Pekingese

Breed History

The Pekingese is a noble dog breed with roots in Ancient China where they were kept as companion pets for the Imperial family. It was introduced in Britain in the 1860s under the reign of Queen Victoria. 

General Appearance

The Pekingese is a small dog with a big personality and a confident nature. While diminutive, they aren’t dainty and have sturdy muscles underneath all that fur. Despite this, most dogs will weigh less than 5kg when fully mature.

Temperament

The Pekingese seems almost aware of their ancestry as companion dogs to the Imperial family, this pampered pooch likes to take charge of every situation and be the centre of attention. They are a very loving and intelligent breed and are well suited as a companion pet, adapting well to apartment living.

Health Considerations

The Pekingese has an average life expectancy of 12 - 15 years. There are a number of health conditions we should be aware of including: breathing difficulties, due to their brachycephalic airways; some eye diseases, degeneration of spinal discs (intervertebral disc disease) which can cause pain in the back, neck and legs and early-onset heart murmurs. 

Trainability

This intelligent breed has a stubborn streak that can make them more of a challenge to train. Given the fact that the Pekinese like to be in charge of every situation, it can be harder to convince them of who is Alpha when beginning training. Positive reinforcement is a must as Pekinese have been known to become defensive when subject to discipline.

Grooming

The thick fur of the Pekingese is prone to knots and tangles so needs to be brushed on a regular basis. On top of this, dogs will require frequent professional grooms. Interestingly, their coat can be any fur colour, including fawn, red and black.

Exercise

The Pekinese are a relatively low maintenance breed when it comes to exercise. A 30 minute walk a day, perhaps split into 2 shorter walks should be more than enough to keep them happy.

Feeding Considerations

Due to their small jaw size, many enjoy eating wet dog food such as Pooch & Mutt’s Turkey & Duck Cartons. The meaty flavour and soft texture make for a delicious meal for the Pekingese, who tends to have a small appetite.

You'll find a handy feeding calculator on every product page here at Pooch & Mutt to help you identify how much of our health led recipes are right for the age, size and weight of your dog.