Pekingese
Other names: The Lion dog, Peking Lion Dog, Pelchie Dog, Chinese Spaniel, Peke

The Pekingese dog is a short-legged dog that belongs to the group of companion dogs. However, their small size and sweet face are not to be trusted, they can quickly become aggressive if their masters do not train and socialise them from an early age.
Key facts about the Pekingese
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Origins and history
The origins of this breed are very old and not very clear. They can be found on bronzes from two thousand years BC. They have always been considered a sacred and precious animal and thus anyone who stole or killed a Pekingese in ancient China was punished by the death penalty. In 1860, after the destruction of the Summer Palace, only a few Beijing Dogs were found alive (they would have been killed to avoid them falling into the hands of enemies) and taken to England. One of these dogs was given to queen Victoria. Since then, the breed has been a huge success throughout Great Britain, who, along with China, has been attributed paternity of the breed.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 9 - Companion and Toy Dogs
Section
Section 8 : Japan Chin and Pekingese
Physical characteristics of the Pekingese
Adult size
Female : Between 6 and 9 in
Male : Between 6 and 10 in
Weight
Female : Between 7 and 11 lb
Male : Between 7 and 11 lb
Coat colour
For the Pekingese, all colours and shades are allowed except albinos and brown (liver). Parti colours evenly broken are accepted.
Type of coat
The coat is moderately long.
The coat is straight with a mane that extends to the shoulders forming a collar around the neck. The coat is double: the topcoat is rough, and the undercoat is thick and soft.
The coat of this toy dog should not be excessively abundant as this represents a defect according to the official standard.
Eye colour
The eyes are dark in colour.
Description
The Pekingese is a small, robust dog with a short neck and short legs. The forelegs diverge slightly from the elbow. The head is strong, wider than it is high, with a pleated frontal furrow. The stop is deep. The muzzle is broad, wrinkled, with a flat profile. The eyes are large, round, bright and prominent. The heart-shaped ears fall back with long fringes of hair on the sides of the head. The body is short. The tail is placed high, carried rigid, slightly curved above the back, with abundant fur.
Good to know
Due to their brachycephalic morphology, the Pekingese can be very noisy (snoring, very loud breathing etc). Although it is not as bad as the French bulldog for example, it’s important to know this before adoption, even if it will often make you laugh more than anything else.
Temperament
Behaviour of the Pekingese
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Compatibility
Price
The price of a Pekingese varies according to their origins, age and sex. A dog registered with the KC will cost on average £1130.
To meet the regular needs of the Lion Dog, it costs on average £25 per month (including food, veterinary care and grooming)
Grooming
The maintenance of a Pekingese can be quite complex! A visit to a professional groomer will be necessary (around every 4 months).
Regular, even daily brushing is recommended for this dog, whose coat can quickly become very dirty and tangled.
Furthermore, their eyes must be regularly monitored and cleaned as they are very fragile. Their teeth should also be examined and brushed frequently to avoid early loosening.
Shedding
It is mainly in spring that this breed loses the most hair, so they should be brushed more regularly to remove as much dead hair as possible.
Nutrition of the Pekingese
This dog, like others, should not be too thin or too fat. This requires a quality diet, which can consist of premium quality croquettes or homemade meals consisting of meat (raw or rare), cooked vegetables, starchy foods and cereals.
Be cautious with meals, it is advisable to have your dog’s diet validated beforehand by a vet to best meet their canine needs, according to age, weight, health and daily activity.
Since they do very little exercise, care must be taken not to overfeed them to avoid excessive weight gain.
One meal a day is sufficient, preferably in the evening for better digestion. Self-service should be avoided for obvious health reasons but also from a behavioural point of view, food must be managed by the owners and not left to the control of the dog.
Health of the Pekingese
Life expectancy
They usually live for 13 years.
Strong / robust
The Pekingese is quite a robust dog which nonetheless has some weaknesses, particularly with their eyes.
Withstand heat
The brachycephalic morphology (squashed nose) of this breed means they aren’t good at withstanding high temperatures. Due to the breathing difficulties that this physical malformation can cause, it is not advisable to walk this dog when it is too hot as to avoid heat stroke.
Withstand cold
Even though their coat appears to be dense, it does not provide them with optimal protection from adverse weather conditions. It is therefore not recommended to keep this animal outdoors.
Tendency to put on weight
If they gain too much weight, these dogs can suffer from serious health problems. Therefore, it is important to ensure that your dog is offered an appropriate diet and goes for a walk at least once a day to maintain a certain balance.
Common illnesses
- Brain tumours
- Congenital dislocation of the elbow
- Distichiasis and Trichiasis (eyelash problems)
- Testicular ectomy (misplacement of one or both testicles)
- Hernias (inguinal, umbilical)
- Respiratory problems due to brachycephalic syndrome
- Progressive retinal atrophy