Breeds / Toy
Peekapoo puppies
The Peekapoo is affectionate, loyal and fairly independent, a true lap dog who wants company. They can be aloof with strangers and are quick to bark.
The facts
- Size class Toy
- A cross of Pekingese and Poodle
- Country of origin Not published
- Adult weight 1.8 to 9.1 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 4 to 20 lb
- Adult height 15 to 28 cm
- Energy level Low
- Grooming High
- Coat type Short to medium, can be curly
- Typical lifespan 10 to 15 years
- Good with children Not published
- Good with other dogs Not published
About the Peekapoo
The Peekapoo crosses the Pekingese with a Toy or Miniature Poodle and is one of the original designer crosses, first bred in the 1950s for people who wanted a small, low-shedding dog. Daily Paws gives adults as 15 to 28 cm (6 to 11 in) and 1.8 to 9.1 kg (4 to 20 lb), with a lifespan of 10 to 15 years, and a Toy Poodle parent gives the smallest dogs, sold as teacup Peekapoos. The coat is short to medium and can be curly, in colours from silver, grey, chocolate and black to white, cream, apricot and buff. There is no breed standard, so looks vary.
Exercise needs are low: a short walk around the block and time to sniff are usually enough, with puzzle feeders and training games on hot days, when the short face makes them prone to overheating. Low shedding does not mean low maintenance, because longer coats need daily brushing and short or clipped ones weekly, with a groomer every six to eight weeks for a clip. They do best where someone is home most of the time, and a rescuer quoted by Daily Paws suggests homes with older children, since a dog this small is easily hurt. Expect barking at strangers, which matters in a flat.
A cross, not a breed. The Peekapoo is a cross rather than a standardised breed with no formal standard, so size, coat and face shape vary, and puppies from one litter can differ. Dogs with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome struggle to breathe even at rest, cannot do much exercise and overheat easily, so watch how the parents breathe and move before choosing a puppy.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Peekapoo puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A toy breed puppy at eight weeks is small enough to be genuinely fragile. They can be hurt by a jump off a sofa and by being stepped on, and toy breeds are prone to low blood sugar, so they need frequent small meals rather than two big ones. Energy is on the lower side for the breed, but every eight week old puppy still runs in bursts and then crashes. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome in flat-faced dogs, which makes breathing hard even at rest and raises the risk of overheating, made worse by obesity and treated by a vet with anti-inflammatory drugs, oxygen therapy or surgery
- Patellar luxation, where the kneecap slips out of place, with surgery for severe or chronic cases
- Eye injuries from shallow sockets and prominent eyes, and dry eye from the Pekingese side, eased with lubricating eye drops
- Dental disease from both parents, managed with regular dental examinations and annual professional cleaning
Your Peekapoo puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Toy for a Peekapoo.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 1.8 to 9.1 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 9.1 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other toy breeds
More on the Peekapoo
Previous: Patterdale Terrier · Next: Pekingese
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- dailypaws.com for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- Health notes from Peekapoo breed information at https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/dog-breeds/peekapoo. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
No published figure for the good with children rating, the good with other dogs rating and country of origin, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.
Photo: Dvedgar, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.