Pekingese dog

History of origin

Not every breed can boast such a long and glorious history as the Pekingese. Bred over 2000 years ago in China, it has always been the exclusive privilege of the imperial family. It is difficult to say how the ancient dog breeders managed to get a breed with such an unusual appearance and not similar to the ancestor of all wolf dogs, but it is the existence of the Pekingese that proves the high level of science, including selection, long before our enlightened age.

For many centuries, the Pekingese lived in the imperial palace and were not actually considered dogs or even animals – the Chinese were sure that these funny creatures with huge intelligent eyes were none other than the guardian spirits of the ruling dynasty of the country. Other legends that existed at that time also denied the Pekingese dog origin. According to these legends, they descend from a marriage between a lion and a monkey, and from the first they inherited behavior full of dignity and grandeur, and from the second – an unusual appearance.

The emperors carefully took care of their “guardian spirits”, for their theft an immediate death penalty was due. Therefore, these dogs came to Europe only in the XNUMXth century, during the conquest of China by the British. Here, the Pekingese immediately won the hearts of millions of Europeans and became one of the most popular decorative dog breeds.

In our country, they have been known for a long time – even in Soviet times, many were happy to start Pekingese. Their popularity does not fall even now.

Breed description

Pekingese is a small and very beautiful dog with a bright and very memorable appearance. The body is strong, based on thick and short paws, which should be even and stable. The head is large, the muzzle is very short, flattened, the nose is at the level of the eyes, actually between them. The lower jaw is rather heavy. The eyes are very large, round, slightly protruding, whites are often visible, the look is attentive, intelligent. Ears hanging. The tail is set high, carried over the back.

Contrary to popular belief, there are no dwarf Pekingese, but sometimes miniature, so-called “pocket” individuals are born.

Pekingese wool is their pride. It is soft, thick and very long, on the tail it forms a beautiful lush sultan, and on the head a real lion’s mane. The most common color is red, but there are others: piebald, black and even white. A dark mask is very common, but not considered mandatory. The main requirement for color is its beauty and harmony.

Photos

Character

The case when a small dog keeps with bоgreater dignity than huge dogs and even many people. Next to the Pekingese, you feel like a subject in front of a royal person. “This is the kind of dog that always needs to say “please,” one of the English breeders said about this breed. Pekingese never fuss, fawn and bring slippers, rather, the owner will catch himself addressing his pet as “you”. At the same time, the Pekingese is not at all arrogant – he is simply above it. The dog loves his household selflessly, he is indulgent with children, but, as a rule, does not particularly approve of their noisy and active games. It never shows aggression.

The Pekingese is quite touchy, but he is always offended by the case – for example, if he was raised in voice or scolded. In this case, he will show with all his appearance how he was insulted until the offender apologizes.

Care and maintenance

Of course, all the forces of the Pekingese co-owner will be directed to caring for his luxurious coat. It needs to be combed out every day with a special brush so that it does not fall into ugly tangles and does not roll around the house. After a walk, it is worth washing the dog’s paws or even the entire lower body if it is slushy outside. But cutting the Pekingese (as well as all other dogs, if it is not provided for by the exterior) is not worth it even in the heat. It seems to us, people, that the less clothes on the body, the cooler. Dogs also wool warms only in winter, and in summer protects from heat. So a shorn dog, especially a small one, runs the risk of overheating.

When sleeping, Pekingese often sniff quite loudly, so if you are a very light sleeper, it is better not to share the same bed with the dog.

Despite their small size, Pekingese are happy to walk for a long time. They are ready to run after the ball and walk sedately in the park – the main thing is that there are more new experiences in life. By the way, in order not to spoil their luxurious mane, it is better to drive dogs not on a collar, but on a harness.

And, of course, the Pekingese is not the kind of dog that will live in a booth in the yard. This is an apartment resident, accustomed to soft sleep and delicious food.

Education and training

There is an opinion that decorative dogs do not need training. And this is deeply wrong. Whatever the size and disposition of your four-legged friend, he still remains a real dog with all its inherent instincts and behaviors. Therefore, you need to treat him accordingly: do not lisp and indulge all whims, but respect and train him as if you had a shepherd in front of you. In this case, a well-mannered dog will grow out of a puppy, who considers himself a serious service dog, and not a capricious toy. The more a dog is pampered and less attention is paid to education, the worse its character.

Teach your puppy all the basic commands, even if they don’t come in handy later. The main thing is that the dog feels his usefulness and knows exactly his place in your small pack.

Health and disease

You can’t call the Pekingese sickly, moreover, it is a fairly long-lived breed, whose age can stretch up to 16 years, but it has a number of features inherent in this breed. First, it’s his eyes. They are large, wide open, and therefore prone to damage: debris or branches often get into them. The second problem is the very short nose of the Pekingese. In extreme heat, the inhaled hot air does not have time to cool in the nasal cavity, and dogs can overheat, and this, in turn, leads to problems with the heart and blood vessels. It is also worth watching the folds on his face, washing them and preventing dirt from getting there.

And, of course, do not forget to carry out parasite prevention and vaccinations on time.

Word to the breeder

breed breeder Tatyana Novosadova from Cheboksary, owner of the nursery “Emperor’s Dream”: “For me, the Pekingese is really a unique breed, a dream breed. Pekingese have both advantages and disadvantages. They are very easy to keep, small, do not require a long walk and will suit any category of urban residents from pioneers to pensioners. Grooming consists in regular grooming of the coat, as this is the main decorative element of the breed, and the crease over the nose and eyes must be carefully monitored. Perhaps this is all the complexity of care. The only thing is that Pekingese do not tolerate heat well, so it is not recommended to take them outside on hot days. At this time, it is better to walk with them in the early hours and late in the evening, when the heat subsides. Sometimes on such days dogs perfectly use a tray or a diaper in the house. The characters of the Pekingese are different, as in any breed, but basically it is a good companion and a devoted friend. All my Pekingese are very affectionate and friendly, although some of them are distrustful of strangers. It’s hard to say why we love our dogs… We just love them.”

Alevtina Lenskaya, breeder of the kennel “Savelina” from Novo-Nikolaev: “The Pekingese is a naturally long-lived, healthy dog. By purchasing a thoroughbred puppy, you will receive a faithful and devoted friend, a joy for you and your children for many years to come. Maybe that’s why the “real” Pekingese is one of the most expensive breeds in the world.

No other breed, except for the Pekingese, has such a diverse palette of colors – from plain to colored and white, all shades of golden, fawn, cream, red, gray, black … The white feather on the forehead of the pathicolor dogs in China was called “Buddha’s finger”. Colored and white dogs are considered especially valuable, carrying the energy of success and prosperity.

The charm of the white Pekingese is emphasized by the absence of a black mask on the “face”. Due to this, very expressive, unusually beautiful eyes are perfectly visible. As if a talented artist, who painted the black outline of the eyes with a thin brush, wanted to emphasize the depth and intelligence of these extraordinary creatures. And the white Pekingese have a completely unique charming smile.

Popular questions and answers

We talked about the content of the Pekingese with zoo engineer, veterinarian Anastasia Kalinina.