Pekingese or Peke, as it is fondly called, is a small sized dog that originated in China. They are not that common in the Indian households and their availability is also mediocre. And, there is a good reason behind it as the Pekes are not built for Indian climatic conditions with their very low tolerance to heat and humidity. They are suitable for the regions with a colder environment and low temperatures. They need a good amount of attention and care if they are kept in a hotter region. Hence, they are a bit rare in this country. But like with many other breeds who are less tolerant to hot weather conditions, if the Pekes are also given proper supervision and protection by the owner during the summer months, then they can thrive here. The good thing is that they can adjust in small spaces because of their size and doesn’t require a lot of room for themselves and hence small apartments or houses which are common in India are sufficient for them.
Pekes are categorized under the Toy group, as they are quite small and compact in size but are equally well-balanced. Their appearance reflects dignity, courage, and self-esteem. Official standards of the Pekingese are given below:
These miniature dogs are closely packed and are adorably small in size. They are very light-weighted and quite short in stature. The average weight of a Peke lies between 3.2-6.4 kilograms and its height is mostly between 6-9 inches.
|
GENDER |
WEIGHT |
HEIGHT |
|
MALE |
3.2-6.4 kg |
6-9 inch |
|
FEMALE |
3.2-6.4 kg |
6-9 inch |
They have straight, coarse and long outer coat and a soft and thick undercoat. There are especially long strands of hair on the neck and shoulder region while the rest of the body has somewhat shorter hair. Their coat is also available in a variety of colors like fawn, brindle, cream etc.
They have a distinct pear-shaped body which is quite low to the ground. They have a thick and short neck and a broad and full chest area. The ribs are well-sprung and the tail is set high and is slightly arched. Forequarters are thick, small and heavy-boned while the hindquarters are relatively lighter than the forelegs.
They have a broad and flat head area with round and large eyes which are mostly very dark in color and set wide apart. They have heart-shaped ears which lie flat against the head.
They have a decent jaw region with a broader lower jaw. The muzzle is also quite flat and wide.
Pekes may appear to be small and cute and many people mistake them to be very gentle and quiet, but they are almost the exact opposite of that. They may be little in size, but they possess a bold and independent personality. They can be sometimes a bit stubborn and hard to handle and thus they should be properly trained from an early age. They are affectionate and loving to their family members but doesn’t display the same amount of warmth to other people that are new to them. They are also a bit reserved with other canines. Early socialization and proper and extensive training are necessary for the Pekes so that they can become a hassle-free dog to raise. Key temperamental traits of the Pekingese are as follow:
The Pekingese is quite an ancient breed and its past might have something to do with its dignified nature akin to a royalty. They were well respected, loved and adored by the Chinese royalty a long time ago. Anyone found harming the dog was punished by the death sentence. They were the companions of the royal families and are still quite reserved and noble-mannered which they might have inherited from their ancestors.
There is a big misconception among the dog fanatics and admirers that a smaller a dog, the fewer efforts and handling is required. And the Pekingese is a very good example to invalidate this theory. They are very compact in size but surely are not very easy to handle. They are known to be a little stubborn and also have a tendency to think independently. Training them is not a piece of cake as they require a good amount of training from a passionate and persistent trainer.
But there are quite a few good qualities about the Pekes that make them desirable and a good choice for a potential dog owner. They are very adaptable and adjustable in small houses, they are not very sensitive and are fine when left alone (but not for long periods of time), they are fairly intelligent and can be taught new things if they are in the right mood, they have a decent watchdog ability and also they are easy on the pocket both in terms of purchasing them and then raising and maintaining them.
Pekingese can be divided into different types because of the variety of colors that they are available in. various colors that a Pekingese can possess are:
|
Adaptability |
**** |
Sensitivity Level |
** |
|
Affection Level |
***** |
Potential for mouthiness |
*** |
|
Apartment-Friendly |
***** |
Drooling Potential |
* |
|
Barking Tendencies |
**** |
Energy Level |
** |
|
Friendly towards dogs |
** |
Health Issues |
**** |
|
Friendly towards other animals |
*** |
Intelligence |
**** |
|
Child Friendly |
** |
Playfulness |
*** |
|
Exercise Needs |
** |
Shedding Level |
*** |
|
Grooming Needs |
***** |
Social Needs |
*** |
|
Good for novice owners |
*** |
Stranger Friendly |
** |
|
Trainability |
** |
Watchdog Ability |
**** |
|
Tolerates Heat |
* |
Tolerates Cold |
**** |
The Pekingese should be fed according to its size and age which is limited in amount when the Peke is young and should gradually increase the feeding material with the Peke’s age. They do well on a high-quality diet which can be home-cooked or purchased from a store as per the advice of the vet.
They have moderate exercise requirements and are mostly calm and sedated. They are affectionate with their family members, so a small stroll in the park with a loved one on a regular basis can suffice their exercise needs. They also like to play games with their owners so a brief playing either outside or inside the house can be both fun and effective for them.
Pekes are not that easy to train especially when they are past the early phase of their life and also if they are not close to their trainer/owner. The training process can be made easy if it's done when they are fairly young and if the trainer is passionate, tenacious and close to them. They like to please the people who they can trust, hence training them should be carried out by someone who has a strong bond with the Peke.
To maintain their flowing and good-looking coat, they need a good amount of grooming. Brushing the coat 2-3 times a week at least for an hour is necessary to prevent the mat formation in the undercoat. Other basic things like bathing, trimming of nails and brushing of teeth can be carried out on an occasional basis. Also, they are decent shedders and sheds the hair on their coat on a seasonal basis.
Pekingese being a smaller breed faces the same problems as any other little breed would. Eye-related and breathing problems are thus quite commonly seen in the Pekes. Other health issues found in Pekingese are as follows:
The trips to the veterinarian’s clinic are sparse and rare as they generally remain fine and fit.
The Pekingese is believed to be originated around 2,000 years ago and is surely one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. They received their name from a Chinese City called Peking which is in modern-day known as Beijing. The Pekes were often referred to as the Lion Dogs because of their mannerisms and a lion-like mane around the neck region.
The Pekes were bred to be the companion dogs for the royalty in China. They were also used by the emperors as guards. They were closely protected and were always kept inside the palaces and were not allowed to go outside.
It is because of the Opium War that took place around the 1860s, that these small hairy pooches had their first taste of the world outside the palaces of Chinese royalty. The Britishers took five Pekes with them as a symbol of victory and presented them as presents to the British royalty which included Queen Victoria.
Their popularity slowly increased after that, and they were starting to become famous in other parts of the world like U.S.A also when some of the Pekes were smuggled out of China to other regions. And, later at the beginning of the 20th century, they were registered and officially recognized as a distinct breed by the kennel club. Today, they are still relevant and quite popular in countries like China and the U.S.A and are the beloved lapdogs of many people.
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