Welcoming Your New Pet Home
Your Shar-Pei should be introduced to his new home slowly, without the excitement of other pets and children running up to welcome him. Keep him confined to one room for a few days so he can adjust and you will have the opportunity to observe his behavior. It's best if you can put him in a central room with the rest of the family and use baby gates to keep him from wandering through the house. This way, he'll be able to see what is going on and get a chance to meet his new family without a lot of commotion and stress.You may even consider keeping the dog on a leash with you at all times for the first few days so you will be able to watch him and he'll be under control. Sometimes, even a house broken dog will not understand where he is to relieve himself and other pet smells in the carpet could entice him to have an accident.
Important Tips for New Pet Owners: To help your new pet best acclimate, it's very important to keep a normal routine as possible after bringing the pet home. Do not stay home several days after getting a pet, especially with dogs or puppies, when you normally work full time, as they will not understand the change in attention level and companionship. Do not act guilty or make a big deal about coming or going, for you can create unnecessary separation anxiety or depression. Most of all, do not push for close contact with you, your children, or your other pets, until they have been given a chance to get to know everyone.
Housetraining
For the first 2 weeks, make sure you take the dog out the same door every time you want him to do his business. Always take him to the same spot so he can smell the spot and understand that this is where he is supposed to go.
Don't give the dog a chance to make a mistake when he is new in your house. Either keep him under constant supervision or crated. Know the times it's natural for a dog to have to go -- after eating, sleeping, being excited, coming out of the crate. Introduce him to different rooms slowly, one at a time. In time the dog will recognize the entire house as his den and his instinct to keep it clean will take over.
Introducing to other pets
Introduce your new Shar-Pei to other family pets slowly. When introducing two dogs, you should have both dogs on a leash and ask someone to help you. Slowly allow the dogs to get close to each other and smell each others nose. It is best to meet on neutral territory a couple blocks from your home, so that neither feels like they have to be on the defensive. Slowly allow the dogs to get close to each other and smell each others' noses. Carefully walk both dogs home, allowing more sniffing along the way.
At home, a secure baby gate allows the dogs to approach each other with the gate between them. If the dogs appear at ease, you can slowly loosen the leash so they can walk around each other a get a chance to smell the other dog. Understand, that the dog may have come from a foster home that has other dog scents on him and could cause your pet to get excited. Always keep at least one of the dogs in a crate or other secure area, when not under your direct supervision, for the first couple months.
Discipline
Good, consistent discipline should be a part of your pet's life. You should teach him his name, where he is to sleep, and other appropriate guidelines for behavior. We recommend that you enroll your dog in a dog obedience class right away. Even if the dog has good house manners, this is a great way for you and him to bond together and for him to understand that you are the master of the house. Begin feedings on a regular schedule to establish a routine and to correlate to walking times.
Expect your new pet to make mistakes, especially at first. Remember, never punish him after calling him over and never strike him. Consistency and patience are the key to successful training.
