pekingeses

Pekingese are independent, bold dogs that love to be near people. Although they are small in size, these little lion-dogs have big-dog personalities.

An ancient breed, the Pekingese originated in China, where they were sacred companions to royalty. Pekingese have short legs, flat faces and long, thick coats, and are affectionate and warm towards their families. Due to their low activity level, Pekingese make excellent apartment dogs.

Pekingese are a small dog breed that weighs 8 – 14 pounds and has a life expectancy of 12 – 15 years. They do not tolerate heat as well as many other breeds.   Although the Pekingese Club of America doesn’t require specific health screenings since Pekingese tend not to have breed-related health issues, be sure to monitor your Pekingese for signs of potential issues and contact your veterinarian as soon as you notice any physical or behavioral changes. 

Potential Health Conditions:

• Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome (BAS)

• Dislocated Kneecap, Patellar Luxation

• Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)

• Eye Ulcer, Ulcerative Keratitiss

• Cleft Palate

• Aberrant Eyelashes, Distichiasis

• Elbow Dysplasia (ED)

• Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)

• Water on the Brain, Hydrocephalus

• Hypothyroidism

• Leaky Valve Disease, Mitral Valve Disease (MVD)

• Gum Disease, Periodontal Disease

• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)

• Cataracts

• Inward Turned Eyelids, Entropion

• Dry Eye, Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS)

• Allergies

Suggested Screening

• Hip evaluation

• Elbow evaluation

• Patella evaluation

• Eye evaluation

Routine care:

• Spay or neuter

• Routine dental care

• Controlled exercise

• Eye care

• Weight management

Pekingese have long, flowy coats that require regular grooming.

They don't need substantial exercise as they are fairly calm and low energy, but can be stubborn so need early training.