Pekingese Information & Characteristics
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When the British entered Peking for the first time, they found the Empress Tzu'Hai, dead on the floor of her palace, in the Forbidden City, and with five Pekingese dogs guarding her body. The Empress had committed suicide because China was being invaded by troops from the West. Some of her servants and eunuchs had also killed themselves, while others had fled to the hills, taking with them the sacred little Pekingese dogs that had never been seen before outside the walls of the Forbidden City. During the centuries in which the eunuchs had bred the Pekingese for the Emperors, the breed remained cloistered in the Forbidden City at the Summer Palace. The penalty for anyone found with a dog outside these places was death.
Average lifespan
The Pekingese can live to about 10 - 15 years of age.
Average weight
20cm to 24cm
3kg to 5kg
Breed personality, characteristics & temperament
The Pekingese is fearless to the point of exasperation as they do not recognise size when they look at another dog or even man. Their loyalty is one of their strongest qualities and they would protect anything they thought belonged to them.
Compatibility with other pets
The Pekingese is a breed that can adapt to any breed. As Pekingese are a fearless breed and can stand their ground with any other breed of dogs if they are introduced at a young age growing up together.
Care requirements
The Pekingese requires weekly care because of its heavy and profuse coat. The coat needs regular brushing and cleaning. The eyes, ears and genital parts in the males must be cleaned weekly. The toenails of the Pekingese need to be kept short at all times. Pekingese are not suited to outdoors. They are a toy dog and adore the comfort and warmth of indoor living. They do need regular walks on a lead on hard surfaces but not too far.
Please take note
The Pekingese is not a lap dog, although they like to be cuddled at times and made a fuss of. They love people of all ages and can be a companion for a lifetime. They have very outgoing natures. They love fun and games and from puppy they should be introduced to toys. Even when they are grown up they love to play with toys and balls on the lawn.
Ideal owners
Pekingese love all types of people of all ages
Click here for advice on adopting a rescue dog and finding a breeder. All information has been provided by the Kennel Club.
Looking for more information on different dog breeds? Head to our breeds category page and get important details about each breed.
Frequently asked questions
These dogs are tiny watchdogs and can sound an alarm quite bigger than their size. To avoid unnecessary barks every time it meets someone new, it must be socialized. Socializing should start early for Pekingese, after which they start getting along really well with other pets.
Pekingese are excellent family dogs. Bred to be close companions for the Chinese royalty, they have had a close bond with humans since years, making them well-suited for loving families with children.
Leaving your Pekingese dog along at home for a short time should not be a problem. However, if you leave it at home for extended hours, it may become extremely nervous and start barking. Make sure you make necessary arrangements before you leave for anywhere.
Pekingese dogs need to be groomed almost every day because of their long and luscious hair. Having said that, it does not take much time and is not very complicated.
Pekingese dogs are watchdogs. They have a very shrill voice that they use every time they register any threat. While they bark every time, they notice something out of the blue, they don’t bark a lot generally.
