Once restricted to ownership by Chinese royalty, the Pekingese is now an affectionate companion best suited to those with a less active lifestyle…
The Pekingese (often nicknamed the “Lion Dog” or “Peke”) is a compact and sturdy toy breed that features a flat face with big eyes and a long lion-like coat that comes in a variety of colors – most commonly, gold with a black mask over their face. The breed is among the most ancient dating back to over 2,000 years ago, and they were initially bred as companion dogs within the Chinese Imperial Court.
Just a few of their most identifiable attributes typically are their sense of self-importance, high affection for their owner, low level of energy and tendency to bark quite a lot – which in essence make the Pekingese a fitting selection for more tolerant owners and those with less active lifestyles looking for a loving companion. Below are a few quick Pekingese facts:
Trainability & Intelligence:
Friendliness With People:
Compatible With Animals:
Daily Exercise Required:
Grooming Requirements:
Suitable For A Family Pet:
Suitability As A Guard Dog:
Origins Of The Pekingese
The Pekingese is known to have come from the Chinese city of Peking over 2,000 years ago and they were highly valued as companion dogs within the Chinese Imperial Court. So much so that it was forbidden for anyone outside of the palace to own a Pekingese and this was a crime punishable by death. It wasn’t until 1860 when British and French troops occupied the Forbidden City and brought several of the dogs back to Europe. They are genetically among the closest relatives to the ancestor of all dogs in the wolf.
Average Size Of The Pekingese
Pekingeses are classified as a small-sized breed. The recommended standard size for the Pekingese male and female is 6-9 inches high from paw to shoulder and a weight of 8-10 pounds. A Pekingese that weighs under 6 pounds is referred to as a “sleeve” Pekingese because they could be carried around on their master’s sleeve.
Temperament Of The Pekingese
The Pekingese is renowned for their brave, independent, regal and self-important disposition that likely results from centuries of being raised in palaces. They are characteristically slow to warm to visitors, but their small size can mean they are unsuitable as a guard dog.
The Pekingese is accepted to be quite intelligent – but likely as a result of their stubborn character only ranks 73rd in comparison with other dogs when considering their capability to be taught obedience directives. They are also recognized to be not highly tolerant of young children – meaning they are not very suitable as a family pet. The Pekingese is quite compatible with other animals such as cats and other dogs when introduced at an early age.
Grooming Requirements Of The Pekingese
Grooming the Pekingese is a pretty demanding assignment. They need a regular level of brushing each day in addition to cleaning around the face, rear end and eyes and full grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. The method for properly grooming the Pekingese can be described as:
- Use a slicker brush to brush the entire coat, then follow up with a matting comb to remove any matted hair.
- Use medicated ear powder to clean the ears then remove any stray hair from inside.
- Remove the tips of the nails using a nail clipper.
- Moisten a cotton ball with eye drops and clean the eyes, then trim any stained hair from the corners of the eyes with scissors if necessary.
- Use a moist cotton ball to clean the face.
- Clip the rear end using a #10 blade.
- Shave the stomach area and insides of the thighs using the same #10 blade.
- Place a cotton ball in each ear to prevent water entering then bathe the dog and dry them with a towel.
- Finish drying with a blow dryer while brushing the coat upward with a slicker brush.
- Trim the hair between the foot pads, toes and around the edges of the feet with scissors.
- Comb the entire coat and tail with a metal comb then make a part down the middle.
Living Requirements For The Pekingese
The Pekingese is happy to remain an indoor-only dog, so they can be very suitable for living in an apartment just as long as they are taken for daily walks. They enjoy cooler environments, and they will be made uncomfortable in warmer temperatures due to their thick coat – so will be happiest with air conditioning in summer. They also cannot swim very well, which means you should take extra care if you have a pool or take them for walks around the lake or along the beach.
Health & Life Expectancy Of The Pekingese
As with many small-sized dogs, the Pekingese is by and large long-lived with a life expectancy of 13-15 years. The major health problem for Pekingeses is typically recognized as heart problems. They are also prone to conditions such as eye problems like Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), skin allergies, snoring and breathing difficulties due to the shape of their face.
Exercise Needs For The Pekingese
The Pekingese takes pleasure in pursuits that include play sessions with their owner or a run around the yard. They possess a low quantity of energy and often need to be made to walk – which is necessary to prevent excessive weight gain, but should only be done in cooler parts of the day.
Who Should Own The Pekingese?
The Pekingese could make the right dog for less active owners who can provide gentle and patient leadership. They are appropriate to anybody who is ready to carry out a high level of grooming and set aside time to give them patient training and early socialization as well as take them for short daily walks and present a good amount of companionship and devotion. Although they could be a little out of place in many households, if you are able to meet their high grooming requirements, be patient while training them and tolerate snoring as well as the occasional barking period then the Pekingese can be the perfect breed of dog for you.
Posted by Brent McCoy on December 6, 2011