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Pekingese Breed Information

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DogBarkings.comDESCRIPTIONThe Pekingese is one of the most distinctive breeds and whilst looking small and delicate, is anything but.?They have a strong, solid bone structure and tough, dense muscles...

DogBarkings.com

DESCRIPTION

The Pekingese is one of the most distinctive breeds and whilst looking small and delicate, is anything but.?They have a strong, solid bone structure and tough, dense muscles hidden by a very long and extravagant outer coat.?The under coat is coarse and thick and the coat colors can be a wide variety, however the standard requires that the lips, eye rims and exposed skin on the muzzle must be black.?The entire body has a thick covering of hair and it forms a distinct mane around the neck and shoulders, whilst the toes and back of the legs appear feathered.?The head is large in proportion to the rest of the body, with a flat face and ears that are heavily covered with hair.?The eyes are dark in color and very large, without bulging, whilst the nose is black in color and broad, with large, wide nostrils.?A clear v-shaped wrinkle of skin separates the eyes just between the bridge of the nose and leading into the forehead.?The muzzle is very short, practically flat, has whiskers and a very wide jaw.?Pekingese have an undershot bite, but not so undershot as to display teeth or tongue when the mouth is closed.?The overall shape of the Pekingese is like that of a pear, due to its relatively long body length, in comparison to its height and its stronger, more robust front quarters and lighter, thinner hind quarters.?They carry their tail over their back, with a slight arch at its base and a profuse covering of hair.

TEMPERAMENT

These little dogs are extremely brave, with an independent and sensitive disposition.?Pekingese are very affectionate toward their masters and can make wonderful companion pets.?Training these dogs takes time and patience especially with regards to housebreaking.?They are by nature very wary of strangers and thus can make excellent watch dogs.?They have an intelligent demeanor and may challenge their owners for top dog position.?Obedience training and proper socialization at a young age are essential in ensuring your Pekingese is a grounded and stable dog.?Small Dog Syndrome can affect this breed if they are not made aware of their place in the 磆uman pack?which should be lower than all other humans including children.?Their naturally suspicious nature, means that they can bark a lot, and this can be exasperated if a Pekingese is allowed to believe it is the pack leader.?If properly trained and made aware of its lower pack position the Pekingese can make an excellent family pet, however care should be taken to educate children when playing with them, as they are small dogs and despite their hardiness, may be injured if not treated correctly.?The Imperial Majesty, Empress Dowager Cixi said of the Pekingese:
牋?
牋?Let the Lion Dog be small; let it wear the swelling cape of dignity around its neck; let it display the billowing standard of pomp above its
牋?back.
牋?Let its face be black; let its forefront be shaggy; let its forehead be straight and low.
牋?Let its eyes be large and luminous; let its ears be set like the sails of war junk; let its nose be like that of the monkey god of the Hindus.
牋?Let its forelegs be bent; so that it shall not desire to wander far, or leave the Imperial precincts.
牋?Let its body be shaped like that of a hunting lion spying for its prey.
牋?Let its feet be tufted with plentiful hair that its footfall may be soundless and for its standard of pomp let it rival the whick of the
牋?Tibetans' yak, which is flourished to protect the imperial litter from flying insects.
牋?Let it be lively that it may afford entertainment by its gambols; let it be timid that it may not involve itself in danger; let it be domestic
牋?in its habits that it may live in amity with the other beasts, fishes or birds that find protection in the Imperial Palace.
牋?And for its colour, let it be that of the lion - a golden sable, to be carried in the sleeve of a yellow robe; or the colour of a red bear, or
牋?a black and white bear, or striped like a dragon, so that there may be dogs appropriate to every costume in the Imperial wardrobe.
牋?Let it venerate its ancestors and deposit offerings in the canine cemetery of the Forbidden City on each new moon.
牋?Let it comport itself with dignity; let it learn to bite the foreign devils instantly.
牋?Let it be dainty in its food so that it shall be known as an Imperial dog by its fastidiousness; sharks fins and curlew livers and the breasts
牋?of quails, on these may it be fed; and for drink give it the tea that is brewed from the spring buds of the shrub that groweth in the province
牋?of Hankow, or the milk of the antelopes that pasture in the Imperial parks.
牋?Thus shall it preserve its integrity and self-respect; and for the day of sickness let it be anointed with the clarified fat of the legs of a
牋?sacred leopard, and give it to drink a throstle's eggshell full of the juice of the custard apple in which has been dissolved three pinches of
牋?shredded rhinoceros horn, and apply it to piebald leeches.
牋?So shall it remain - but if it dies, remember thou too art mortal.

HEIGHT: 30.5-45cm (6-9inches)
WEIGHT: 3.6-4.5kg (6-8lbs), However Sleeve Pekingese (the most sought after during the breeds development in China) have to weigh less than 2.7kg (6lbs), whilst a Mini Pekingese weighs between 2.7-3.6kg (6-8lbs)

HEALTH

Whelping Pekingese can be a very difficult process.?They tend to catch colds easily and are prone to herniated disks and dislocated kneecaps.?They also suffer from trichaiasis (eye lashes growing inward toward eyeballs), breathing problems and heart issues.

LIVING CONDITIONS

Perfect for apartment life, the Pekingese is both small and relatively inactive indoors.

EXERCISE

A daily walk is a must, as with all breeds and will go a long way to providing you with a healthy dog both physically and mentally.?Despite their small size some Pekingese have been known to walk several miles without too many problems.?Care should be taken in temperature extremes both cold and hot.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10-15 years
LITTER SIZE: 2-4 puppies although whelping is a process fraught with difficulties and should only be undertaken by experienced breeders.

GROOMING

The long double-coat should be groomed daily by combing and brushing.?Care should be taken around the hindquarters as it is common to find matting here.?Dry shampoo at regular intervals and clean the face and eyes on a daily basis.?Feet should be checked regularly for burrs and other objects which can stick there and cause irritation.?The Pekingese sheds an average amount.

HISTORY

The Pekingese is an ancient breed of dog, having been worshipped in Chinese temples as far back as 2000 BC.?They were a favourite of the Chinese Emperors.?During the early 19th Century Pekingese breeding reached its pinnacle and despite a lack of pedigrees, so called 碔mperial Dog Books磗erved a similar purpose and described and illustrated sought after traits and preserved a standard.?The first Pekingese found their way to English shores around 1860 after the Allied occupation of Peking, during the Second Opium War.?Despite attempts by Imperial Guards to kill all of the little dogs in an?effort to stop these prized little beasts falling into foreign hands, five dogs were found alive by British troops.?These strange little dogs were taken back to the United Kingdom and one was given to Queen Victoria as a gift.?Queen Victoria aptly named the dog 碙ooty,?and it was from these treasures of war that the modern Pekingese line originated.?The official standard was set in England during 1898 and the Pekingese Club of England was founded in 1904.?The first recorded entry into the United States took place in 1890 and 8 years later, the breed was recognised by the American Kennel Club (1898).?Despite its popularity abroad the fate of the Pekingese in China was in complete contrast.?Revered as a dog of the aristocracy and ruling classes, a countrywide extermination of the little dogs took place after the death of Empress Dowager in 1911, in order to ensure they didn磘 fall into 磚nworthy?hands.?Very few, if any Chinese Pekingese escaped this widespread and voracious cull.?
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