Best puppy food for a Shar Pei
A Shar Pei puppy's food matters for two reasons beyond the usual growth needs of any medium-sized breed: the loose, folded skin the breed is known for is prone to irritation and infection if it stays damp or dirty, and Shar Peis as a breed have a reputation for food sensitivities that show up as skin or ear problems more often than digestive ones.
Feeding a Shar Pei
A medium breed
An adult Shar Pei typically weighs 18–25kg, so a healthy Shar Pei eats a moderate amount compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A medium breed is usually done growing at ~12 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 8–12 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
A shallow, wide bowl suits a flat face
A flat-faced dog cannot reach into a deep bowl without pressing its nose into the sides, which is uncomfortable and makes it gulp air. A shallow bowl, and food that does not have to be chased around it, is the easier arrangement.
How much should a Shar Pei weigh?
Adult 18–25kgfully grown at ~12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 2.8–3.8 kg | 15% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 4.5–6.3 kg | 25% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 9–12.5 kg | 50% |
| ~12 months | Fully grown | 18–25 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a medium breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a Shar Pei
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Shar Pei's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
Burns Puppy Original Lamb & Rice
Complete Burns lamb and rice puppy food in a 2KG bag for up to 12 months
£14.99
Burns Puppy Junior Original Chicken Rice
A complete puppy and junior food with dried chicken 31% and controlled fat at 15%
From£14.99
Growth needs for a medium breed
Shar Peis are a medium-sized breed, and a puppy food formulated for medium breeds supports steady, controlled growth rather than the very rapid early growth that suits a large-breed puppy formula. Overly fast growth in any breed puts extra strain on developing joints, so matching the food to your puppy's expected adult size is worth checking on the pack rather than assuming any puppy food will do.
Feed according to the guide on the pack and adjust based on body condition as your puppy grows, since guides are a starting point rather than a fixed rule for every individual dog.
Why skin and sensitivity matter more for this breed
Shar Peis are known for skin folds, particularly around the face and neck, which can trap moisture and become irritated or infected if not kept clean and dry — a food alone will not manage this, but a diet that supports healthy skin can help alongside proper cleaning. Many Shar Peis are also reported to have food sensitivities that show up as itchy skin or recurring ear problems rather than the vomiting or diarrhoea more commonly associated with a food intolerance in other breeds.
A single-protein or limited-ingredient puppy food is worth discussing with your vet if your puppy shows early signs of skin irritation, since it narrows down what they are eating and makes it easier to identify a trigger if one exists. This is a conversation to have with a vet rather than something to diagnose from a search engine.
Introducing a new food
Any change of food, at any age, is best done gradually over about a week, mixing increasing amounts of the new food with the old rather than switching overnight. This matters especially for a breed already prone to sensitivity, since a sudden change makes it harder to tell whether a reaction is to the new food or simply to the abruptness of the switch.
Keep an eye on your puppy's skin folds, ears and coat condition as they settle onto a new food, and mention anything that does not improve or gets worse to your vet rather than trying several different foods in quick succession.
Common questions
- Do Shar Peis need a special hypoallergenic food?
- Not automatically, but many do well on a limited-ingredient or single-protein food given the breed's reputation for skin and food sensitivities. Whether your particular puppy needs one is best discussed with your vet, especially if they are already showing signs of irritation.
- How do I know if my Shar Pei puppy has a food sensitivity?
- Signs in this breed often show up as itchy or irritated skin, recurring ear problems, or redness in the skin folds, rather than obvious digestive upset. If you notice any of these, speak to your vet, who can help work out whether food is a factor rather than something else entirely.
- Should Shar Pei puppies eat large-breed puppy food?
- No, Shar Peis are a medium-sized breed, and a large-breed puppy formula is designed for the very different growth pattern of a much bigger adult dog. Choose a food matched to your puppy's expected adult size rather than by general puppy age alone.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.