Pekinese: Furry Aristocrats

Pekingese is a bright representative of the canine beau monde with an outstanding appearance and strong independent character. Proud and moderately capricious, this dog will never play a secondary role and will immediately notify its owner about it. At the same time, he has an innate sense of aristocracy. Scratched wallpaper and furniture, endless complaints of loneliness in the form of annoying barking, the mess in the apartment – all this is frankly not for the Pekingese, he will never allow himself such pranks.

Brief Information

• Breed Name: Pekingese
• Country of origin: China
• Weight: males 3.2-5.0 kg, females 3.6-5.4 kg
• Height (height at the withers): 15-25 cm
• Life span: 12-15 years

Key Facts

• According to ancient Chinese legend, the Pekingese are the descendants of a lion and a monkey, born as a result of the marriage of these two animals and inheriting from their parents a proud disposition combined with an extraordinary appearance.
• Like all short-faced dogs, the Pekingese suffers from the heat. In addition, in a dream, he may make unusual funny sounds, vaguely reminiscent of snoring or hoarse puffing.
• With a very cute appearance, the Pekingese is an independent and rather arrogant dog.
• In relation to the rest of the pets, dogs are quite peaceful. Pekingese considers it beneath his dignity to find out the relationship and arrange battles for the title of alpha male with a cat or a guinea pig.
• Several decades ago, the breed suffered greatly from commercial breeding, which resulted in a whole line of mentally unstable and frankly sick dogs.
• Pekingese do not tolerate too close physical contact that gives them discomfort, so they can bite children who climb to hug.
• In terms of physical activity, the breed is somewhat passive, therefore, with a lack of free time, the Pekingese does not need to be walked daily.

History of the Pekingese Breed

Pekingese is one of the oldest breeds in the world, which is confirmed by genetic studies. According to scientists, these dogs are at least 2000 years old. There is a beautiful Chinese legend, very ancient, probably no less ancient than the Pekingese breed itself.

And it sounds like this: once a lion fell in love with a monkey, but the lion is huge, and the monkey is very small. The lion could not come to terms with this state of affairs and began to beg Buddha to make him small – suitable in size for a monkey. Thus, according to legend, the Pekingese appeared, which has tiny size and a lion’s heart.

Throughout their history, right up to the last emperor of China, the Pekingese was the exclusive domain of the imperial family. No one, not even the highest aristocracy of China, had the right to have these dogs. In the palace, they lived separately, in special apartments, they were strictly guarded, and, moreover, the commoners were forbidden even to look at these dogs.

However, with the advent of civil war and division of society, when the last real emperor of China was removed from his post, the Pekingese was endangered. This is not surprising – the country was going through a severe crisis and was torn apart by several political forces. Including – the communists, who considered the Pekingese as toys of the imperialists and the rich, and a relic of the past.

In fact, the last so-called titular emperor, Pu Yi, thought about the same. No matter how shameful the opium war of England, France, and the United States against China was, if the invaders did not penetrate the Forbidden City and steal 5 Pekingese, who was then transported to England, the breed would most likely become extinct.

Two Pekingese were donated to the Duchess of Wellington, two to the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and Gordon, and the last to Queen Victoria, who named him “Lutie.” From 1860 to 1890, Pekingese were smuggled out, but in Europe, they were nevertheless considered a huge rarity. The Europeans gave the name to the dogs in honor of Beijing. At the beginning of the 20th century, clubs of the Pekingese breed appeared in America and England. Today the Pekingese breed is registered in all international canine organizations.

Appearance

The first Pekingese, brought to Great Britain in 1860, did not resemble modern individuals and were more similar to Japanese Chins, but over time, the exterior differences between the breeds began to appear more pronounced.

So, for example, over the years of selection and careful selection, Pekingese have gained weight, and their legs have become significantly shorter. The main feature of the appearance of today’s “lion dogs” is their compact physique. Even with a cursory examination of the animal, one gets the feeling that it was rammed with a miniature press from above and from the front. The muzzle of a Pekingese is a separate topic because there is a very little dog in it. It is rather a funny face of an unknown fabulous creature with convex beady eyes and a half-open miniature mouth, from which a neat rough tongue falls out.

Today the breed exists in two types: classic and the so-called sleeve. Sleeve Pekingese are inferior to their counterparts in size. The weight of such dogs largely depends on the country of breeding. So, for example, in the USA and Canada, all animals that have gained more than 3 kg are removed. And this despite the fact that the weight of representatives of this breed in their classic type reaches 5-5.5 kg.

According to the standard, Pekingese can be of any coat color. Exceptions are albino dogs and liver-colored dogs.

