Akita Shar Pei Mix: Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts
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| Height: | 18–26 inches |
| Weight: | 45–100 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 9–15 years |
| Colors: | Black, fawn, cream, tan, brindle, fawn |
| Suitable for: | Active lifestyles, homes with yards, singles, and families with older children |
| Temperament: | Courageous, alert, intelligent, highly active, high prey drive, exuberant, loyal |
The Akita Shar Pei mix or Shar Pei Akita mix is a relatively new hybrid dog, so there is not much known about them. However, getting to know their parent breeds can give us a good idea of their temperament and care needs. Mating the Chinese Shar Pei and the Akita Inu together creates a gorgeous designer pup that is fun-loving, curious, and sometimes stubborn when young.
As they grow older, this mixed breed tends to become courageous, independent, and active like their parents. These loyal dogs can be rambunctious if they are not exercised enough. They have a high prey drive and can be good hunting and guard dogs. The Akita Shar Pei mix is playful and lovable like their Shar Pei parent, but they can also be aggressive when in fear or unsure of their surroundings.
These hybrid dogs need a firm yet loving hand to manage their behavior, especially when in social settings. Overall, they are loyal and attentive pets that can thrive in households with active adults and older children. Do you want to learn more about this interesting mixed breed? You have come to the right place! Here is all the information that you need to know about the adorable yet independent Akita Shar Pei Mix.
Akita Shar Pei Mix Puppies
The Akita Shar Pei mix is a solid dog breed with many positive characteristics. They have a great deal of energy, they are easily trainable, their health is generally good, and they can enjoy a longer lifespan than is typical of dog breeds. However, they have a few challenges too. For instance, they aren’t very sociable with strangers and other animals.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Akita Shar Pei Mix 🧠
This interesting mixed breed has many characteristics that both of their parents possess, making them a bit unpredictable. Still, we know that they have a high prey drive, they are typically independent, and they are highly intelligent. It takes a firm pack leader to keep them in place while in social situations. At home, these are loving and attentive dogs that gravitate to their pack leaders but will show affection to other family members too.
The Akita Shar Pei mix loves to run and play, but their serious side makes them excellent hunting and hiking partners. They are not prone to separation anxiety, so they can handle staying home alone for a few hours at a time. If not exercised daily, they can become destructive and ruin items in your home, whether clothes and shoes or furniture and knick-knacks.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡
These designer dogs can get along well in a family setting, but their aggressive nature can be dangerous to young children who might tease them with tail tugs and pokes. Children should always be supervised while spending time with an Akita Shar Pei mix. Families with older children who know how to behave around dogs would do splendidly with this type of mixed-breed dog. Single adults and households with multiple adults living within it would also be a good fit.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽
The Akita Shar Pei mix can get along well with other dogs if they start socializing during early puppyhood. They should be introduced to other dogs in the neighborhood as soon as they are brought home for the first time. They can also live in a multi-dog household if the other dogs are already living there when they arrive. A lack of socialization and obedience training can result in aggressive behavior that makes them dangerous to introduce to other dogs.
As for other animals, you can expect this mixed breed to treat them as prey. They will chase cats, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, and any other smaller animal in an attempt to hunt them down. Therefore, it is important to always have them leashed whenever they are outside of the home.
Things to Know When Owning an Akita Shar Pei Mix
Let’s explore taking care of these beautiful hybrid dogs. What should they eat and how much? What kind of exercise do they need? Is training possible? Here are the answers to these questions and more.
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
Like most active dogs, these mutts need high-quality commercial food or homemade food to thrive. Feeding them foods full of artificial preservatives and fillers like corn, wheat, and soy can harm their health and result in the development of problems like obesity, diabetes, and even cancer. Their food should consist of real meat as the first ingredient, followed by whole gluten-free grains and real fruits and vegetables.
Their food should be specific to their development stage. Puppies should get food made specifically for puppies, while adults should get adult food. Some companies do offer food for all life stages, but they tend to contain less protein than many quality puppy foods. Plan to feed an adult Akita Shar Pei mix up to 3 cups of dry, high-quality dog feed each day to maintain a healthy weight.
Exercise 🐕
This mixed breed is highly active like their Akita Inu parent, which means that they need daily walks of at least 1 hour long each to maintain their health and happiness. In addition to daily walks, hikes, or runs, the Akita Shar Pei mix should get outdoor time to play fetch or hang out with sibling dogs or humans in the yard. They should also have access to interactive toys that will exercise their minds while spending time indoors.
Training 🦮
The Akita Shar Pei mix should start obedience training as soon as they go home for the first time. Without training, they can become defiant and stubborn, and their aggressiveness could overpower their loving nature. Owners without training experience should strongly consider hiring a professional trainer to work with, at least at first. Group training sessions will allow these pups to learn how to behave around strange dogs.
Grooming ✂️
If an Akita Shar Pei mix is wrinkled like their Shar Pei parent, careful attention should be paid to their folds to ensure that food and dirt don’t build up within them. Cleaning their wrinkles with a damp cloth weekly should suffice. These dogs have medium-length fur that does shed throughout the year, so it’s a good idea to brush or comb them a few times a week. They are active enough to keep their nails naturally trimmed, but their ears should be checked for pinkness and cleaned with cotton swabs occasionally to limit the risk of infection.
Health Conditions ❤️
These dogs are generally healthy throughout life, but they are prone to several health conditions that potential owners should be aware of.
- Elbow dysplasia
- Heat sensitivity
- Skin problems
- Patellar luxation
- Pemphigus
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Bloating
- Hip dysplasia
- Autoimmune thyroiditis
- Von Willebrand’s disease
- Entropion
- Kidney problems
- Mast cell tumors
Male vs. Female
There are no known verified differences between male and female Akita Shar Pei mix dogs. However, many owners note that males are easier to housetrain and females are more independent. The reality is that every dog is different, no matter their sex. One male might be more independent than one female, while the opposite can also be observed.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Akita Shar Pei Mix
1. They Can Be Great Guard Dogs
The guarding instincts of the Shar Pei tend to shine through with this hybrid dog. They will let their family members know when someone strange is coming to the door, and they will do what they can to keep people out of the house when nobody else is home, including barking and guarding the doors and windows.
2. They Can Be Aggressive
Like their Akita Inu parent, this designer dog can be aggressive toward other animals, especially small ones. This is due to their natural hunting instincts, which encourage them to act when they detect that prey is around.
3. They Are Extremely Active
Akita Inus can run for miles upon miles every day without getting tired. While the Shar Pei is less active, the offspring of these two breeds tend to result in a highly active dog that needs a great deal of daily activity and daily opportunities to run and play outside without restriction.
Final Thoughts
There are many lovable characteristics to cherish in the Akita Shar Pei mix. However, their potentially dangerous traits should be seriously considered before deciding whether to adopt this lovable yet veracious pet. Do you think that a dog like this can fit into your family dynamic well? If so, why? If not, how so? We want to hear your thoughts!
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Featured Image: Susan Schmitz, Shutterstock
