All About The Royal Pekingese

Pekingese is a miniature breed of dog that has been bred in China. It got 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. This decorative breed is suitable for those who love "tame", calm and affectionate pets who do not bark without a reason.

To breed the Royal Pekingese, decorative pets of the Toy breed were crossed with larger dogs. According to some legends, the ancestors of these miniature four-legged friends are lions, but such information can hardly be trusted.

The bred Pekingese are also called imperial, since they lived exclusively in wealthy families that belonged to noble dynasties. The life of the pets was truly luxurious, because they even had their own servants. These miniature dogs have never been used for hunting, guarding or service.

The Pekingese were accessible only to the rulers and their inner circle. Images of miniature dogs can still be seen on ancient Chinese frescoes. Only an emperor could give anyone such pets. There have been cases of theft of puppies, since people believed that they would bring wealth and success to the family, but the perpetrators of these incidents were found and severely punished.

The Royal Pekingese came to Europe during the coup, when the imperial mansions were burned. 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.

Imperial Pekingese is a miniature breed, so these four-legged animals are often called decorative. Their life expectancy is approximately 20 years. The height of an adult dog reaches 30 cm in length and 16 cm in height, and weight - 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 incorrect to distinguish dwarf Pekingese as a separate species of breed.

External characteristics of the imperial Pekingese:

• flat back, narrowed lower back and slightly sloping shoulder blades;
• well-defined muscular withers;
• tarsi short, massive, hind ones smaller than front ones;
• a long coat grows between the toes;
• muzzle short, wide, with folds near the nose;
• the tail is high, pressed to the back and slightly curved to the side;
• ears are small, heart-shaped, because of the long coat it seems that they are hanging;
• large, slightly convex brown eyes.

Most often, the Royal Pekingese has long hair with a small underfill, but smooth-haired puppies with a shorter pile are also found. This factor largely depends on the conditions of breeding and nutrition of dogs. The color of miniature animals is quite diverse and varies from beige to black. This breed is interesting in that sometimes albino puppies with a pure white color are born.

The lower and upper jaw of the Pekingese should be closely adjacent to each other, but puppies with the wrong bite can also be found. The teeth of a healthy pet should be even and white. Owners must be sure to monitor their pet's oral hygiene.

Royal Pekingese have a calm, friendly character, so they get along well with people, adore affection, and obediently sit on their hands. The pet has a special connection with its owner - he feels his mood, rejoices or is sad with him and is difficult to endure separation. The dog can completely refuse water and food if there is no his beloved person nearby.

The four-legged fluffy is very playful, likes to walk and lends itself well to training. Despite the external defenselessness, the dog is quite freedom-loving and does not tolerate when violating the boundaries of his personal space. The owner should take into account the features of his character and not impose his attention on him when the baby does not want it. To reach an understanding with your pet, you need to communicate with him on an equal footing.

Pekingese cannot be rude or raise their voices, as they will be offended and angry for a long time because of this. The animal will show its aggression by barking and growling, in extreme cases it can bite. In addition, this behavior may occur when the pet encounters other dogs or strangers. Surprisingly, such a tiny baby, without hesitation, will rush to protect 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 encroaches on his territory and property, because no one should touch his toys or impose his affection when the fluffy is resting.

The health of the Royal Pekingese is relatively good, so with proper nutrition and care there are no special problems. Nevertheless, this breed has an innate tendency to certain diseases:

• cataract;
• conjunctivitis;
• inflammation of the lacrimal canals;
• disruption of the heart valve;
• spinal problems;
• skin diseases;
• renal ailments.

To keep the pet healthy and active, you must regularly visit a veterinarian with it and do all the necessary vaccinations. In addition, the owner should know about the characteristics of the body of his four-legged friend and not expose him to danger.

Also, in dogs of this breed, the heat transfer function is impaired due to the structural features of the muzzle, therefore, suffocation attacks may occur at high temperatures. If the animal is constantly kept in hot conditions, then respiratory tract diseases will begin to develop.

In order for the Pekingese to look truly royal, it must be carefully looked after. First of all, it needs to be combed out daily, otherwise tangles will form on the wool. To do this, use special brushes.

Miniature dogs often get dirty, because of which the owners have to bathe them almost every week. According to experts, such scrupulous care can harm the animal. They advise bathing the baby a maximum of 1 time per month, and if he often gets dirty, then 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 soaked in warm water. It is important to ensure that water does not get into the ears, as this breed may develop deafness because of this.

Imperial Pekingese is very active and playful, so you need to regularly walk for at least 30 minutes. Representatives of this breed have well-developed intelligence and memory, so adult pets can be allowed to walk on their own and not be afraid that they will be lost.

Puppies under the age of 4 months should be fed 4 times a day, while it’s important to monitor so that the time interval between meals is the same. The basis of their diet is milk porridge. As the baby grows up, vegetables and meat products are gradually introduced into the diet. Servings are also gradually increased and the number of meals reduced. It is permissible to feed an adult dog 2 times a day.

Pekingese diet should be balanced and monotonous. As a rule, it includes vegetables, cereals, dairy and sour-milk products, fish and low-fat meats.

Pekingese bones should not be given, since it simply will not be mastered, but the cartilage will gnaw with pleasure.

In order not to harm the health of the four-legged pet, the following foods should be banned:

• all kinds of sweets;
• bloating foods;
• fatty meats;
• fried, smoked, salted, spicy and pickled products;
• Exotic fruits;
• pastry and pasta;
• dishes on the broth.

If the owners want to transfer the Pekingese to a specialized dog food, then this should be done gradually. It should also be borne in mind that dry food must be soaked, otherwise it will be difficult for the baby to chew it.

Interesting facts about the Pekingese, see the next video.