Pekingese

Behavior

The Pekingese was originally bred to be kept by Chinese royalty and as such still maintains the attitude that they want to be treated royally. They love to be waited on and pampered and be the center of attention for the family. They are great companion dogs for retirees or seniors who have lots of time to lavish attention on their dogs. They can also be good watchdogs since they can be somewhat wary around strangers. They are ideal for any size home as they do not require a great deal of exercise or play time and are often just happy to curl up on a couch and relax.

The one drawback many find in the Pekingese behavior is that they are known to be tough to train. Because of their size, they are generally spoiled in treatment and this can make them difficult to get to follow a training regimen. Trying short training sessions that are motivated by rewards of treats and food has proven to be the most effective training method for this breed, but once the dog has been allowed to establish itself as the leader it can be tough to change any type of behavior.

Pekingese also do not do well with small children as they do not like to share toys, food or attention and can become resentful towards the children. They are also prone to barking at all kinds of noises and practice excessive barking when they are left alone for a long time.

Appearance

The Pekingese is known as a sturdy but small breed of dog. They have the trademark wide, flat face and flat skull that gives them their distinguishing look. They are also known for their very wide, large dark eyes. They have bowed legs and the hindquarters of the dog are lighter than the front of the dog, which gives them their known gait as if rolling along like royalty. The tail is high and arches out over the back of the dog.

They are known for their long double coat and the mane on their neck that gives them the look of a lion. The hair on the back of the legs feathers out and there is fringe on the ears and toes. They can come in most any color and solid white has always been viewed as very desirable. Most Pekingese only stand about six to nine inches high and weigh about eleven to fourteen pounds, making them small but stocky.

Grooming

Pekingese are known to need a lot of grooming and care. Their coat is long and feathery and needs to be brushed daily with a small brush. You should also spray the hair with a conditioner or water before brushing so you do not break any of the hairs, a common problem with the breed. You need to brush down all the way to their skin so that any dead hair will be removed. This can help you avoid mats from forming and tangles from developing. They also need the hair on their feet trimmed regularly to avoid matting and from debris and hair getting stuck between the toes. The Pekingese should get a bath twice a month as well to help maintain the coat.

History

Records show an early history of the Pekingese, with the dog existing in China all the way back to eighth century. They were considered sacred dogs by the Chinese and were only owned by royalty. The dogs were so revered that many statues were carved from precious stones and metals of them and can still be seen around China today. They remained very popular into the 1800s, when during an invasion by Britain some were taken and returned to England and given to the Queen. Popularity then waned in China, making the dog rarer until the early 1900s when it began to gain interest again and began to trickle more into England and then around the world.