Originating in ancient Peking, China, the Pekingese was bred to be a companion to the Chinese aristocracy, who were the only ones allowed to have these dogs. They were reportedly bred to resemble the “foo dog,” a mythical guardian lion in China.

Pekingese live to be 12 to 14 years old on average. However, individual lifespans can vary based on factors such as genetics, diet, exercise, healthcare, and overall lifestyle. Providing proper care, regular veterinary check-ups, a balanced diet, and maintaining a healthy weight can contribute to helping dogs of all breeds live long and healthy lives.

Pekingese are fully grown by the time they are around a year old. It’s important to provide proper nutrition, exercise, and healthcare during their growth stages to ensure they develop into healthy adult dogs. Regular veterinary check-ups can also help monitor their growth and overall well-being.

While both breeds hail from ancient China, Pekingese and Pugs are not directly related. Pekingese have long, flowing coats and distinctly flat faces, while Pugs have short muzzles, wrinkles, curly tails, and other features.

Yes, Pekingese are good with kids. They are friendly, affectionate, and can make fun playmates to active older kids, although they might not be the most responsive to the spontaneous rambunctiousness of younger children.

As with any breed, it is recommended that your child is always supervised when interacting with your dog to keep both the child and dog safe. Teaching children how to properly approach and handle dogs is crucial to ensure positive experiences for both the dog and the child, as is teaching dogs how to gently interact with children.

No, Pekingese don’t bark a lot compared to some other breeds. Despite their small stature, however, they consider themselves guardians of their domain and will bark to alert. As with any dog, they can be discouraged from barking as frequently with proper training and exercise.

Yes, Pekingese are good family dogs. They thrive on affection and love their humans. They require relatively little exercise, so make great companions to older families as well as younger ones.

Yes, Pekingese are known to be very friendly with other animals, including cats. Of course, each dog (and cat) has their own preferences and temperament, but you can feel fairly confident your Pekingese, if properly socialized to your cat and introduced at a young age, should get along just fine.

Yes, Pekingese are generally good with other dogs as long as they are socialized when they are young.

Yes, Pekingese are very smart and strong-willed. They are known for being independent, headstrong, and confident.

Yes, Pekingese can make good guard dogs because they’re very alert and vocal about intruders. In fact, in ancient China, the smallest Pekingese were often used as miniature guard dogs.

Yes, Pekingese are well-suited for apartment living. They are quiet, bond closely with their families, and have moderate exercise needs.

Yes, Pekingese are known for being affectionate, outgoing, and loyal.

Yes, Pekingese are known to bond strongly with one person in their household.

No, Pekingese are not always easy to train as they are quite strong-willed little beings. However, training any dog takes substantial time and effort, regardless of breed.

Once properly trained using positive reinforcement techniques, Pekingese can be calm, affectionate companions.

Pekingese are generally healthy dogs but, like all breeds, may experience some health issues. Diseases to watch out for include:

• Intervertebral disc disease: Intervertebral disc disease causes a bulge or rupture in the discs between the vertebrae, which can cause pain, nerve damage, and paralysis. Sometimes, the disease is mild and may be relieved through crate rest and medication, but dogs with severe cases could need surgery or to use a wheelchair cart. If a Pekingese is having trouble walking, refuses to jump, is incontinent, won’t eat, or appears anxious, they should be taken to the vet as soon as possible.

• Patellar luxation: Also known as slipped kneecaps, patellar luxation is a common problem in many dog breeds. It occurs when slight abnormalities cause the knee joint to slide in and out of place, which can cause pain and occasional lameness. Surgical treatment is available for severe cases, although many dogs lead normal lives without treatment.

• Brachycephalic syndrome: This disorder is found in dogs with short heads, narrowed nostrils, and/or elongated soft palates. Their body structure causes breathing obstructions to varying degrees and can result in anything from noisy or labored breathing to total collapse of the airway. Dogs with brachycephalic syndrome commonly snuffle and snort. Treatment varies depending on the severity of the condition but includes oxygen therapy as well as surgery to widen nostrils or shorten palates.

• Elongated soft palate: Though the Pekingese’s snout is a bit shorter than other breeds, the soft palates (and tongue) at the back of their mouths are not shortened. A dog of the same size with a normal head shape would have a soft palate of the correct length, but in the brachycephalic dog, like the Pekingese, the overlong soft palate is pushed backward, partly obstructing the larynx (the opening to the airway). An elongated soft palate also causes issues with airflow and rubs against other tissues, leading to inflammation and swelling of airway tissues. The inflammation often makes the soft palate itself become swollen and thickened over time, further blocking your Pekingese’s ability to breathe properly.

• Legg-Calve-Perthes: This condition causes the head of the femur (located in a dog’s hind leg) to spontaneously degenerate. Over time, this will lead to erosion of the hip joint and arthritis. Pekingese suffering from Legg-Calve-Perthes will become lame, limp while walking, and experience pain when moving the hip joint. Surgery is the most effective treatment for the disorder.

• Eye issues: Pekingese may experience certain eye conditions such as entropion, a genetic defect where one or both eyelids are inverted or roll inward and rub on the surface of the eye; distichiasis, an abnormal growth of eyelashes on the margin of the eye, the extra eyelashes and abnormal location result in irritation to the eye; dry eye; cataracts, a common eye condition that causes cloudiness in the eye and obstructs vision; and trichiasis, a condition characterized by the eyelashes turning inward resulting in irritation and inflammation.

• Others: Pekingese may also experience mitral valve disease, a condition where the valve directing blood from the left atrium to the left ventricle begins to fail and eventually leads to heart failure; fold dermatitis, a skin infection caused by the folds of the skin rubbing against each other and creating excessive moisture; and hydrocephalus, a build up of fluid in the brain that is most commonly seen in puppies under 18 months of age.

No, Pekingese are not hypoallergenic. They have a thick double coat that sheds year-round and an undercoat that sheds twice a year.

No, Pekingese aren’t generally high-maintenance, but they do have a high maintenance coat that requires regular brushing to prevent mats and remove dead hairs.