Pekingeses

Description

The Pekingese is a small, heavily boned, toy breed of dog. Broad in the chest, heavy in front, with narrowing through the body to the back of the hips.The legs are short and bowed. The Pekingese or " Peke ", as some prefer to call them, has a broad head. The space between the ears should be flat and not domed shaped. The eyes are large, round and wide set. The muzzle is flat and wrinkled. The wrinkle should extend over the bridge of the nose, from one cheek to the other. The nose should always be black, flat, and broad. The lower jaw is broad and undershot. The lips are black and should come together evenly . Neither the tongue nor the teeth should show when the mouth is closed. The Peke is a heavily coated breed. The hair around the neck is thick and full or frilled. The ears are long and heart shaped. They should be feathered. The tail of the pekingese is long and carried up over its back. The tail is also heavily feathered as well as the feet and elbows. The pekes massive front and tapering hindquarters, earned him the name " Lion Dog ". They have a distinct rolling gait, and never seem to be in a hurry to reach their destination.

Pekingese Puppies

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Coat Description

The pekingese should have a long, flowing , dense stand off coat. The undercoat should be thick. The undercoat should be coarse, yet soft to the touch. The hair around the neck should form a mane. The hair should also be straight and never curly. Long feathering is found on the forelegs and thighs, as well as the ears and tail.

History

The Pekingese originated in China. For centuries they were considered sacred and could only be owned by the members of the Chinese Imperial Palace. In 1860, during the opium war, the Forbidden city was invaded by allied troups. The Emporer and his court fled, but an elderly aunt remained. She commited suicide and was found with her five Pekingese dogs around her. The allies took the dogs and they were distibuted to the Duchess of Wellington, The Duke and Duchess of Gordon and Richmond, and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. All modern day Pekes descended from these five dogs.

Temperament

The Pekingese is stubborn and independent. He is courageous , despite his small size. He is a big dog in a small dogs body. The Peke can be a loyal family member, friendly and outgoing, but wary of strangers. They will bark at anything that they feel is out of the ordinary, and can be excellent watchdogs when they feel the family or themselves ,are in danger. They can be very self-important at times. Although they do get along well with children, they tend to prefer them to be older children. They are not always tolerate of others animals and should be well socialized at an early age. The Pekingese will often become attached to one person, and can become demanding and jealous of their "Human of choice ". They can be considered a lapdog, and are quite content to lounge in the lap of their master. Do not expect a Peke to come when called. This breed , at times, can develope selective hearing. They will often only come on command, if they feel that there is something in it for them. Bribing with treats must be carefully monitored as Pekes love to eat, and can easily become overweight. The Pekingese can be a loyal, loving and courageous friend. He also has a stubborn side, and can be jealous of anything or anyone , that he feels may veer the attention of his master away from his often self centered self.

Health Problems

The most serious Health issue and also the leading cause of death is Congestive Heart Failure. Other main health issues of the Pekingese are : Breathing problems, Eye Issues and Skin Allergies. Pekes are also more susceptable to back and spine injuries.

Grooming

Good grooming is a must for the Pekingese. Bathing should be done once or twice a month. The Peke is a double coated breed and should be brushed on a daily basis to keep mats from forming. Trimming should be done around the pads of the feet so that the feet can touch the floor without being impeded. A spray bottle of grooming spray or distilled water should be kept handy so that the coat can be lightly misted .This will help to cut down on the formation of mats and also help keep the coat healthy. A damp cloth should be used to wipe away excess dirt and moisture around the eyes and wrinkles. Nails should be trimmed at least every two to three weeks. Ears should be swabbed out with a damp cotton swab. Any signs of redness or swelling in the ears should be a cause for concern. Contact a veterinarian if you notice anything unusual in your Pekes ears. Foul smelling ears could be a sign of a yeast infection. The anal glands should be checked and cleaned at each grooming session. If your Peke is scooting on his bottom,or emitting a foul odor, the anal sacs may need to be expressed.

If your Peke is scratching excessively, he may need a good flea treatment or it could be signs of an allergy. A vet can advise the best course of action to take for either of those problems. The Pekingese is a breed that requires alot of grooming. If you are not willing to devote the time and effort , either by doing your own grooming , or taking him to a professional groomer, then this may not be the right breed for you.

Exercise

Most Pekingese do not like walks. They may tolerate them, but would much prefer spending the time napping. Never walk a Peke in the heat. They are a Brachycephalic breed and will overheat. A short evening walk is much more to their liking. They enjoy a little playtime with their human families.

Training

Training is not an easy task with the Pekingese. they are stubborn and willful and do not do well adhering to authority. Basic obedience should be taught at an early age. Puppy classes are highly recommended for this breed. They respond much better to praise than they do to being bossed. This breed is not a breed that will do well in agility. They are strictly a conformation breed. Softly strolling around a ring is a much better way for them to display their royal selfs. Jumping through hoops or running relays, is far beneath their dignity. They prefer to be spectators rather than participants of such physical activity. Housebreaking must be consistant with this breed. They are stubborn and must be kept to the task at hand. Crate training is the prefered method . If you choose not to use the crate training method, then puppy pads and a training aid should be started at an early age. Consistancy and praise are the best method of training the Pekingese. They respond well to a soothing voice and calm demeanor. Harsh methods will not work with this breed.