| Training | |
| Sensitivity to strangers | |
| Affection for family | |
| Suitable for first-time owners | |
| Ease of grooming | |
| Energy level |
Contents
The Pekingese has existed for 4000 years and has an extremely proud temperament and a peculiar-looking appearance: It truly looks like a miniature lion.
This Asian dog has existed for over 4000 years. The Pekingese, born in Beijing, China, was originally bred as companion dogs to the ancient Chinese imperial family. A legend says this dog breed was born from the crossbreeding of a lion and a female monkey.
As this breed is one of the oldest dog breeds, its genetics deviate very little from that of wolves. In ancient China, it was considered a Buddha protector, so it was revered as a deity and treated with great respect. But what does a Pekingese look like? It looks like a small lion with a thick mane made up of long hair.
The Pekingese comes in many colors, but it should not be white or purplish-red (liver color) according to its standard. It is 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) tall and weighs from 4.5 to 11 lb (2.5 to 5 kg). Its ears are long and lie against the head which is round and broad with a flat face and a wrinkled, short and black muzzle. Its eyes are large, round and bright. The Pekingese tail is set high and it is covered in thick, straight fringing that may fall toward either side.
Pekingese: Temperament
This dog breed has a special temperament that makes it the perfect companion for those who do not want an overly demanding animal. The Pekingese are very proud, self-confident, noble, and a bit arrogant; it is no coincidence they have been companions of Chinese emperors for centuries.
It must also be said that they are very brave dogs, they do not like the company of other dogs, and they would not hesitate to attack larger animals if they feel threatened. One of the advantages of this breed is that it perfectly fits into apartment life. One disadvantage is that it tends to be cautious and indifferent to life around it, making it a little difficult to train. There is no doubt that the Pekignese will always love its owner and distrust strangers.
Although the Pekingese is an apartment dog, it suffers from loneliness and should not be left alone for long periods of time. It is a very playful and cheerful dog that loves to be at home rather than outdoors. This makes him a perfect pet. It loves short walks and prefers the comfort of its home and bed before running in the meadows. But remember that a little exercise would do him good.
In this sense, the Pekingese resembles a cat as it is not very fond of physical activity and prone to laziness, which we should not encourage. A small daily walk will be good for him (as well as you).
Pekingese: An Apartment Dog
This breed is well suited for family and apartment life due to its characteristics and behavior. It will deeply love its owner and family, but when it comes to strangers, whether people or other pets, it will always distrust them.
However, the Pekingese is not for everyone. It requires careful grooming and daily brushing. Brushing is essential in order to take care of its beautiful coat and to prevent it from becoming a hairball with twigs and leaves stuck to its hair after every walk.
It would be ideal to get your dog used to brushing its coat from puppyhood to avoid it becoming a traumatic activity for it. Its teeth and eyes also require special attention. Since its eyes are prominent and its teeth tend to accumulate tartar.
This dog also needs an owner who is determined so as he can control the Pekingese intelligence and temperament and train it properly.
Pekingese: Health And Diseases
The Pekingese is a long-lived breed that often lives up to 12-13 years. Mild pathologies that can affect this breed may be easily avoided with careful grooming, deep cleansing of the eyes with specific liquids and cleaning the folds and small wrinkles on the face.
This will prevent the onset of infections and will help keep your dog healthy. More severe health problems can be prevented through vaccines against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, influenza, and rabies. Ask your veterinarian about the perfect health plan for your pet, he will surely advise you on the best options.
The most common pathologies of this breed are:
- Herniated disc, which is generally caused by obesity derived from the animal’s sedentary lifestyle, and which can compromise its motor skills;
- Hip dysplasia;
- Progressive retinal atrophy.
Pekingese: Relationship With Its Owner
If we were to ask a dog expert which dog breed would be perfect for elderly people or for people with little time, he would undoubtedly suggest a Pekingese, often called a “lap dog” as it is a great company.
It is truly a sweet dog that is very attached to its owner. However, its bond with its owner is not as unhealthy as it is with other breeds.
