Pekingese

Average Height

15 - 23cm

Average Weight

3 - 6kg

Expected Lifespan

12 - 15 years

Existing in China for over 2000 years, the Pekingese is one of the oldest dog breeds. Named after the capital city of Peking, the Pekingese have been loyal members of the imperials and royals for decades. With the heart and look of a miniature lion, this breed is confident and fierce. Don’t let their boldness fool you. This breed is loving and friendly, making great companions.

The Pekingese tend to pick one person in the family and stick to them, but this doesn’t mean they won’t love the rest of the family. Families with toddlers in the house may not be suitable for the Pekingese breed. Originating from royalty, they do not like being handled roughly.

Due to their stubborn nature, they are slightly harder to train. With patience and positive reinforcement, they will eventually get there. If you are looking for a loyal and loving fur friend, then the Pekingese is a lovely choice to consider adding to your household.

The Pekingese Anatomy

Head

Head is large and is wider than it is deep. The Skull is flat between the ears, and there is a pronounced stop. Muzzle is short and wide, with a firm underjaw. There is a wrinkle that extends from the cheeks to the bridge of the nose. Mouth has an undershot bite. Eyes are large, round and set far apart. Ears are heart-shaped and have long feathers. They are set level with the skull. Nose is short and has large, open nostrils.

Body

Neck is short and thick. Body is compact and low to the ground. Chest is broad and doesn’t have a protruding breastbone. Shoulders are well laid back. Forelegs are short, thick, and held close to the body. They are slightly bowed between the pastern and elbow. Front paws are turned out slightly. Hind legs are short and well-muscled. Stifles are well-defined. Hocks are firm and tight. Paws are large and flat. Tail is set high and lies close to the back on either side. They have a double coat. A long, straight outer coat which is coarse, and a soft, dense undercoat.

The Pekingese Coat and Colours

One colour throughout the entire coat.

  • Black
  • Cream
  • Fawn
  • Grey
  • Red
  • White

Two distinct colours on the coat.

  • Black & tan
  • Black & white
  • Cream & white
  • Red & white
  • Grey & white
  • Grey & tan
  • Fawn & white

Three distinct colours on the coat.

  • Black, tan & white
  • Cream, tan & white
  • Red, tan & white
  • Grey, tan & white
  • Fawn, tan & white

Black-tipped hairs; the background colour will most commonly be gold, silver, grey, or tan.

  • Fawn Sable
  • Red Sable
  • Grey Sable

Mixture of black, brown, tan or gold in a “tiger stripe” pattern.

  • Fawn Brindle
  • Red Brindle

Some Pekingese Traits

Friendliness
Trainability
Energy
Sensitivity
Grooming Frequency
Shedding

Common Medical Conditions in Pekingeses

This condition involves multiple developmental abnormalities of the elbow joint, such as abnormal growth of cells, tissue, or bone. If…

This is when there is a malformation of the hip joint. The hip joint is made up of a ball…

The portal vein is an important blood vessel which enters the liver and allows toxic elements in the blood to…

This occurs when the lens of the dog’s eye becomes opaque and loses transparency; appearing cloudy. When the lens is…

Short-nosed dogs face various upper airway problems. A brachycephalic breed may experience partial obstruction of the upper airway due to…

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