Beijing

Peking Palasthund

This tiny little ball of fur, looking like a stuffed teddy, is not always restful. He is an excellent companion dog, but he must receive an excellent good education in order to become an obedient and pleasant dog. He is perfect for the elderly, or sedentary people, as his need for exercise is almost nil. His small size allows him to live just about anywhere, but his owner must be willing to invest in his education. With a good education, this small canine specimen becomes the best of life companions, affectionate and faithful. He will even be there to defend his master if necessary. He is absolutely reckless, and fear is not part of his temperament. He is perfect for lonely people who are a little afraid, because he will be there as much to warn them as to console them, and give them the affection they need. The Pekingese is a magnificent little dog for companionship. He is unique, but accessible to all types of owners, who can benefit from his pleasant company.

Height 14 to 25 cm
Weight 3 to 6 kg
Life expectancy 12 to 15 years
Home country China

Quick Overview of the Beijing

Temperament

  • Affectionate and very endearing
  • Faithful to his master
  • Rarely aggressive
  • Not always obedient

Appearance

  • Dignified air, imbued with nobility
  • A little chunky but very sturdy
  • Looks a little snobbish
  • Lively and intelligent

Health

  • Robust and rarely ill
  • Eyes to be monitored
  • Avoid weight gain
  • Respiratory problems

Temperament of the Beijing

Despite his reserved appearance, which gives him a snobby look, the Pekingese is an affectionate and very endearing dog. Truly faithful to his master, he is rather distant with strangers.

In spite of his small size, he is very reckless and becomes an excellent guardian. He warns loud and clear, but is rarely aggressive.

However, he does not really appreciate very young children. Even if he is rarely aggressive, because he prefers to ignore and stay away from them, a minimum of supervision is still required when the Pekingese is around very small children.

With a rather recalcitrant temperament, this small dog is not always very obedient. He even has a tendency to become angry with his fellow dogs.

Even if he is generally nice, you should not provoke him too much, because he is always ready to react and express his dissatisfaction. He must be educated firmly and rigorously.

pékinois personnalité

Breed Appearance

Beijing

The Pekingese is a small, well proportioned, slightly stocky but very robust dog with a dignified, noble appearance.

He looks a little snobby, but his expression is lively and intelligent.

Height

Between 15 and 25 cm (5.91 to 9.84 inches) for the male
Between 14 and 24 cm (5.51 to 9.45 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 3 and 6 kg (6.61 to 13.23 pounds) for the male
Between 3 and 6 kg (6.61 to 13.23 pounds) for the female

Color

His dress colours may vary, and stains are permitted. Liver and albino colours are not accepted.

Hair

His straight, long coat forms a pretty, abundant mane, with a thick undercoat.

Morphology

His head, wider than high, is strong, with a deep stop and a furrow in the forehead giving him a more serious look.

His large eyes are round and very dark. His heart-shaped ears drop to each side and have long fringes.

His nose is black. The Pekingese's tail is curved over the back and carried firmly, and has very abundant, beautiful fringes.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 9, section 8 and is #207

Price and monthly budget

Price you can expect to pay for a Beijing puppy: between and
These prices are indicative and may vary from breeder to breeder
Average monthly budget for a Beijing:
The monthly budget includes the average expenses for food and hygiene products (grooming, anti-parasite...)

Beijing pictures

Tips About this breed

A house or apartment will be suitable for this little hairy dog. Exclusively a companion dog, the Pekingese is very attached to his family, but he does not appreciate very small children.

He much prefers the presence of adults, or slightly older children, with whom he is very faithful and affectionate. In spite of his snobbish and reserved look, he is not stingy with hugs.

He doesn't really need any special exercise, but he still enjoys walks and outings. Not an outdoor dog, he will be happy in the comfort of his master's cozy nest.

His education must be very rigorous and firm. Softness is still required, but he must understand the family hierarchy very early on in order to know exactly where he stands in the household.

He is neither docile nor obedient by nature, which is why an early education is preferable. This recalcitrant little dog must know who the master is right from the start, to avoid him becoming too dominant.

Health of the Beijing

Despite his small size, he is very robust and rarely sick. His eyes should be monitored to avoid infections, and weight gain should be avoided to ensure good health.

Delivery is sometimes difficult. However, no particular pathology affects the breed, and its longevity is appreciable.

Of course, due to his short nose, respiratory problems can sometimes occur, but these are individual cases and not particularly related to the breed.

GROOMING

His pretty coat requires daily brushing, and a bath every two or three months is recommended to maintain his coat's health.

His eyes should be monitored and cleaned regularly.

History of this breed

The origin of the Pekingese is uncertain, probably very old, but still rather nebulous. Even if we find representations of this small dog on bronzes dating back to at least 2000 years BC, no real confirmation was obtained as to the official origins of the breed.

For a long time, the Pekingese was considered a sacred animal in China. He lived in the Forbidden City with the Chinese imperial court, mainly during the Tsing Dynasty, where he was considered very valuable.

Whoever stole, injured or killed a Pekingese at that time was even liable to death penalty.

After the ransacking of 1860, the Pekingese almost disappeared from China. In order to ensure that small dogs did not fall into enemy hands, they were virtually all eliminated. Fortunately, a few were found still alive after the massacre.

British officers brought back Pekingese dogs, and Queen Victoria received one as a gift.

That was all it took to start a fashion, and the Pekingese suddenly became very popular in this part of the European continent. From a precious and sacred dog, he became a very popular one at the English court, and everywhere else afterwards.

In 1864, he was shown for the first time and it was in 1898 that the Kennel Club officially registered him. Towards the end of the 19th century, the breed spread elsewhere on the continent, mainly in France and Germany. The Pekingese thus became the darling of dog lovers.

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