Finding the perfect mixed breed puppy can take time. Have you been looking for a wonderful family dog that will be loyal and affectionate?
Do you want a large dog that can protect you and will enjoy spending time with you? Do you love couch cuddles? If so, you might want to consider getting a Great Dane Shar-Pei mix.
The Great Dane Shar-Pei mix has a deep sense of loyalty and is very protective of its people and property. This will be a large dog when grown, weighing up to 140 lbs.
Be prepared to train and work with Great Dane Shar-Pei puppies from an early age, as they can become stubborn if left unchecked.
With a proper upbringing, healthy lifestyle, and a comfy couch to snuggle on, Great Dane Shar-Pei mixes make wonderful companions!
Overview of Great Dane Shar-Pei Mixes
The Great Dane Shar-Pei mix combines two popular AKC breeds, the Great Dane and the Shar-Pei.
These dogs can be extremely affectionate and unwaveringly loyal. They love spending time with you! However, this hybrid may also become stubborn when it comes to training.
As such, it is wise to begin working with your Great Dane Shar-Pei puppy from an early age.
Additionally, these dogs can be very protective of their families and property. So, if you don’t want your dog to be overly protective, begin socialization early. Finally, this is a large hybrid. Great Dane Shar-Pei mixes can weigh anywhere from 50 to 110 lbs!
Reasons to Get a Great Dane Shar Pei Mix
There are plenty of reasons to consider adopting a Great Dane Shar-Pei mix. Not only are these dogs incredibly loyal, but they also have a fun, goofy side. Moreover, many Great Dane Shar-Pei hybrids love to cuddle.
Great Danes are known for being extremely affectionate while Shar-Peis are famed for their devoted loyalty. When these breeds are combined, the resulting mix will likely be affectionate, protective, loving, and loyal.
Additionally, these hybrids are large and adorable. The sweet Scooby-Doo-Like face of the Great Dane is hard to miss! Even more so, the squishy wrinkles of a Shar-Pei are sure to melt your heart.
A Great Dane Shar-Pei will have a short soft coat that sheds minimally. As such, these dogs are fairly easy to groom.
They are also moderately active. So, you won’t have to worry about your Great Dane Shar-Pei mix becoming unnecessarily hyper.
Why Adore Great Dane Shar Pei Mix
- Adorable appearance
- Devoted and loyal
- Fairly easy to groom
- Soft coat in many color options
- Not overly energetic
- Large in size
- Protective
Reasons to Avoid the Great Dane Shar-Pei Mix
There are also a few reasons you should not get a Great Dane Shar-Pei Mix. First of all, this dog can have a stubborn side. As such, you must begin training a Great Dane Shar-Pei mixed breed puppy early. This will help you teach your puppy to listen to what you say.
Additionally, Great Dane Shar-Pei mixed-breed dogs can be very protective of the people in their lives.
Because of this, you will need to socialize your Great Dane Shar-Pei mix with other dogs, people, and animals, as soon as possible.
Also, this will be a fairly large dog. So, you will have to get used to things like large dog smells, big doggy drooling, and lots of yard waste. Last, Great Danes and Shar Peis are both prone to certain breed-related health issues.
Why Avoid Great Dane Shar Pei Mix
- Can be stubborn
- Will require early socialization
- Drool and stinky dog smell possible
- Potential for health issues
The Traits and History of Great Danes and Shar Peis
If you have been thinking of adopting a Great Dane Shar-Pei puppy, it can be helpful to know about the history and traits of both breeds that make up a canine mix. After all, every dog breed was developed to serve a certain purpose.
Understanding the history of each breed in a mixed puppy can help you better predict what your hybrid will be like. With this in mind, every dog is unique. So, treat your pup as an individual and follow your instincts. Still, you can use these facts as a guideline for anticipating what to expect with your pup.
A Brief History of the Shar-Pei and Its Traits
The Shar-Pei is a noble and prideful breed that originated in ancient China. Traditionally, the Shar-Pei was kept as a watchdog of property, people, and animals.
