Pekingese Breed Information and Facts

Interested in information on one of the leading Asian dog breeds? Then let's take a look at the Pekingese breed, which gets its name from Peking (modern Beijing) where the breed originated. 

 

 

The Pekingese originated in ancient China and was used as a lapdog for Chinese royalty. Legend tells that this breed could fight off spirits. The dog was so revered that lay people could not own one and were actually forced to bow to the dog when in its presence. Yes, this did manifest a certain attitude in the pup!

 

In the 1800s, the British seized the royal palace of China. During the assault, Chinese guards were told to kill all the royal pets to prevent them from falling into the hands of the British. Five Pekingese were saved from this fate and sent to Queen Victoria as a gift. All Pekingese in the world can trace their ancestry to two of these five dogs. 

 

 

The Pekingese measures six to nine inches tall and weighs less than ten pounds. This small size allowed them to easily be carried by Chinese royalty and you can do the same today.

 

 

This breed has a very long double coat that requires regular brushing and washing to be kept clean and shiny. The dog’s long fur should be checked to makes sure nothing is tangled within it that will irritate its skin or feet. The wrinkles in its face should be kept clear of dirt and cleaned regularly to prevent infections and smells.

 

 

The Pekingese is a stubborn and regal dog as one might expect with a pup of royalty. Unlike most ancient royalty, this dog is also very intelligent. If you are looking for a meek lap dog to sit on your lap, this may not be the pup for you. This pup also isn't great with young kids as it really isn't the play and roughhouse type. 

 

 

The Pekingese is often described as a big dog in the body of a little dog. Being intelligent, it can learn most any task. Being very independent and stubborn, it may not want to. To be blunt, training a Pekingese can be difficult. Given their propensity to bark and lord over others, training really is necessary so you need to decide if you are willing to commit to the extra effort involved in getting this pup into discipline mode.

 

 

The Pekingese does best as an indoor dog. They tend to require air conditioning as their short noses make them susceptible to heat exhaustion. They are inactive indoors and can do well in apartments. 

 

As with all dogs, a daily walk is a must for this breed to use up its excess energy and satisfy its instinctive need to explore new areas. The breed will especially love running around in an enclosed place outside and playing with its family. Be careful to not play too much with it as the breed can be susceptible to respiratory issues. 

 

 

The Pekingese is a generally healthy dog, but it is very sensitive to heat. With a short snout, it has issues with venting air and heat. Less frequently, the pup can suffer from eye and back issues although our personal view is this is just a natural part of aging for these pups.