Appearance of the Sharbo
|
| The Sharbo is a hybrid of the Boston Terrier and Shar Pei and, as such, may inherit appearance traits from one or both parent breeds. Breeders and owners describe the Sharbo as measuring between 38 and 51 centimeters and weighing between 13.5 and 22.5 kilos. It's a medium-sized dog with a sturdy body, square head, large, usually brown eyes and large, pointed, drooping ears, usually pointing downwards. Its coat is described as straight, short, rough or silky, the most common colors being brown, brindle, white, black and gold. Its tail can be of variable length, either very short and held close to the rump, or longer and curled over its back. Its bite is likely to be scissor-like, or weak enough that its muzzle is square, with a tongue that may be purple or black. Its feet may be small or medium-sized and compact, with short nails. |
Temperament of the Sharbo
|
| The Sharbo is a hybrid mix of the Boston Terrier and the Shar Pei, and can therefore inherit personality and temperament traits from one or both of its parent breeds. Sharbo breeders and owners describe its temperament and personality as gentle, playful and intelligent, but it also has aggression in its personality, especially when protecting its human family. He will probably be moderately gentle with children, early socialization being very important to ensure that he will adapt to children, strangers, the family cat and other dogs. He will be friendly and affectionate with his human family, loving your attention and giving you lots of his. He's pretty laid-back under normal circumstances and will be happy to run and play with you or just sit and cuddle on the sofa next to you. He can also be jealous of other dogs, or jealous when they get something he thinks he deserves or should have. These are traits that can be modified with proper socialization. He has a strong urge to hunt due to his hunting heritage from both parental breeds. It's important to remember this when he interacts with other dogs or animals. He will probably be wary of strangers until he understands that there is no danger to his human family. He'll probably be fairly easy to train, provided you can establish who's in charge from the outset. If you don't, you'll probably find yourself fighting him in almost everything he does. |
Needs and activities of the Sharbo
|
| The Sharbo hybrid is said to be constantly on the move. That said, you can expect him to have plenty of energy, which will need to be managed by 1-2 hours of exercise every day. This exercise can take the form of long daily walks, playtime in a dog park or fenced yard, interactive games like fetch, frisbee, fly ball, earth dog activities, obedience training and agility training. His hunting/prey instinct is strong, so be sure to keep him on a leash whenever he's outside the house, fenced yard or other secure enclosure, unless your daily exercise involves chasing him down the street, through the neighborhood or into the woods in pursuit of a small animal or unusual scent that has caught his attention. He's not an excessive barker, becoming verbal only when necessary, so he'll do well in an apartment or condo, unless there's a noise restriction in place. In the case of any type of accommodation, it's vital for his health and happiness that he gets proper exercise to avoid the destructive habits that can develop from boredom. They can live just as well in a family home, with or without a fenced-in yard, in an urban or rural setting. They are best suited to moderate or temperate climates, with extra protection and precautions required when temperatures are hotter or colder. |
Maintenance of the Sharbo
|
| Sharbo hybrids fall into the low-to-moderate maintenance category, with minimal shedding requiring only weekly brushing. Its coat is not hypoallergenic. Because of the Shar Pei parent's genetics, you may need to bathe it more often than other breeds. Recommendations for the Shar Pei are a bath every two weeks, and less often for the Boston. The Shar Pei parent also has a tendency to ear infections, which makes weekly ear checks very important. Be sure to clean them as needed with a cotton ball and an approved canine ear cleaner. Toenails should also be checked once or twice a month, and trimmed if necessary, unless he manages to keep them in place with his normal exercise regime. His teeth should be brushed at home at least two or three times a week to prevent the development of periodontal disease and accompanying tooth loss. The Shar Pei's genetics place it in a low category for drooling, but moderate for odor. This is a very active dog, which seems to move constantly, and will need 1 to 2 hours of daily exercise. |
English (United Kingdom)