Breed Characteristics:
Apartment Friendly
?How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?
Good For First-Time Owners
?Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?
Overall Sensitivity
?Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?
Tolerates Being Alone
?Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?
Affectionate With Family
?How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?
Kid-Friendly
?Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?
Friendly Toward Other Dogs
?Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?
Friendly Toward Strangers
?Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?
Drooling Level
?If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?
Easy To Groom
?Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?
Overall Health
?What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.
Prone To Obesity
?Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?
Trainability Level
?Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.
Intelligence Level
?Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?
Prey Drive
?Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?
Barking Level
?How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?
Energy Level
?Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?
Exercise Needs
?Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?
Playfulness Level
?Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?
The Pekingese is a beloved canine that has an interesting history to go along with their adorable appearance. The Pekingese has been around for thousands of years and has not only been treasured but even considered royal at one point in their life.
In this article we’ll dive into their interesting history, and what makes the Pekingese a beloved pet to this day.
History Of The Pekingese
The Pekingese is a well-known canine in China due to their history with the imperial family of China. Just like any member of Chinese history, there is an interesting legend to go along with their existence!
Chinese legend states that thousands of years ago, a lion fell in love with a marmoset. In order to profess his love, he begged Buddha to reduce him in size while still retaining his fearless lionheart.
Buddha agreed, and thus created the lion dog of China; the Pekingese. Whether this legend is true or not, the Pekingese is documented in Chinese history for the last 2,000 years.
Named after the capital city of China, Peking (now Beijing), this breed was honored by the royal families of China. They were often seen in the homes of princes, imperial families, and other prestigious members of Chinese history.
Commoners would often bow in their presence due to the belief of their lion roots. You could even be sentenced to death if you were caught attempting to steal one of the royal Pekingese dogs.
The Pekingese breed made its way to England after becoming prizes of war during the Opium War in 1860.
Five Pekingese were found guarding their royal owner’s body (who chose to commit suicide rather than be captured) and were captured as prizes of war to bring back to the Duchess of Wellington, the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and Gordon, and to Queen Victoria.
The Pekingese left their royal life in China to then plant their prestigious roots in another country. No matter where they went, they were considered a treasure.
It was then that the Pekingese breed began to make their presence known around the world.
Nowadays, the Pekingese probably still expects royal treatment when they enter a room. Pekingese owners are generally quite devoted to their long-haired pups, so it seems like they still receive royal treatment to this day!
Appearance Of The Pekingese
The Pekingese is well known for their unique appearance. They can weigh anywhere from 7-14 pounds and can stand up to 9 inches in height. Though their stature may be small, their outward appearance is anything but.
The Pekingese is known for having long and luxurious fur when it’s allowed to grow out to its full length. Their fur is coarse, straight, and stands slightly away from the body and frames their face.
True to their “lion dog” nickname, their fur can resemble a thick lion mane.
Unlike the Pomeranian, Pekingese’s coat doesn’t ever obscure the body. Their fur essentially frames their body and still shows off their true form and shape. Unlike other “fluffy” long-haired pups, their fur is straight and fitting on their bodies.
Peke’s coat can be a range of colors. Their coat can be black and tan, fawn, red, creme, white, and more. Even though their coat color can range, they always have a distinct black mask around their faces.
Grooming Your Pekingese
If you plan to bring a Pekingese into your home, be prepared to implement grooming into your weekly, or even daily routine.
With their luxurious long locks come the work that’s needed to keep them looking maintained. If you’d like your Pekingese to rock their signature look, you will need to be committed to the upkeep of their fur.
The more attention you pay to their fur, the easier it will be to maintain. Their long hair can become easily tangled, so a quick brush through each day can eliminate tangles and prevent mats that are difficult to brush through.
If you don’t have the time to brush your Peke daily, you can usually get away with twice a week brushing.
The Pekingese is also known for eye and nasal discharge which can lead to infection if their face is not properly cleaned.
You can easily clean the folds around their muzzle with a damp cotton ball, and making sure to dry their skin folds after they become wet to prevent any dampness.
