Pekingese
Also known as Épagneul pékinois
- Height at the withers
- 15 to 23 cm
- Weight
- 3 to 5.5 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12 to 14 years
- Daily activity
- 20 minutes
- Origin
- China
- FCI group
- 9 · Companion and toy dogs
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- apartment living, with regular outings
- a calm, mostly stay-at-home life
- living with a cat
Less suited to
- young children, without close supervision
- allergy sufferers: it sheds a lot
- intense heat: be careful in summer
Overview
A compact little toy dog of the Chinese nobility with a long, abundant double coat, a distinctive flat-faced expression, a rolling gait and a regal bearing, originally bred for the Chinese imperial court.
History and origins
An ancient breed of the Chinese imperial court, revered in the Imperial Palace in Peking, where only the emperor’s family could own one. It reached Europe in 1860, brought back by British troops after the sack of the Summer Palace.
Health
Life expectancy is 12 to 14 years, and the breed is rather fragile. The most common health problems in the breed:
- Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome
- Eye problems (ulcers, proptosis)
- Herniated disc
- Nasal fold dermatitis
- Severe heat intolerance
Choose a breeder who has the parents health-screened for this breed, and ask to see the results.
Coat and care
Long double coat. Heavy shedding, very high coat care.
All ratings
Rated from 1 to 5, comparable across breeds. Green marks a strength for most households, orange something to plan for.
Lifestyle
- Energy
- Very calm, 1 out of 5
- Apartment
- Perfect, 5 out of 5
- Home alone
- A few hours, 3 out of 5
Family and sociability
- With children
- Caution, 2 out of 5
- With other dogs
- Fair, 3 out of 5
- With cats
- Good, 4 out of 5
- With strangers
- Reserved, 2 out of 5
Training and temperament
- Ease of training
- Hard, 2 out of 5
- For a first-time owner
- Possible, 3 out of 5
- Guarding instinct
- Low, 2 out of 5
- Prey drive
- Very low, 1 out of 5
- Tendency to roam
- Very low, 1 out of 5
Care and neighbors
- Coat care
- Very high, 5 out of 5
- Shedding
- Heavy, 4 out of 5
- Drooling
- Never, 1 out of 5
- Barking
- Moderate, 3 out of 5
Climate and health
- Heat tolerance
- Very low, 1 out of 5
- Cold tolerance
- Average, 3 out of 5
- Hardiness
- Rather fragile, 2 out of 5
In our lists
Pekingese FAQ
How big does the Pekingese get?
The Pekingese stands 15 to 23 cm at the withers and weighs 3 to 5.5 kg. It is a very small dog.
Does the Pekingese shed a lot?
It sheds heavily and its coat needs a great deal of care. Plan on brushing several times a week, and more during the spring and fall shedding seasons. Its coat needs regular grooming, sometimes by a professional.
Can the Pekingese live in an apartment?
Yes, very well: calm indoors, it adapts perfectly to an apartment.
How much exercise does the Pekingese need each day?
Allow about 20 minutes of activity a day: it is a very calm dog.
Is the Pekingese good with children?
With caution: it does not cope well with the commotion of young children. Never leave a young child alone with a dog, whatever the breed.
How long does the Pekingese live?
Life expectancy is 12 to 14 years, and the breed is rather fragile. The main health problems to watch for are brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome and eye problems.
