Pekingese puppies

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Pekingese 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 small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get it socialised before the vaccination course finishes. It will still need four meals a day. 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 it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its 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 (BOAS), graded under the Kennel Club Respiratory Function Grading Scheme
• Inherited eye disease, screened under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme
• Corneal ulcers and dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), a consequence of the shallow eye sockets and short muzzle
• Skin fold dermatitis in the facial wrinkle, prevented by daily cleaning and drying
• Periodontal disease, kept down by regular tooth brushing
• Overheating, so exercise must be kept short and out of the heat

From Pekingese breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/pekingese/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Pekingese puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Pekingese.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 5 to 6.4 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other small breeds

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