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PEKINGESE IN NEED!
About the Pekingese Breed
Courtesy of The Pekingese Club of America
The Imperial PekingesePekingese
are one of the oldest of all dog breeds with a fascinating history that
dates back to 800 A.D. They were the Emperor's dogs in China and were
bred exclusively as possessions, fashion accessories and guards of the
Imperial Court in Beijing. The penalty for smuggling one of these dogs
our of the palaces was certain death. The smallest ones,around 5
pounds, were carried in the huge sleeves of the imperial robes and thus
earned the name "Sleeve Pekingese," which endures to this day.
Pekingese were introduced to America in the late 1800s and quickly
became one of the most popular of all toy breeds.
A Great Companion DogPekingese
make one of the best companion dogs in the dog world because of their
almost human intelligence and their well-mannered, affectionate
natures. But they do require special care. Once you learn and
understand their needs, however, it's easy to care for a Pekingese.
Pekingese are dignified but playful, and they're independent thinkers
who are nonetheless easily trained. They're a vigorous breed that
requires a minimum of daily exercise to stay fit. Pekingese originated
in the coldest climate of China and are an arctic breed by nature, so
they tolerate the cold extremely well, but not the heat. Care must
therefore always be taken to guard against overheating.
TrainingAn
untrained Pekingese, regardless of its size or its breed, can be a
problem to its owner and to society in general. Training should begin
as early as possible and continue as the dog grows. Always reward your
Pekingese with praise and encouragement when it has responded to a
command, remembering that good habits are built upon positive
reinforcement. It is advisable to take your Pekingese to training
classes as well as to public places to get it used to noises, different
people and situations. Always be patient and convey to your Pekingese
confidence, nonchalance and good manners,and it will adapt to your
attitudes and make a well-mannered pet throughout its life.
Health and General Care
For
140 years Pekingese have been one of the healthiest of all breeds, as
they still are today. But, as with all short-faced breeds, the natural
ease of breathing can be a major concern. It is important to choose a
Pekingese with wide open nostrils and a moderate-sized nose. Because
Pekingese don't have a long muzzle to act as a natural barrier of
protection for the eyes, it is important to ensure that your environment
is safe for your Peke and that nothing can jab or irritate its eyes.
Pekingese appreciate cold temperatures and therefore some owners travel
with their Pekes on frozen ice packs, or an ice pillow, even for rides
in the car, which provides a level of comfort that Pekingese thoroughly
enjoy.
GroomingThe
Pekingese coat is its crowning glory and is generally easy to maintain
with at few minutes of brushing a couple of times a week to avoid
matting. Keeping nails trimmed, teeth cleaned, and the fold of skin
over the nose clean and dry is part of routine maintenance. You may
also want to train your Peke to hold still as you trim back the hair on
the top edge of the over nose wrinkle so that no hair goes in the eyes.
You might also decided to trim the excess fur between their paws and
around the anus for sanitary purposes. Many Peke owners keep their dogs
in a "Lion clip" or "Summer clip" during the warmer months, or just
year-round, to make maintenance that much easier and more comfortable
for their Pekingese.