As far as bathing your Pekingese, they usually do just fine with once a month baths. If you desire a quick refresher in between monthly baths, you can even purchase doggie dry shampoo.
This way you can touch up their fur without the moisture, and easily brush the dry shampoo through their hair.
Personality Of The Pekingese
Though their appearance suggests otherwise, the Pekingese is known for their bravery and outgoing personality. The legend of the Pekingese being “lion dogs” seems to stand true in reference to their bold personality.
The Pekingese is dignified, outgoing, stubborn, and extremely confident. It makes sense that they originate from a background that considered them royal, as they are quite impressed with themselves.
Though the Pekingese can be a bit self-entitled, they are still extremely endearing.
The Pekingese is known for their loyalty to their family, and how affectionate they are toward their favorite people. Since they do love their family so much, they can be a bit territorial.
As long as you properly socialize your Pekingese, they are kind and well-mannered canines.
Overall Health Of The Pekingese
Though the Pekingese can lead a healthy life of up to 15 years of age, they are prone to quite a few medical conditions. Some of these medical conditions include:
1. Patellar Luxation
Luxating patellas is extremely common in small breed dogs. This condition refers to the dislocation of the knee joints which can lead to pain and lameness as the condition progresses.
There are multiple stages of this condition and can be surgically repaired if it greatly hinders their life.
2. Brachycephalic Syndrome
The brachycephalic syndrome refers to dogs that were bred to have a short snout. Due to their “smooshed face” appearance, their airways are often obstructed by their elongated soft palate and narrow nostrils.
With each of these factors combined, this can result in respiratory distress.
Cryptorchidism refers to the condition in which either one or both testicles fail to descend, leading them to remain in the abdominal cavity. These retained testicles are usually non-functional and can result in cancer later in life if not removed. A more in-depth neuter procedure where the veterinarian opens the abdomen is curative for this condition. Fold dermatitis refers to the skin infections that can be present in dogs with skin folds. Since these skin folds often become moist, this can lead to the perfect breeding ground for bacteria to grow between these folds. It’s important to groom your Pekingese and clean any skin folds for this reason. Entropion is a condition that results in the eyelid rolling into the eye, causing severe eye irritation and infection. If your dog experiences this condition, it’s best to revise this condition surgically to prevent future irritation. This condition refers to the defect in the mitral valve of the heart causes an overflow of blood into the left atrium, known as mitral regurgitation. This causes the heart to be less efficient. If your vet hears a heart murmur in your Pekingese during an examination it’s best to see a cardiologist. Intervertebral disc refers to when the gelatinous inner layer of the spinal disc protrudes into the spinal canal and pushes against the spinal cord. Spinal compression can vary in severity but can result in pain, lameness, and even paralysis if not addressed. While the Pekingese is considered an intelligent breed, they are known to be quite stubborn. The Pekingese is quite impressed with themselves, so it’s important to make sure your Pekingese enjoys their training process. This breed learns best with positive reinforcement and engaging training that makes them excited to participate. Pekingese can also be extremely territorial when it comes to their family and other dogs, so it’s important to socialize your Peke at a young age. The socialization process should begin the moment they enter your home and should involve introducing them to new places, people, and other animals. If you’re looking for a pup that loves nothing more than having a lazy day with their favorite humans, then this is the dog for you. While the Pekingese is happy to participate in daily play, they do really enjoy their downtime with family. This breed is known for cuddling on the couch with their owner for hours on end. Make sure your Pekingese has anywhere from 15-30 minutes of daily play or time outdoors, and they should be perfectly happy! Now that we’ve covered the basics on the Pekingese breed, let’s cover the important tips to remember when bringing a Pekingese into your home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3ipWjXO5lU The Pekingese is a treasured breed that has been in the hearts of dog lovers for thousands of years. As long as you are ready to pamper your Pekingese, they will be a wonderful addition to your home!4. Fold Dermatitis
5. Entropion
6. Mitral Valve Disease
7. Intervertebral Disc Disease
Training Your Pekingese
Exercise And Your Pekingese
Important Tips For Your Pekingese
Summary
Popular Pekingese Comparisons
