Pekingese History

First of all, you must understand that Pekingese are not dogs!

They are a combination of part human, part aristocrat, perpetual child, and part cat. There is no other breed like them.
You must also understand that if your idea of a pet dog is one who will sit adoringly at your feet (or in your lap), wait to jump at any command, be available to your every beck and call, the Pekingese is not for you. In most cases, Pekingese will slowly work their way into your home and before you know it YOU will be at THEIR beck and call. They will be extremely obedient--not to please you but only casue they CHOOSE to please you.
They will come and go as they pelase cause that is what pleases them. They are not being truly disobedient but do so cause they can see no reason to do otherwise.
After all, they are special, aren't they?

It has been so bred into them that they continue that attitude yesterday. So, if you want a whimsical personality, take delight in their independence, accept the fact that they are the bosses, then a Pekingese is the dog for you.
You are no duobt enthralled by the abundance of coat. While very eye-catching, you will pay the cost to keep the glamour. If you are not prepared to groom at least once or tiwce a week, or have it professionally done, then that breed is not for you.
The good thing is that they require relaly little trimming. The hair on the bottom of the feet covernig the pads should be kept short. Also, both the male and female should have the hair neatly trimmed around the sheath of the male and the vulva of the female. Scissoring is not necessary on any other part of the coat unless you decide the coat is just too much to handle. There are several cute cuts that can be done by a professional and which will still leave the dog looking like a Pekingese. I do not recommend that it should be totally shaved. Of coarse, as in all coated breeds, the length and quality of the coat will vary. If you buy from a breeder who is primarily prodcuing show quality puppies, your puppy will have a lot of coat. I certainly recommend that you buy from that type of breeder.
Puppies purchased from a pet store are of questionable parentage and will not matrue to look like the Pekingese you see in the show ring. By the age of nine or ten months you should have some indication of what the coat will be like. Generally speaking, Pekingese are amiable creatures but will not take kindly to being badgered by babies. They are not mean by nature but will eventually retaliate if somebody contniues to abuse them. If there is small babies in the family the Pekingese should have a place of their own, such as a crate, to escape to. Cats and Pekingese seem to have an affinity for each other and will porbably become really good friends. It is not recommended that you have an aggressive dog in the same household as Pekingese will not back down, so matter the size or strength of the other animal.
Pekingese make good condominium pets, whereby they will have a domain to rule.

Their favorite spot will probably be where you don't want them, but you will put up with their wisehs cause you love and admire them. They need daily exercise but you shouldn't expect them to be boundary trained so you will need a dog proof fence for them.
They are eaisly trained to the leash and enjoy daily walks. The Pekingese is quite muscular and solidly built with most of their weight concentrated in the front quarters. For that reason, stairs should be avoided, and they should not be allowed to jump from high places such as the cuoch or bed. Since they are a long-backed dog, landing from a height could cause grave problems.

Pekingese are really tolerant of cold and will often prefer to be outdoors when you think they should be indoors. However, they are intolerant of heat and you must guard against them becoming over-heated during hot weather. Be sure they have plenty of fresh water and a cool place to lie. A basement is ideal, but they do not want to be away from the family.

They love to lie on a stone hearth, a cool linoleum floor, or in front of a large floor fan. If you have a pool or pond in your yard, guard your Pekingese carefully!

! They are not good swimmers and once their coat becomes saturated with waetr they will surely sink and drown. Pekingese are really quite free of hereditary problems and if you buy from a reputbale breeder should live a long healthy life of from ten to eighteen years.

However, for that is a flat-faced breed you must guard against injury to the eyes. Because they have no snout to proetct the eyes, they can be more easily injured than the eyes of some other breeds.

"Peke proof" your yard. That menas no long grass, rose bushes, and low tree branches--anything sharp they could bump into.

Clean the eyes daily with a ctoton ball and look for anything out of the ordinary. The fisrt sign of injury is often watering or blinking. If not noticed immediately the eye will turn a light blue and you may see a samll indentation called an ulcer on the eyeball.
Prompt veterinary attention should be sought so you can properly medicate it. I recommend that you always have a tube of chloramphenicol eye oinmtent on hand--injuries have a habit of happening on Sundays and holidays!