Pekingese puppies

About the Pekingese

The Pekingese was bred in the Chinese imperial court as a companion, kept inside the palaces and largely unknown in the West until the nineteenth century. This is a compact, heavy boned toy dog of 15 to 23 cm and up to 6.4 kg, with a flat face, a rolling gait and a long thick double coat that forms a mane over the shoulders. They are dignified and self possessed, devoted to a small circle of people, and often aloof with everyone outside it.

Exercise is modest, around thirty minutes a day, and it should be taken in the cool part of the day, because the short muzzle makes overheating dangerous. Grooming runs to about an hour of brushing a week, plus keeping the facial folds and the eyes clean and dry. The breed is quiet, with a low tendency to bark. Ratings with children are moderate, so supervise and insist on calm handling. If breathing becomes noisy and laboured, take that as a reason to see a vet, however normal it may seem for the breed.

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 them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. 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 (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

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 Up to 6.4 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 6.4 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

• Best chew toys for teething puppies, by size, and the chews to skip
• Harness or collar for a puppy? What the neck pressure studies show
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other small breeds

More on the Pekingese

Previous: Peekapoo · Next: Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Pekingese breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/pekingese/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: SheltieBoy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.