Personality

The Pekingese is a proud fluffy nobleman who hates noise and fuss and genuinely loves a positive, serene environment and orderliness, so he is often recommended as a four-legged friend for older couples. In a good mood, the dog is indulgent to caresses and tasty gifts falling at its feet, but it will not work just like that to “buy” this wayward Asian sly. The Pekingese are firmly convinced that the planet revolves exclusively around themselves, therefore they expect the appropriate attitude from the owner.

Do not try to manipulate the dog, put pressure on it, influence it with a cry – it is useless. Representatives of this breed hear only what they want to hear. Although, if we allow rudeness in relation to the Pekingese, a lion wakes up in them, defending its own interests to the victorious.

And yet the Pekingese are quite sociable guys, willingly share their leisure time with the owner according to their mood. At the same time, they are very independent and, as befits a royal dog, do not depend on human attention. Need to leave your dog alone for a couple of hours? No problems! The fluffy aristocrat will not be bored alone with himself and in your absence will willingly sleep on your sofa.

The Pekingese is not jealous and agrees to put up with your long-standing love for cats, birds, and other pets. At the same time, he has a pronounced Napoleon complex, which prevents the animal from building normal relationships with other dogs. The lack of growth is compensated by the indomitable aggression of the Pekingese towards their larger brothers, so you should not expect that the cute Chinese dog will walk, wagging its tail while walking. It is a matter of honor for him to provoke a Wolfhound walking calmly in the distance to a fight.

Due to the fact that the Pekingese is sensitive to pain and does not have much patience, he is unlikely to become a friend for children. The dog is indifferent to games and noisy companies, and the need to obey someone simply infuriates him. In addition, the fragile constitution does not leave the animal a chance of salvation if one of your heirs accidentally steps on it or hugs it too tightly.

Training

Usually, this breed is taught a few basic commands and pays attention to the correction of behavior in daily life. As a rule, this is enough for most owners. If a person wants his dog to perform at an exhibition in any category, he will have to work hard, since the Pekingese is not a breed that is easy to train and has excellent obedience.

First of all, the owner needs to put himself in the role of a leader and earn the authority of the dog. There are standard tricks for this – if the dog wants a toy, don’t give it right away. Try to remind her first of the command she didn’t want to follow. You can do the same with walking. However, it is extremely important not to overdo it here, as it is extremely painful for Pekingese to perceive rigidity and coercion.

You don’t need to be angry with the dog, just be patient and consistent, it may take you longer to learn the basic commands than you thought. If the dog does not want to follow the command, do not follow it, but repeat the same the next day. Training should take place in a playful way, and there is no need to arrange long sessions. Pekingese loves to bark – teach him to be silent on command.

Conditions of Detention

Despite the past, in everyday life, Pekingese are not such spoiled dogs, and they need attributes of comfort no more than any other decorative breed. So, for example, a crib for a puppy does not have to be special and super warm.

An ordinary blanket, laid in a corner, where there is no draft, is enough. Pekingese do not belong near heating devices, near which short-nosed dogs can easily overheat. By the way, do not try to shove the dog’s mattress into the most “remote” place in the apartment. For normal development, the puppy needs to maintain contact with the owner, or at least from time to time to look at him from the bed. The obligatory Pekingese will need two bowls (preferably stainless steel), a leash with a collar, absorbent diapers.

Animals need toys, but you don’t need to buy much. A couple of toys are enough and it is desirable that these were not balls, which the Pekingese, due to the peculiarities of the structure of the jaws, cannot grasp.

You won’t have to run for hours in parks and squares with representatives of this breed: in terms of physical activity, the Pekingese is far from energetic, and the structural features of the skull do not allow him to strain too much without damage to health. Usually, in order to have a good walk, a Pekingese needs two visits a day for 15-20 minutes, but it all depends on the well-being and state of health of a particular dog.

There are dogs, and there are many of them, who have time to walk up in 5-10 minutes. In addition, the breed does not tolerate heat well, so if the thermometer outside the window is +25 ° C and above, it is better to postpone the excursion to early morning or late evening. Severe frosts are also not a joy for Pekingese, so on especially cold days, you should generally refuse to walk.

Hygiene

Pekingese puppies have a special type of coat, softer and fluffier, which makes one and a half-month-old babies look like downy lumps with beady eyes. The change from a child’s “fur coat” to an adult “coat” occurs at about the age of 4 months, but in some puppies, the process is delayed until 32 weeks of life. During this period, it is enough for a Pekingese to brush daily with a massage brush and treat the “pants” area and ears with a rare comb.

Moisten the coat with conditioner before brushing as the Pekingese coat is brittle. In this case, the movements of the comb must be done as carefully as possible: do not pull out tangled hairs. The Pekingese’s coat is very delicate and grows slowly, so if every brushing brings such losses, in a couple of months the puppy will turn into a funny bald puppy.