This breed is famous for its deep wrinkles and stunning athletic form. Shar-Peis are moderately energetic and can be wonderfully loyal companions to the owners who raise them from puppyhood.
Traits and History of the Great Dane
Great Danes are known as gentle giants. They are moderately playful and extremely affectionate. Great Danes are known for being good with children and protective of their homes.
Generally, Great Danes get along well with other animals, especially if they have been raised with them. Great Danes are considered easy to train but can sometimes be stubborn and temperamental.
Appearance of the Great Dane Shar Pei Mix
Shar-Pei Great Dane mixes can vary widely in appearance. Your dog may look more like a Great Dane or like a Shar-Pei. It might even be a perfect combination of both breeds!
This dog will be slightly smaller and more compact than a standard Great Dane but larger than a Shar-Pei. The Shar-Pei dog stands at 17-20 inches, while Great Danes stand at 33 inches tall. While Great Danes are lanky, Shar Peis are stouter and more compact.
Likely, this mix will have a long neck and elongated torso with a broad chest. Additionally, this hybrid is likely to have distinctive wrinkles on its neck, chest, face, and head.
It may also have a tail that curls slightly or all of the way to its back. The ears of a Great Dane Shar-Pei mix will be slightly folded, and this dog will have a distinctive muzzle.
Great Dane Shar Pei Mix Coat and Colors
The Shar-Pei is a beautiful dog that can come in 21 different coat colors. Simultaneously, Great Danes come in various coat colors and patterns. As such, a Great Dane Shar-Pei mix can be red, gray, brindle, fawn, white, black, or anything in between.
This mix is most likely to be a fawn or black color. If your mix has a lighter coat, it might also have dark accents on its muzzle and face.
The coat of this dog can be single or double-layered. Shar-Peis have a dense yet short double-layered coat.
However, the coat of the Sher Pei is a complex matter. There are three types of Shar Pei coats: the horse, brush, and bear-coat.
The horse coat is the shortest and coarsest coat. The brush coat is slightly longer. The Bear coat is the longest and can be double-layered as well.
This unique coat has a velvety appearance enhanced by Shar Pei’s signature skin wrinkles. Great Danes have glossy short coats. So, your hybrid will have a coat that is short to medium-long. This coat is not likely to shed heavily, although shedding will vary from dog to dog.
Grooming Your Great Dane Shar Pei Mix
The Great Dane Shar-Pei hybrid is likely to have a short, dense coat. As such, you can expect this dog to shed minimally.
However, this hybrid may also shed seasonally. Grooming this dog is a fairly easy task. Monthly baths and brushing should suffice.
However, Great Danes and Shar Peis are both prone to skin sensitivity issues. As such, be sure to only use gentle or fragrance-free grooming products until you know whether or not your dog has allergies.
Additionally, the coat of this dog may require conditioning oils to protect it from dryness or excessive odors.
This will all depend on the humidity where you live and the traits of your dog. Omega-3 Chews can be helpful for maintaining the coat conditions of this breed.
Great Dane Shar Pei Mix Lifespan
Since mixed breed dogs are generally healthier than purebred dogs, you can expect your Great Dane Shar-Pei hybrid to live anywhere from 8 to 15 years! With a healthy diet, annual vet checkups, and daily exercise, your dog is likely to have a longer, happier life.
Possible Health Problems of a Great Dane Shar Pei Mix
Great Danes can be prone to heart issues, bloat, hip dysplasia, and other joint-related conditions. Simultaneously, Shar-Peis are prone to various skin allergies.
They can also suffer from inherited genetic issues. Although a Great Dane Shar-Pei mix will probably be healthier than other purebred dogs, you may want to invest in a good vet.
- Bloat
- Hip Dysplasia
- Allergies
- Skin Sensitivity
- Autoimmune Thyroiditis
- Retinal Dysplasia and Other Eye Issues
Food Requirements and Diet of the Great Dane Shar Pei Mix
Your Great Dane Shar-Pei mix will need about 2,000 calories per day. Choose a high protein diet with moderate fat content.
