Pekingese is a miniature breed of dog that was bred in China. It received its name in honor of the city of Beijing. This breed has several varieties, but the royal Pekingese deserves special attention.
This name is rather a PR move and refers to purebred long-haired dogs. This funny four-legged friend is endowed with exquisite habits and good-natured character. Such a decorative breed is suitable for those who love “tame”, calm and tender pets who do not bark without a reason.
Breeding history
For breeding the royal Pekingese, decorative pet breeds were crossed with larger dogs. According to some legends, the progenitors of these miniature four-legged friends are lions, but you can hardly trust such information.
The derived Pekingese are also called imperial, since they lived exclusively in rich families that belonged to noble dynasties. The lives of pets was truly luxurious, because they even had their own servants. These miniature dogs have never been used for hunting, guarding or service.
Rather, they were an indicator of luxury and affluence. In some cities, temples were lined up and worshiped in honor of these animals.
The Pekingese were accessible only to the rulers and their closest circle. Images of miniature dogs can still be seen on ancient Chinese frescoes. Only an emperor could give such pets to anyone. There have been cases of theft of puppies, because people believed that they would bring wealth and success to the family, but they found the perpetrators of these incidents and severely punished them.
The royal Pekingese came to Europe during a coup d'état, when the imperial mansions were burned down. Rescued dogs were taken to England, where they began to breed. Such funny and cute pets quickly gained popularity among animal lovers, but only rich people could become their owners, since the cost of the Pekingese was very high. Often, royal puppies were presented to members of noble families as a gift.
The current name of the breed "Pekingese" was assigned to decorative dogs only at the end of the XIX century.
In the countries of the Soviet Union, miniature pets appeared in the middle of the 20th century, but initially they were brought to Leningrad, where dog handlers started breeding these cute puppies.
External characteristics
The Imperial Pekingese is a miniature breed, therefore such four-legged animals are often called ornamental. Their life expectancy is about 20 years. The height of an adult dog is 30 cm in length and 16 cm in height, and its weight is 4–5 kg. Sometimes there are smaller representatives of this breed, whose weight does not exceed 3 kg, they are called dwarf. Experts say that it is wrong to distinguish dwarf Pekingese as a separate species of breed.
External characteristics of the imperial Pekingese:
- flat back, narrowed loin and slightly slanted shoulder blades;
- well-defined muscular withers;
- paws short, massive, back less than the front;
- long hair grows between the toes of the paws;
- the muzzle is short, wide, with folds near the nose;
- the tail is high, pressed to the back and slightly curved sideways;
- the ears are small, heart-shaped, because of the long hair it seems that they are hanging;
- large, slightly bulging brown eyes.
Most often, the royal Pekingese have long hair with a small pad, but there are also smooth-haired puppies with a shorter pile. This factor largely depends on the breeding and nutritional conditions of dogs. The color of miniature animals is quite diverse and varies from beige to black. This breed is interesting because sometimes albino puppies are born with a pure white color.
The Pekingese's lower and upper jaws should closely abut each other, but puppies with the wrong bite are also found. The teeth of a healthy pet should be smooth and white. The owners must follow the oral hygiene of their pet.
Pekingese character
Royal Pekingese have a calm, friendly character, so they get along well with people, love affection, and obediently sit on their hands. A special connection with his pet owner is that he feels his mood, is happy or sad with him and has a hard time bearing separation. A dog can completely refuse water and food if there is no loved one nearby.
The four-legged fluffy is very playful, loves to walk and is well trained in training. Despite the outward defenselessness, the dog is rather freedom-loving and does not tolerate when it violates the boundaries of his personal space. The owner must take into account the peculiarities of his character and not impose his attention on him when the baby does not want this. To achieve mutual understanding with the pet, you need to communicate with him on an equal footing.
Pekingese cannot be treated rudely or raised to their voices, as they will be offended for a long time and get angry because of this.. The animal will show its aggression by barking and growling, in extreme cases it can bite. In addition, this behavior can occur in cases where the pet is faced with other dogs or strangers. Surprisingly, such a miniature baby, without thinking, will rush to the defense of his master in an extreme situation.
The imperial Pekingese gets along well with children, but at the same time can be jealous of the owner. Also, the dog will not tolerate if the child will encroach on his territory and property, because no one should touch his toys or impose his caress when the fluffy is resting.
Common diseases
The health of the royal Pekingese is relatively strong, so with proper nutrition and care there are no special problems. Nevertheless, this breed has a congenital propensity for some diseases:
- cataract;
- conjunctivitis;
- inflammation of the lacrimal canals;
- heart valve malfunction;
- back problems;
- skin diseases;
- kidney ailments.
To keep your pet healthy and active, you need to regularly visit the vet with him and make all the necessary vaccinations. In addition, the owner should be aware of the peculiarities of the body of his four-legged friend and not endanger him.
For example, Pekingese contraindicated large physical exertion due to possible problems with the cardiovascular system.
Also, dogs of this breed have impaired heat transfer function due to the structural features of the muzzle, therefore, at high temperatures, asthma attacks may occur. If the animal is constantly kept in hot conditions, then he will develop respiratory diseases.
Care
To Pekingese looked really like a king, you need to carefully look after him. First of all it needs to be combed daily, otherwise it will form mats on the wool. To do this, use special brushes.
Miniature dogs often get dirty, because of what the owners have to bathe them almost every week. According to experts, such meticulous care can harm the animal. They advise you to bathe your baby a maximum of 1 time per month, and if he often gets dirty, it is better to use dry shampoo or regular baby powder.
When caring for a pet, special attention should be paid to the eyes, ears and folds near the nose - they should be wiped with wet wipes or cotton buds dipped in warm water. It is important to ensure that water does not get into the ears, since this rock may develop deafness due to this.
The imperial Pekingese is very active and playful, so it is necessary to take regular walks with him for at least 30 minutes. The representatives of this breed have a well developed intellect and memory, therefore, adult pets can be let go for a walk on their own and not be afraid that they will be lost.
Power Features
Puppies under the age of 4 months should be fed 4 times a day, while it is important to monitor so that the interval between meals is the same. The basis of their diet is milk porridge. As the child grows into the diet, vegetables and meat products are gradually introduced into the diet. Also gradually increase portions and reduce the number of meals. An adult dog is allowed to feed 2 times a day.
Pekingese diet should be balanced and monotonous. As a rule, it includes vegetables, cereals, dairy and dairy products, fish and lean meats.
For the convenience of the pet food is recommended to cut into small pieces, especially meat.
Pekingese bones should not be given, as he simply will not master them, but he will chew on cartilage with pleasure.
In order not to harm the health of the four-legged pet, the following food should be banned:
- all kinds of sweets;
- products that cause bloating;
- fatty meats;
- fried, smoked, salted, spiced and pickled foods;
- Exotic fruits;
- muffins and pasta;
- dishes on the broth.
If the owners want to transfer Pekingese to specialized dog food, then this should be done gradually. It should also be borne in mind that the dry food must be soaked, otherwise the baby will be difficult to chew it.
All about the breed of the royal Pekingese, see the following video.