Bathing is not recommended for Pekingese in principle, so they are arranged once a year or on the eve of exhibitions. In general, in caring for a Pekingese, experts recommend using dry shampoos-powders, since water and standard hair care cosmetics spoil the structure of the dog’s coat, causing it to shed.

Owners who are accustomed to walking their pet in any weather can be advised to purchase a waterproof overall in which the Pekingese’s wool will be reliably protected from dirt and splashes. At home, papillots will help protect hair from dirt, brittleness, and confusion. This is especially true of feathering on the ears, which exhibition commissions always pay attention to.

Maintain hygiene for your dog’s ears, eyes, and nasal folds. Look into the Pekingese ear funnel a couple of times a week. If there is no dirt inside, no intervention is required. The most you can afford is to remove excess wax with a damp cotton pad. If the Pekingese begins to shake its head, and an unpleasant smell comes from the ears, the animal will have to be treated by a veterinarian.

The most problematic part of the breed is the eyes. Often, as a result of trauma and heated discussions with other dogs, Pekingese’s eyeballs fall out. So if you got an overly goggle-eyed pet, take precautions: give up the habit of patting the animal on the head and pull the leash on walks.

In addition, the anatomical features of the breed impose a number of obligations on its owner. For example, Pekingese will have to wipe the mucous membrane of the eyelids more often than other decorative dogs, since more debris and dust gets on it. Phyto-lotions or boric acid solutions are suitable for this purpose. It is undesirable to rinse the eyes with tea leaves since a too stagnant infusion prepared from low-quality raw materials will only intensify the inflammatory process. And remember, any discharge from the eyes of a Pekingese is not normal, even if it looks completely harmless and resembles tears.

Another place that requires constant care and close attention is the fold on the dog’s face. Air does not get into this impromptu wrinkle, but the tear fluid in it accumulates in decent volumes, creating a greenhouse effect.

Pull the skin on your nose several times a week, rubbing the crease with a dry, absorbent cloth. It is better for Pekingese claws to cut down a little, as they grow back since with too radical a haircut there is a risk of touching a blood vessel. It is worth taking care of your pet’s paws, especially if the dog often walks, so buy or sew waterproof slippers for the Pekingese for going out. And of course, do not neglect protective creams and vegetable oils. If you systematically rub the grooming cosmetics into the dog’s paws, cracks can really be avoided.

Feeding

The main staple of the Pekingese diet is lean meat, including turkey and chicken. Since any bones are contraindicated for the breed due to weak teeth, occasionally a dog can be pampered with cartilage. An excellent and healthy Pekingese dish is a raw / boiled tripe with previously removed fatty films, which can and should be combined with offal. Fish days are arranged for dogs twice a week (only fillets of codfish), and once every 7 days, the pet is allowed to treat a hard-boiled egg yolk – whole or half, depending on the age of the dog.

Porridge is useful to feed both puppies and adults. In the first case, oatmeal (flakes), millet in half, crushed rice groats are suitable. In the second – rice, less often – buckwheat. Any vegetables, stewed or raw, as well as fruits (with the exception of strawberries, kiwi, pineapple), are also useful.

It is very important to instill in Pekingese love for low-fat yogurt, which puppies often lack. It is better to start acquaintance with fermented milk products with homemade calcined cottage cheese. Vitamins and mineral supplements in the diet of a Pekingese “sitting” on a natural menu is a must. However, it is better if they are selected by a specialist since when buying food supplements at random there is a risk of bringing the animal to severe hypervitaminosis.

Health

Of the inherited ailments in Pekingese, urethritis, diseases of the heart valves, displacement of the intervertebral discs, a tumor of the perianal gland, and eye diseases (ectropion, corneal ulcer, cataract) most often make themselves felt.

How to Choose a Puppy

• Males and females of Pekingese practically do not differ in the type of temperament, but the appearance of “boys” is more effective, since they shed less intensely.
• Do not buy a puppy from the first breeder you see. Better rate several litters from different kennels.
• When purchasing a puppy for exhibitions, remember: the exterior potential of the Pekingese is visible by 6-8 months. If you brought a two-month-old baby to the house, the chances that a future champion will grow out of him is about 50/50.
• Examine the puppy’s parents, paying particular attention to the eyes. The offspring inherits the feature of excessive bulging of the eyes, which is fraught with further loss of eyeballs in babies.
• If the mother’s coat is not particularly shiny, it may be due to postpartum shedding. In this case, ask the kennel employee for a photo of the female dog before mating.
• Before buying, check if the Pekingese are progestogenic and what vaccinations they have received. The appearance of the kids is also important. Crumbs with wet eyes, hernias, and dirty spots under the tail are not the most profitable purchase.
• Check the puppies for branding. Usually, the mark is located on the abdomen or ear.
• In case of absentee purchase “by photo”, discuss with the seller the possibility of returning the puppy. Photoshop works wonders.