Also, try to avoid dog foods with unnecessary additives or dyes. This will help to keep digestive problems at bay.
As a puppy, your Great Dane Shar-Pei mix should be fed large-breed-specific, age-appropriate food. This will ensure that it grows at a steady, healthy rate.
Growth spurts caused by too much protein can make issues like hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia more likely in adulthood. Also, look for food with DHA for healthy brain and eye development.
Personality and Temperament Great Dane Shar Pei Mix Breed Dogs
The Great Dane Shar-Pei mix is likely to have a loving and loyal disposition with a happy yet calm temperament.
This dog should be well-balanced in personality and will most likely have moderate energy levels. As such, you will not have to worry about your Great Dane Shar-Pei mix being overly excitable or extremely hyper.
Great Dane Shar Pei Mix Training Tips
The Great Dane Shar-Pei mix can be a wonderful companion when trained properly. However, without training, this can be a willful and stubborn hybrid that basically ignores your commands.
Both breeds are known for being a bit temperamental at times. Plus, Shar-Peis are quite independent and can develop a stubborn streak when not trained properly from a young age.
Additionally, both breeds are known for being very protective of people and property. Therefore, it is wise to socialize your mix as soon as possible.
As you train this dog, be sure to use plenty of positive reinforcement. Treats are likely to be appreciated, but praise and play may work equally well for prideful Shar-Pei mixes.
You could end up needing either a firm or gentle hand when teaching this dog, depending on the unique temperament of your puppy.
Always be consistent with your training. If you don’t want your Great Dane Shar-Pei mix standing on its hind legs, jumping on people, or counter surfing as an adult, do not let it do so as a puppy. Enrolling this hybrid in puppy school or basic behavioral training is also wise.
The Great Dane Shar Pei Mix and Families
This dog can fit in very well with a family. However, it is likely to bond strongly with whatever family raises it.
As such, if you want your Great Dane Shar-Pei mix to get along well with children and other pets, it is good to adopt one as a puppy.
Adopting an adult Great Dane Shar-Pei mix is fine, but you will have to ensure it is gentle with kids and other pets first.
Great Dane Shar Pei Mixes and Other Pets
If you raise a Great Dane Shar-Pei mixed breed dog around other pets and small animals, it will do very well with them for the rest of its life.
This hybrid can be extremely gentle, loving, and protective of other animals. However, if you adopt a full-grown Great Dane Shar-Pei that doesn’t already get along with smaller animals, training it to do so may be nearly impossible.
Exercise Requirements of Great Dane Shar Pei Mixes
If you like leisurely walks in the park and relaxed games of fetch, this is an awesome dog to get.
The Great Dane Shar-Pei mix has moderate energy levels and will not need tons of exercise. However, regular daily physical activity is still recommended. This breed can do well in a home with a small fenced yard. It may even be fine in an apartment.
Just be sure to take it for walks, or you will have a lot of yard waste to deal with. When playing with this dog or engaging it in physical activity, wait at least one hour after it has finished eating to avoid the condition called Bloat.
Finding a Breeder with Great Dane Shar Pei Mixed Breed Puppies for Sale
If the Great Dane Shar-Pei hybrid sounds like the perfect mixed breed dog for you, you are probably ready to adopt a puppy! When adopting this type of mix, there are a few things to look for. You want a happy, healthy, well-balanced dog, after all.
First of all, choose a calm, friendly puppy that seems to get along well with all of its littermates. This will ensure that your Great Dane Shar-Pei hybrid is balanced and has a good, even temperament.
Also, never adopt a Great Dane Shar-Pei mix from a puppy mill. Puppy mills often produce dogs with health conditions, allergies, and respiratory infections.
Finally, select a puppy from a reputable breeder with at least one or both of the parent dogs on site. When you can, meet both of a dog’s parents and talk in-depth with a breeder. This way, you will be better prepared to raise your puppy and predict its potential behavioral traits.