Flies bothering your dog?

Since we moved to our new home we have been battling with mosquitos and flies from taking over our deck and pestering our dogs. Here are some solutions I have tried:

• Put a mentholated rub (vaporub Vicks)  on the ears. You can also try a Vaseline product.       
• Make a repellent by using apple cider vinegar mixed with Pine Sol, water and orange scent as a fly spray.
• Mixing mouth wash (Listerine) with Hydrogen Peroxide spray keeps the flies away.
• At the first sign of fly bites, gently clean the affected areas with a mild soap and water. Apply a topical, over-the-counter antibiotic cream like Neosporin or ointment to prevent infection and take the appropriate steps to minimize and repel biting flies.
• 
  I tried other over the counter sprays. But I find this one works best.

Traditional Chinese Shar Pei vs Western Chinese Shar Pei

What's the difference? Well, the easy answer is a lot. (Our family is lucky to have both:)

Traditional Chinese Shar Pei

Traditional Chinese Shar Pei features

Here are some quick facts:

The Traditional Chinese Shar Pei looked quite different than what we are used today and what has become a popular representation of the breed.  

People in southern China, Hong Kong, and Macau differentiate the Western type and the original type by calling them respectively 'meat-mouth' and 'bone-mouth' Shar-Pei. The picture above is of a Traditional Chinese Shar Pei. They appear to be lean, muscular, tail slightly curly and with a short horse coat. What is a horse coat you ask?  Well, a horse-coat (unusual but regaining ground),  is rough to the touch, extremely prickly and off-standing, soft in one direction and harsh in the other.


Savannah always regal.
Western Chinese Shar Pei

Example of Western Chinese Shar Pei Pups

Western Chinese Shar Pei also referred to as the "Golden Lion".

Since its introduction to the U.S the Shar Pei has become a more cumbersome dog with a large number of health issues bought on by over breeding. Western features commonly is identified as a hippo mouth also referred to as "meat mouth" and most commonly have a brush-coat, with longer hair and a smoother feel. They also tend to have a complete curly tail  "the tail is thick and round at the base, tapering to a fine point" (AKC standard February 28, 1998).
Because of its popularity after being introduced to North America in the 1970s, the breed suffered much inexperienced or rushed breeding. This resulted not only in a dramatically different look for the Shar-Pei (as its most distinctive features, including its wrinkles and rounded snout, were greatly exaggerated).


Look at how blue my tongue is!

Blue Tongue

The Shar-Pei, like the Chow-Chow, has a blue-black tongue; most have a completely blue tongue but lighter or dilute colors maybe may have a lavender color.  All puppies tongue turn blue by 6 weeks of age.
To learn more check out @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shar_Pei

All those colors!

Cream: These Shar Pei usually have a darker shading (apricot) on their dorsal line, ears and hocks and include light and dark cream. Fawn: Is the most common Shar Pei colour and can include Light Fawn, Dark Fawn and Red Fawn. Red: Shades of Red may vary from red to mahogany to chestnut red. Brown: Is often confused with chocolate. Brown Shar Pei will have black pigmentation - chocolates are dilute. Sable: Sable is one of the most difficult colour classifications in the Shar Pei. A TRUE sable will have a lacing of black hairs over a lighter ground colour (not white). The coat colour is uniform over the body, neck, head and legs. A true sable does not have a lighter butterfly pattern on the chest nor Doberman points on the head. Legs are laced evenly. A saddle pattern is also not a true sable. Silver: These dogs are a light even silver with a charcoal mask. They cast a platinum shade, light like a cream but without the darker dorsal stripe. Black: Most black Shar Pei have grey, red, silver, brown or chocolate shadings. Dilute Colours
Apricot: A distinct apricot colour ranging in shade from light to dark apricot. Blue: Brush coat blues are usually very dark blue and horse coat blues will usually be a light silvery blue.
Chocolate: Often this colour is confused with brown. Chocolate Shar Pei can not have any black pigmentation. Noses, etc. are chocolate coloured and tongues are lavender.
Cream: The same as basic cream colour but without black pigmentation.
Isabella: These Shar Pei have a dusty rose color coat with pale blue masking and shading and lavender tongues. The ears and dorsal line may be darker.
Lilac: A chocolate blue dilute color giving the appearance of purple. Again, the color is darker in brush coats than in horse coats. (Lilac is the same color as a Weimaraner) Always found in dilute only.
5-Point Red (Red Dilute): The "5 points" are nose, eyes, skin, footpads and anus. These dogs are a distinct deep red fawn varying to a dark red color.
Sable (Dilute): A lacing of dark colored (not black) hair over a lighter colored ground color (not white). The coat color is uniform in the body, neck, head and legs. A true Sable does not have a lighter butterfly pattern on the chest nor Doberman points on the head. Legs are laced evenly. A saddle pattern is also not a true Sable.
Silver (Dilute): Silvers include blue, grey and taupe. Noses are slate and tongues lavender. This is a bluish/silverish smoky color with very little variation.

 

 

 

All those folds require EXTRA care?

Quick Facts:

Skin Problems

This is often the first question I get regarding new puppies wrinkles. Skin problems are not due to the wrinkles! No special care should be necessary between the folds. . Skin problems in the breed are most commonly caused by hypothyroidism (low thyroid), a depressed autoimmune system, or allergies. NO special shampoo, brush or specific diet is needed.
 

Entropion

This is a condition where the eye-lashes come in contact with the surface of the eye. As puppies 3-6 weeks old, tacking can be done to "train" the eye-lashes in the right direction. This should not be done by default. This procedure may be repeated a couple of times, but if tacking ultimately fails to correct the problem, entropion surgery may be necessary.
Our vet always recommends to have it done by 3 weeks old if puppy has not yet opened up his/her eyes. It is important to be selective and to ask your vet how many surgeries he has done. I have found absolute horror stories online about Entropion surgery. It truly saddens me what cruelty can be done to these animals.

Some our new and past litters.

sleeping like a princess

brotherly love

Roxy standing watching over her babies

first time on grass!

I love you

 

I

Little Duke loves to play fetch.

I love you brother

Brownie

Lady O loves her naps



Where did the doggy door go?



Sharing a seat with sister

Lucky blue loves his blanket

I'm blogging!

I have been wanting to start this blog for so long and have been postponing for one reason or another. Secretly, I think it's because I am not as tech savvy as pretend to be :)
I hope to post pictures, updates of our dog adventures, helpful information regarding the breed and our new litters. We have 3 adult dogs:

Duke

Duke our Stud Muffin and home protector is a mini, light black brush coat, very affectionate and prefers to stay outside because he is always on guard. He looks intimidating but is incredibly intelligent, fast learner and great with kids.


Roxy is our "Traditional" Chinese Shar Pei, black horse coat with a bone mouth. She is a very gentle, gentle girl. She loves everybody just a super friendly girl.


Savannah our first Shar Pei and who started it all is a Western Chinese Shar Pei. She is an apricot dilute brush coat. She is sort of a Diva. She is in an inside dog, can be a bit nervous around strangers, and is strangely very clean. Sometimes I wonder if she knows she is not human.