Despite his reputation as a lap dog, the Pekingese is actually an independent, stubborn and brave little dog. He has a high intelligence, a sometimes rollicking humor, and knows fear of nothing. He is game for anything, and most Pekingese play like puppies their entire, long lives.In looks, the Pekingese, or Peke, as he is popularly known, is not beautiful. Rather, he is quaint and oriental in appearance. He has a low slung body equipped with very bowed front legs. He has a massively broad chest dwindling down to almost ridiculously small hips. The combination of this extraordinary build causes the Pekingese to move with a characteristic rolling motion. He carries his proud tail over his back in a low curl. His rather dropping ears have long feathering that frames his flat face and clever, full eyes.
The Pekingese was basically a well-kept oriental secret until China was raided by England in 1860, when white outsiders caught their first glimpse of these small dogs, crouched behind the belongings of their suicidal masters. A creation from the Chinese love of exaggeration, these dogs were supposed to represent the oriental version of the lion. In The Forbidden City of Peking (now Beijing), Eunuchs would vie with one another to see who could breed the best and most clever dogs to get Imperial favor.
The first Pekingese caused quite a stir in England, and have risen in popularity in the western world ever since. This is a small dog in a big dog's body. His unique looks make him easily recognizable in the dog world. Pekingese are at home anywhere, from an estate to a tiny apartment, and lend themselves to a many lifestyles.
In addition to their distinctive appearance, they are fun dogs that enjoy life to the fullest. Pekingese have lived and taken pleasure in many types of homes. A Pekingese can and will delight in walks in the countryside (as long is it is not too hot out, Pekes are sensitive to the heat because of their flat faces), car trips, quiet evenings at home., and other things you may have in your agenda. Pekingese often take great pride in their toys, balls, and bones, hoarding them and jealously trying to defend them. Most have lively imaginations and love to play tug or ball for hours.
Don't let his love of fun fool you; most Pekingese enjoy doing what they like to do. He may obey obedience commands and the like just to please you, then again, maybe not! Most are not the rapt obedience dogs that Shelties and other small breeds can be, in fact, he can be downright stubborn. Some can be hard to house train and can lend a deaf ear when "protecting" a favorite toy from another dog. With their bravado and obstinate ways, sometimes it is almost impossible from keeping these small "lions" from leaping on dogs many times the size of themselves, just because they "thought" the big dog wanted a particular toy!!
Most households can accomodate a Pekingese handily, except perhaps those with small, thoughtless children who the Peke may snap at, or those with large, aggressive dogs. (Remember, a Pekingese is a small dog with large eyes and shallow eye sockets - these eyes can be "popped" out during a fight or when other pressure is applied to the eye. This is one bad feature to this breed.)
Pekingese are delightful pets, and should you decide you might need one of these far eastern treasures, please do be careful where you buy one. The pet store is not the place to purchase one, even though the puppy you see may well be a charming one. Instead, opt to buy from a breeder who has quality animals. A good breeder will know and guard against some of the health problems this small dog may have. Some things to ask about are eye diseases, slipped patellas, epilepsy, and heart disease. Young Pekingese are especially delightful, but they are a life time commitment. Make sure the pup you buy is healthy, energetic, fuzzy, and bright eyed. Be prepared to spend a pretty penny on any Peke from a reputable breeder (they are worth the extra money, believe me) because of the high incidence of caesarian births.
Buying a show dog, or a dog from show lines, is a little different. Keep in mind that there are several different types of Pekingese. The show dogs will have flatter, broader faces and will be much hairier. Occasionally the show type coat can be too much for some people. Pekes look cute when trimmed, too, if they have excessive hair, but even those owners that keep up the coat may find it easier to groom than many other coated, small breeds. It is a "double" coat, much like a Samoyed has, only the outer coat is longer. Show puppies have a somewhat boxy look, pear shaped bodies, "envelope" faces (the face is as flat and as square as an envelope), crooked front legs, and tails carried well over the back. Good show lines will already show a lot of "fuzz" at an early age.
Pekingese are laid back enough to be a good companion to older people, and brave and dynamic enough to delight active people, too. After all these years in the occidental world, Pekingese still hold an almost mystical oriental aura to their pompous little frames.
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"Your Pekingese" - BerndtC. Miller
cjmiller@micron.net