PEKINGESE DOG BREED

Description:

The Pekingese (often called Peke) is an ancient breed that was launched in China over 2000 years ago. This dog was favored by the Chinese emperors, and only members of the royal family could keep a Pekingese. The Chinese believed that the Pekingese has a guardian spirit because he resembles a mythical Chinese Lion (also known as Foo Dog). The Pekingese was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1906.

Height: 6-9 inches  Weight: 7-14 pounds  Lifespan: 12-14 years

Characteristics:

The Pekingese is a small, sturdy dog. He is independent and somewhat arrogant, but at the same time, fearless and brave. This breed is charming and has a truly aristocratic bearing. Pekes are very cuddly creatures, and they make wonderful companions. Comparable Breeds: The Pug and Tibetan Spaniel.

Character:

Even though Pekingese are usually gentle and affectionate, they can be pretty stubborn and overly opinionated. As a rule, the Peke chooses one person to be his master, and his devotion is immense. This breed gets along well with teenagers; however, it is extremely distrustful of strangers. Pekingese love to be in the spotlight, and they tend to be jealous of other dogs and any other pets within the family.

Coat / Care:

The Peke has a double coat. The outer layer is long and straight, while the undercoat is soft, plushy in texture. Indeed, this breed is known for its lovely, luxurious coat. Shedding is of moderate intensity. So, to prevent matting, Pekingese require day-to-day, thorough grooming. It is necessary to regularly clean your pet, using a dry shampoo. Also, make sure wipe the dog’s face and eyes with a soft damp cloth. Pekingese cannot tolerate too hot and humid weather, as they tend to rapidly overheat and cool. This breed can suffer from intervertebral disk disease, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, dislocations of kneecaps. Also, this dogs have breathing problems and are prone to obesity, so moderate and balanced diet is essential.

Health Problems:

The Pekingese is generally healthy dog breed, but like all breeds, they can be prone to intervertebral disk disease, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, dislocations of kneecaps. Also, this dogs have breathing problems and are prone to obesity, so moderate and balanced diet is essential. The Pekingese has a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.

Weight / Height

The male Pekingese dog breed’s height is around 7 – 9 inches and weighs around 9 and 14 pounds. Female Pekingese dogs can reach a size from 6 – 9 inches and weighs between 7 and 14 pounds.

Training:

The Pekingese is very difficult to train because of his stubbornness. Therefore, it takes a time to teach your dog to respect the house rules in terms of cleanliness. This breed will not respond to harsh and overbearing teaching methods. In fact, they need a gentle and patient trainer. Keep the training sessions short and fun.

Activity:

The Pekingese is perfectly suited for living in an apartment. This breed does not require too much exercise, short but frequent walks in the fresh air are enough. Pekingese do well with just a couple of walks a day and some indoor playtime.

Photo credit: Ludovic/Flickr