[momgirl]

I have a 5 month shar pei that poops 4-5 times a day. I thought she had the idea of going outside, but now she won't walk on the grass in the backyard. You take her out, wait with her, nothing. Take her inside, 5 minutes, a pile & puddle. More than once a day. I'm really have to restrain myself from getting mean with a 5 month puppy. I like cats so much better. She bullies the cats, I cheer them on when they bring out the claws. What do you feed a dog to cause feces amount to decrease? Isn't the correct word "low residue". Should I just put out the water bowl a couple times a day? That doesn't sound right though. She gets fed twice a day, but she eats the cat food. Anyone want a shar pei female?

[plonak]

U need to talk to a puppy trainer as well as a veterinarian.. she must be getting fed too much.. I'm not a vet but you should see one.. you're just going to give up on her that easily? Wow, why don't you try to get some puppy training? And learn how to deal with her potty training and bulliing the cats. She's new to this world and everything's exciting for her, she just needs some guidense.. don't just give her away!

[carolbcac]

If you are used to cats, housebreaking a puppy is a monumental task in comparison. It is not difficult once you get used to the difference. There are some good instructions in the sticky at the top of the dogs page.
Did she originally go on grass when she was younger, or was the ground bare because of the winter weather? Dogs are usually very surface-oriented. Try walking her in small circles in the area you want her to go. Also, the next time she has an accident, mop it up with a paper towel & put it in a zip lock bag. Take out the towel & put it down in the designated area to give her more of a hint of what you want her to do. If she does not eliminate while outside, don't turn her loose inside the house; put her in her crate when she comes back in. Take her out again in about 15 minutes. Praise her any time she eliminates outdoors, and don't scold her for indoor accidents. You are praising for Location, not the act of elimination itself. If you are patient, she will eventually catch on.
All dogs will go for cat food if they get the chance. Put it up on a counter where the dog can't reach it but the cats can jump up to eat. She needs to be on a good-quality dog food fed at least twice daily and free access to water.
Remember that cat and dog body language is different, she may be trying to play with the cats but is too rough for their liking. I am having a similar "discussion" with my recently-rescued adult Doberman who has apparently never lived with cats. He is learning that in
Our house cats & dogs co-exist peacefully and are not squeaky toys. He is also learning that they have claws and will use them if necessary.
Please also look into any local obedience classes. Shar-pei are a tough breed for a first-time dog owner, so the sooner the better. She will also be going into heat soon, so if she is not already spayed, make the appointment.

[bushg]

I hope that most of your post was a joke... if it wasn't there are great rescues that will take her in. Please do not resort to harsh punishments and scolding it will only make the problems worse.

I've known and know a few Shar-peis the one thing they seemed to have in common was ease to potty train. The only down side for me is that I have noticed that they can be very protective with their home and family. Training is a must. Btw the muscle that controls their urine is not even fully developed at this age. Maybe you need to talk to a vet/breeder and see how much exercise,food and what mental developments that you should expect from her at what ages.

Also you need to watch out for their skin esp. if they have a lot of folds in their skin. They can be prone to problematic skin. Watch out for shaking of the head, licking the paw and swiping their ear with it. These can be signs of ear infections. This is a problem that I have noticed with the ones I know.The folds over their eyes if not done properly may fall and need to be redone.
Good luck and do what is right for her as she did not ask to be brought into the world.

[momgirl]

Thank you responders to my question and plight. I apologize for sounding like an animal abuser. I don't want to hurt the little doggy girl. I am very frustrated. I know she is playing with the cats, a couple tolerate it and play back, that is totally hilarious. I wash her every week, I use flea treatments. I will change the dog food to a better quality and move the cat food upward. I also understand the feces eating (disgusting to me as it is) is a normal dog thing. I read some really good suggestions, really understand the urine soaked paper towel to signal where to go. So thank you for taking the time to respond. I understand from reading your responses y'all are fervent dog and animal lovers. I have taught her to "sit". Sit = cheese. She will come for "Sit". It's a start.