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The Pekingese is a robust, short legged little dog with a leonine expression and a characterful personality. A feature of the breed is the long, profuse coat covering the body, legs and tail and creating a mane around the head and neck. The coat is short on the face and muzzle, but long on the ears. Eyes are large and the muzzle is short, with a wrinkle above it, but the nostrils should be wide and clear and the wrinkle should not obscure the eyes.
The Pekingese breed is classed as brachycephalic; problems associated with this condition include:
- Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome: a condition in brachycephalic breeds (those with a short nose and squashed face) where breathing is obstructed and can lead to reduced ability to exercise, or even severe respiratory distress.
- Skin inflammation/infection: brachycephalic breeds have a short nose and a normal amount of facial tissue. This means there is often excess skin around their face which leads to skin folds. The skin inside these folds can become sore and infections are prone to develop.
- Eye ulcers: ulcers are painful erosions on the surface of the eye. They are more common in brachycephalic breeds due to their conformation, as their eyes tend to be more bulbous.
The breed can also suffer from:
- Patellar luxation
- Entropion¹ which is a painful eye condition where the eyelids roll inwards
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye) which is a painful condition where the tear gland stops working properly
- Distichiasis² which is an often painful condition where small eyelashes grow from the inside of the eyelid, rubbing on the surface of the eye.
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
None, but there are several recommended schemes which can be found here.
¹K. Kim et al, 'Combination of Stades Forced Granulation Method and Hotz-Celsus Procedure for Treatment of Upper and Lower Eyelid Entropion-Trichiasis in Three Dogs', 2021, Journal of Veterinary Clinics
²L. Shelby et al, 'Successful treatment of distichiasis in a cat usingtransconjunctival electrocautery', 2011, Veterinary Ophthalmology
Dignified and stately, the Peke has a comical side with their family, but can be reserved with strangers. Under the coat there is a robust little dog, but even if clipped short they are not inclined to strenuous activity. Preferring to be with their people at all times, this is very much a companion breed, and they will not thrive if left alone for very long. Clever and brave in their own way, Pekes are stoic little characters for the most part, but can be surprisingly strong willed and determined, despite their small stature.
| Family-friendly: | 5/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 2/5 |
| Easy to train: | 3/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 3/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 2/5 |
| Energy level: | 2/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 2/5 |
| Shedding: | 4/5 |
The Pekingese or Peke has been around a long time, since the Shu Dynasty, around 2000 years ago. At this time China had recently become a Buddhist country, however the major symbol of Buddhism, the lion (which Buddha tamed and turned into a faithful servant and powerful protector) does not exist in China. So, the Buddhist monks created their own miniature lion by selectively breeding the Pekingese!
The dogs became sacred symbols in their own right, to the point where they could only be owned by the Imperial family, removing them from the palace precinct was punishable by death! Although traditionally small glamorous breeds were gifted from one royal family to another, in the case of the Pekingese, Queen Victoria received hers when in 1860 British troops stormed the summer palace in Beijing, heralding the end of the Chinese Empire. Five Pekes escaped slaughter by the palace officials, (not wanting their precious dogs to get into foreign hands), and they were so appealing they were rescued and brought to England. The smallest of these was given to Queen Victoria, and thus they were introduced to the British public. This was a time when all things Royal were the height of celebrity and fashion and therefore immediately desirable.
Ideal Peke owners will have the ability to groom this heavy coated dog frequently, and the budget for expensive vet bills, as this breed does have a high risk of health issues due to their short necks and short faces/noses and extreme coat. The Peke is a steady companion with bags of character, who is friendly, personable and won’t demand hours of exercise.
The Peke is a brachycephalic breed, which means they have very short noses. Coupled with their heavy coats and short legs, they are not built for fast walks or long walks. Of course, keeping your Pekingese as lean and fit as possible will help them, so half hour walks at a steady pace and off lead running in secure places is ideal as a dog exercise. Take care in hot weather or even warm weather, to exercise before the temperatures rise or late at night once they have cooled. Be aware that being low to the ground, temperatures can remain high at pavement level, even if things feel cooler for you, higher up.
Suited to any size home as long as owners are almost always present – the Peke left alone is a sad and deeply unhappy dog. Not great with stairs, so single-storey living is ideal, and a decent sized garden will be appreciated, but ensure it is well fenced! Suited to city or countryside as long as there are safe places to walk and train, the Pekingese really doesn’t mind where you live, as long as you are there!
Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed them at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food. You can find out more about balanced diets for dogs with our step-by-step guide.
If kept in a full coat, the Peke will require daily dog grooming to ensure there are no mats or felts, particularly around the mane, elbows, behind ears and chest. Start from an early age, teaching your Peke to relax on a grooming table whilst you comb down to the skin, all the way through the coat. Eyes and skin wrinkles must be checked daily and wiped clean of tear stains and food, and of course check ears, eyes and paws after walks for foreign matter, as grass seeds can easily do a lot of damage if they go unnoticed.
The Peke responds well to kind dog training methods using food or toys as rewards. They are not overly inclined to enjoy training for its own sake, but you should work hard to teach your Pekingese to walk nicely on the lead without pulling, a good solid recall and of course, socialise well with other animals and people whilst young.
Pekes are capable of learning, they are far from stupid, but you will need to work hard to motivate a Peke to do as you ask.
Ideal for those who are home a lot, and want a companion dog who is not demanding. However, they do need an owner who understands the implications of a brachycephalic breed, and someone who enjoys grooming every day. Not really suited to smaller children due to the time taken up by grooming, and the difficulty very young children have in discerning real dog from toy. Better with older children, but would prefer a quieter and more sedentary home than most families can provide. While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.
