Pekingese

The Pekingese is a small companion dog with a lush, thick fur, large, widely spaced eyes and a flat muzzle. Inactive, a good companion for the elderly. Confident, he is not fearful or hysterical, but not too docile.

Nature

In terms of character, the Pekingese resembles a legendary lion, from which he allegedly comes. This small but massive dog is very balanced, but also independent, brave and able to stand on his own. Pekingese is loyal to its owner. He can be amazingly brave for such a small dog.

Skills

For thousands of years, the Pekingese’s main role was to keep the company, so he did not have to “give his hands” any other “work”.

Training and education

The Pekingese has a personality type of the Far East dog, which you must try to understand in order to completely win over the dog. You cannot demand absolute obedience from him, which does not mean that you should allow him everything. You must treat him with respect and sensitivity.

Who is this race for?

This breed is perfect for anyone looking for a dog that does not require much movement. It is a great choice for seniors.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pekingese – what is it like? Learn its pros and cons!

Disadvantages

• stubborn and independent
• often has respiratory problems
• requires regular care
• molts abundantly

Advantages

• does not require much movement or attachment
• despite his short stature, he is brave, balanced and confident
• he is not barking
• suitable for a small apartment
• an excellent companion for seniors

Health

Pekingese are often long-lived. Conditions typical for the breed are: eyeball prolapse, corneal ulceration, hydrocephalus, delivery problems, cardiac and vascular malformations, urinary stones, shortness of breath, cleft palate, difficulty breathing (sometimes significant).

Feeding

These dogs should be provided with appropriate and valuable food that will keep them healthy and fit until old age. Do not overweight!

Care

Pekingese require careful care, frequent combing and brushing. Considering the shortened respiratory system, it is particularly important to regularly check the nostrils and nasal plate (whether it is free of nasal secretions or saliva) and, if necessary, clean them with an ordinary tissue.

Accessories

For combing, it is best to use a brush with hard and natural bristles (e.g. boar bristles), and for combing a solid metal comb with teflon coated teeth. The garment should be sprayed with a conditioner before combing.

History

The history of this breed dates back about 4000 years back. Their homeland was probably Tibet. From there, they came to China via Mongolia and Manchuria. The stories of flat-legged, small, stocky dogs resembling a lion date back to the time of Confucius and Buddha (about 500 years BC). According to these stories, the Buddha appeared around miniature lions, which in the moment of danger turned into real lions and attacked the enemy.

The Pekingese was worshiped by the Chinese as a deity, considered the embodiment of the legendary dog ​​”Fo” who ward off evil spirits. Owning and raising Pekingese was the sole privilege of the Emperor of China.

In recognition of his special merits, the emperor gave dignitaries such a dog as his order. However, after the death of the dignitary, the dog had to be returned to the palace. Peking theft was punishable by death. Thus, the Pekingese has lived for centuries in palace splendor and prosperity, guarded as the most precious jewels. This undoubtedly affected their character and personality.

The last Chinese empress Tsu-Hsi (died in 1911), a great lover and breeder of Pekingese, wrote about them as follows: “Let the lion dog be small, let his loose collar around his neck show a sign of dignity. Let him dissolve the wavy banner of splendor on his back. Let his face be black, let his hair be hairy, let his front be straight and low, similar to the forehead of the right boxer. Let his ears be like the sails of a war junk, let his nose be like that of a Hindu monkey. Let his front legs be bent so that he does not want to go far or leave the borders of the empire.

Let his figure be like a lion hunting and staring at its prey. Let his paws be covered with abundant hair, that they suppress his steps, let his fur compete in splendor with the Tibetan yak broom. And as for the color – let it be like a golden-sand lion, so that it is worn in the sleeve of a yellow dress, or like a black bear, or in stripes like a dragon, so that it fits into any outfit of the imperial wardrobe … And if he dies, remember that you are mortal.”

The Pekingese did not reach Europe until 1860, when the British troops captured the Summer Palace during the Second Opium War. Although the empress ordered palace guards to kill the dogs so that they would not fall into the hands of hated Europeans, five of them survived. They were immediately taken to England.

Out of this five, a bitch named Looty (“loot”) was given to Queen Victoria. Looty survived to old age, and her portrait is still hanging in the Windsor Palace, while the stuffed Looty can be seen at the Natural History Museum in London. The rest of the dogs were taken care of by Duchess Richmond and these four became the beginning of the European (and also American) Pekingese line – in this way the famous Goodwood kennel was created.

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Pekingese – group IX FCI, section 8, reference number 207

• Origin:  China
• Patronage: Great Britain
• Character:  confident, full of dignity, with a distance from strangers
• Size:  not specified in the standard, but approx. 20 cm
• Weight:  dogs – up to 5 kg, bitches – up to 5.4 kg
• Coat:  long, hearty, two-layer; the revised pattern emphasizes that an excessively generous coat should be penalized
• Ointment:  all colors and meanings except albino and liver are allowed. Patches should be evenly distributed
• Lifespan:  12-14 years
• Vulnerability to training:  low, it is an independent dog
• Activity:  not active, does not require much movement
• Immunity:  Pekingese often suffers from ailments typical of brachycephalic breeds, which means that they are not resistant to heat and frost

Interesting facts

An old legend says that the Pekingese owes its origin to the love of a lion for a cute little monkey. God Ah-Chu, after hearing the request of the king of animals, offered him a reduction in size at the expense of loss of strength. He expected the lion to refuse, not wanting to give up his power. However, it turned out that the king of animals willingly agreed to the offer. Embraced by the power of his feelings, God gave him a small figure, but allowed him to remain courageous. The lion and the monkey lived happily ever after, and the fruit of their relationship was the first Pekingese.