Pekingese

Pekingese bond very strongly with their families, but they’re less impressed with strangers. As a natural and observant watchdog, one of their qualities includes keeping a close eye on their surroundings. They will bark to let you know if anyone is approaching their kingdom, which they’ll often take to include the whole neighborhood!

They’re certainly not an aggressive breed, but they’re not afraid to let people and other dogs know if they’ve overstepped the mark. They can live in a house with kids and babies but won’t necessarily want to play with them. It’s not that they don’t like kids; they just don’t know what to do with them. Pekes are not as playful as some other dog breeds, like the Labrador Retriever, and they’d rather chill with you on the couch. If you do have kids around, make sure they know how to interact with a dog in a gentle and appropriate manner. A Pekingese may nip if their patience is tested too often. They can also live with other pets, although they may not be tolerant of a playful kitten or bouncy puppy as they get older. Because of this, it’s important to start socializing your puppy early, so they get used to being around kids and other animals.

Pekes are incredibly charming, and they know how to use that to their advantage. They also have a huge amount of boldness and self-esteem—traits that stem from centuries of being revered by royalty. This, combined with their small size, means it can be tempting to slack off on training, but Pekes need an experienced pet parent who understands the need for consistency so they don’t fall into bad habits, like deciding potty training isn’t important. Just because they can be more challenging to train than other breeds doesn’t mean these dogs aren’t intelligent. On the contrary, they’re smart enough to train their humans—so watch out!

This breed adores spending time with their pet parents but will also happily spend a few hours on their own indoors. They can sometimes bond with one member of the family more than everyone else, and while they will be affectionate with all their family, their true devotion will be reserved for their chosen person.

Pekingese expect to be waited on like the royal dogs they are. They might be small, but they need a decent amount of both grooming and training. They don’t need much exercise, but they do expect (and demand) plenty of affection from their devoted pet parents. These little dogs are brachycephalic (which gives them their cute, smooshy faces) and need be in a cooler environment as they can easily overheat in hot weather.

Pekingese have a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years, although, like any breed, they can suffer from a few different types of health issues. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with these, so you know you can provide what your Peke needs to stay healthy for as long as possible.

• Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome: One of the most common health problems for this breed is BAOS. This affects breeds with short muzzles and can lead to breathing problems, particularly in hot weather. Reputable breeders should have puppies’ airways critically evaluated by a vet. In older dogs, surgical intervention is sometimes recommended depending on the severity of the problem.
• Eye Problems: Pekingese eyes are prominent, and their shortened muzzle can’t protect them from bumps and scrapes. Pekingese can suffer from distichiasis, where extra eyelashes grow inside the eyelid and can be either plucked or treated with lubricants. Cataracts and glaucoma both cause blindness; cataracts may be treated with surgery, and glaucoma may be treated with analgesics if caught early enough. Dry eye, another eye problem seen in Pekes, may be treated with medicated eye drops.
• Back Problems: The combination of their short legs and long back can result in issues like intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Always use ramps or steps instead of letting your dog jump from high surfaces, like a couch or chair. Seek vet advice if your dog doesn’t want to move, has a hunched back or cries out in pain. Possible treatment can include rest, medication or surgery.
• Heart Issues: Pekingese can suffer from mitral valve disease. This causes a heart murmur that may not be diagnosed until later in life. Your vet should assess your dog’s heart at their annual checkups, and treatments range from ACE-inhibitors to a low-salt diet.
• Patellar Luxation: This occurs when the kneecap, or patella, dislocates from the correct position. It’s a common issue in small dogs and can be inherited. The main symptom is lameness, although sometimes this resolves very quickly when the patella returns to the correct position. Treatments vary depending on the severity and range from weight management to surgery.

The Pekingese breed is of Chinese origin, with legends telling us that Buddha took a lion and shrunk them into the size of a dog to create the Pekingese breed, aka the “lion dog.” While this might not be the true facts of how the breed came to be, we do know the Imperial Family in 8th-century China was fascinated with the breeding of small dogs. The Pekingese share their heritage with the Shih Tzu and Pug in that respect. These breeds were protected by the Chinese emperors of the Peking Palace for centuries, with the Western world being unaware of their existence.

The Pekingese dog was bred to be companion dogs to Chinese nobles—only they were allowed to have them. But the dogs became ornamental as some nobles would carry their dogs in the wide sleeves of their robes, which led to the Pekingese’s other nickname, “sleeve dogs.” These sleeve dogs also became the personal guard dogs for the nobles who carried them.

The Pekingese only came to the West after Peking (now called Beijing) was ransacked by the British in 1860. History tells us the Chinese nobility killed their dogs rather than allow them to fall into the hands of their enemies. Despite their attempts, five dogs were discovered in hiding and were removed by British troops before the Palace was burnt.

These dogs were brought to Britain and gifted to Queen Victoria, and the Pekingese dog became the favorite of another royal family. The first Pekes came to the USA in the late 1890s, and the breed was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1906. Today, these small dogs rank 92 on the AKC’s popularity list.

Now that we’ve covered the Pekingese 101, and you’re ready to look for a Pekingese puppy, the best place to start your search is with the reputable breeders on the American Kennel Club website. Pekingese puppies cost anywhere between $700 to $3,000. Reputable breeders should screen for health and temperament issues and may offer pedigree papers. If you’d like to adopt a Pekingese dog, look for a Pekingese rescue or keep an eye out for the breed at a local animal shelter.

The Pekingese is a dog like no other. This ancient Chinese breed bonds strongly with their pet parent, loves to keep watch and would rather be pampered than go to the dog park. They’re bold and confident in their own magnificence, which can make them a little challenging to train. If you’ve got the skills, you’ll never find a more loyal companion than a Peke, and they won’t even mind that you don’t have a throne for them to sit on.