together and also because a Chow and a Shar-Pei can still perform the work they did many years ago in China.

A Breed in Transition
Because the breed is still in transition, this is perhaps the most important piece of advice I can give: It can be foolhardy to generalize as to the health and especially the temperament of the Chinese Shar-Pei! Having warned you, I will now say, if you choose your Shar-Pei carefully, there is probably no other breed that will give you more love or more devotion (and sometimes more exasperation!) than a Chinese Shar-Pei.
I don’t know how many times I have been asked, “Tell me about the Shar-Pei . . . what are they like?” “Are they good with children?” My answer is always, “You cannot generalize about the Shar-Pei.” They have not yet reached that stage of development in their breed history, and indeed, few breeds have. Each Shar-Pei has his own personality and genetic makeup that make him an individual.
Source:thechinesesharpe.com

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