Dog Breed Guide

Pekingese

Profile

Size

Extra Small

Country of origin

China

Origin

Ancient

Bred for

Imperial companion

Height

15 - 23cm (6 - 9in)

Weight

around 5kg (11lb), no more than 6.4kg (14lb)

Life span

12 - 14 years

A long, abundant coat, a lion-like mane around the neck, a flat face and short, bowed front legs are its hallmarks. It is small but surprisingly heavy and walks with a distinctive rolling gait. It comes in many colors.

Dignified and proud, the Pekingese carries itself as if it were royalty. It is affectionate with its family but has a cat-like independence and does not much like being fussed over. It is wary of strangers and barks to announce noises.

It needs relatively little exercise. Its short nose makes it extremely sensitive to heat and at risk of heatstroke. The long coat tangles easily and needs frequent brushing. Its large, prominent eyes must be protected from injury.

Good to know

A Chinese legend tells of how the breed was born. A lion fell in love with a little marmoset, but they were too different in size to be together. So the lion asked the gods to make him small, keeping only the size of his heart, and their love bore fruit. The result was the Pekingese.

For centuries only members of the imperial family in Beijing were allowed to keep these dogs. The smallest ones were carried in the wide sleeves of their robes, earning them the name "sleeve dogs."

In 1860, when British and French troops looted the Old Summer Palace in Beijing, several Pekingese were found in the palace and taken back to Britain. One of them was presented to Queen Victoria and, given the circumstances, was named Looty.

One of the three dogs that survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 was also a Pekingese. Named Sun Yat-sen after the man who would become the father of the Chinese revolution, he was carried into a lifeboat in his owners' arms and was saved.