The ideal owner of a Pekingese is a determined person who loves home life, who knows how to be respected, someone who is not outdoors for long periods of time because the Pekingese suffer from loneliness. It needs a loving owner, but not too much; someone that has time to spend with his furry friend and to groom it, not only for short walks.
Pekingese: Relationship With Children
Although it falls into the Toy category, the Pekingese does not like playing with children. In fact, we would not recommend it to a family with many small children.
This breed is not very patient. Although it usually loves the whole family, it usually chooses a single human that it will love excessively. The Pekingese is not a dog for children, because it needs to be socialized gradually.
Its very reserved and almost “snobbish” attitude would tend to keep him away from the normal and everyday chaos created by children, leading the animal to a state of isolation, which would not be adequate to make it feel part of the family.
Pekingese: Relationship With Other Dogs
The Pekingese does not like the presence of other pets in the same apartment and that does not tolerate the presence of dogs of a different breed than its own. It is a jealous and very protective animal of its home, family (which it defends no matter what) and spaces.
But these characteristics do not make it an aggressive breed towards other dogs. If it has been bred and trained properly, it will never be the first to attack. But if it has been spoiled, the Pekingese dog can be truly arrogant, overbearing, and difficult to handle. Keep in mind that if someone challenges it, it will confront them whether it is another dog or animal.
To avoid it being this way, try to socialize it with other dogs when it is 7-week old, so that it gets used to other animals and is less aggressive.
Pekingese: Price, Puppies and Tips
Pekingese dogs show their intelligence and strong character from puppyhood. They must be stimulated with games so that they do not become completely lazy.
It is better to start training your dog from puppyhood, when they are 8-week old. You can do it by creating routines with a firm and consistent attitude, giving them a reward when they do things well and reprimanding them when they are wrong. Keep in mind that a properly trained puppy will be an excellent companion.
You may need a dog trainer who will teach you how to command your Pekignese as it does not like to receive orders and it only executes them if it considers them correct or if it wants to.
In terms of diet, we recommend feeding your Pekingese a diet rich in calcium and protein, lean meats, vegetables, and fruits. A Pekingese puppy may cost around 800 dollars, about 700 English pounds. The Pekingese is recognized by the AKC and belongs to the FCI’s Group 9, “Companion and Toy Dogs“, together with the Lhasa, Boston Terrier, Maltese, and Bolognese.
Pekingese: Breeders and Puppies For Sale
In this section you will find the best-registered breeders in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, India, Scotland and South Africa, from whom you can request all the information you are looking for. It is essential that you buy from a reliable breeder so that you can be sure that your puppy has been:
- Bred for good health and temperament;
- Well-selected (this means that its parents were chosen without genetic diseases);
- Properly socialized, so that it is neither too fearful nor too aggressive;
- Vaccinated and well-groomed.
In addition, if you adopt a puppy, a reliable breeder will give you a veterinary certificate, in which it is stated that it has been dewormed and is completely healthy.
You can always ask for the pedigree, which is essential: it allows you to check the dog’s breed’s purity. An animal with a pedigree has certain characteristics of its breed that differentiate it from the rest.
Now that we have clarified all the most important aspects, you can go in search of your new 4-legged friend, who is surely waiting for you.
Pekingese: Curiosities
An ancient Chinese legend tells of a small dog that was Buddha’s friend and companion, and which was also capable of turning into a lion when necessary. This is the origin of the Pekingese dog’s leonine mane, capable of warding off evil spirits.
Going back in history, we know that the Pekingese were the dogs that Chinese emperors chose. What is more, when servants saw this dog passed by, they had to bow because they were considered sacred. Regarding its arrival in Europe, this canine breed was introduced in England in 1861, where the first breeding establishment of this breed was created. The AKC first registered the Pekingese in 1906 and the Pekingese Club of America became a member of the AKC in 1909.
You may be interested in reading another article related to other dog breeds such as:
- Pug
- Doberman Pinscher
- Siberian Husky
- Rough Collie
- Bull Terrier
- German Shepherd Dog
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Great Dane
- Saint Bernard
- Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff)
