Pekingese Breed Standard

History of the Pekingese Breed

(Info about Peke health you find here!)

The Pekingese was held sacred in China in ancient times, the land of its origin. He was virtually created in the royal courts of China where, eventually he assumed a lordly and high position. There is no other quite like the Pekingese, and who can resist the appeal of the Pekingese Puppies, the most delightful babies of all. In size the Peke is extremely handy- he can fit into a city apartment, a compact car, or under an arm. He has devotion and understanding of a true friend, who laughs and plays when you are happy and weeps when you are sad.

As a watchdog and guard you could do no better, big dogs have been known to retreat faint-hearted before the fury of the Peke defending his territory. Should he get into a battle with a much large animal the Pekingese may die a Hero's death for he shall never give up. Fortunately this kind of out and out battle doesn't happen often. A Peke doesn't yap without reason. He barks to warn his owner - or - at something unusual. The Pekingese has some charming ways, like his joy at seeing you when you return, he will dance on his hind legs or lick (kiss) your hands and face with delight. You soon look forward to that wonderful greeting and miss it sorely when it is gone.

The fabled origin of the Pekingese is that from the marriage of a lion and a monkey came the Pekingese, with it's form, the heart, the courage, and the dignity of the lion, and the impudent face, the intelligence, and sense of the monkey.

The AKC first registered the Pekingese in 1906.

The Pekingese is a dignified little dog who can sometimes be stubborn.

The Pekingese has long, straight, thick profuse coats, which requires regular brushing to prevent knots and mats from forming.

The Pekingese is a good dog for a small city apartment, but will be just as happy in a rural setting. If a Pekingese has ever owned you you'll never want to be without one, and then it becomes hard to have just one !

* * *REVISED BREED STANDARD FOR THE PEKINGESE* * *

The Board of Directors of The American Kennel Club has approved the following revised standard for the Pekingese as submitted by the Pekingese Club of America, Inc.

General Appearance

The Pekingese is a well-balanced, compact dog with heavy front and lighter hindquarters. It must suggest its Chinese origin in its directness, independence, individuality and expression. Its image is lionlike. It should imply courage, boldness and self-esteem rather than prettiness, daintiness or delicacy.

Size, Substance, Proportion

Size/Substance, The Pekingese should be surprisingly heavy when lifted. It has a stocky, muscular body. The bone of the forequarters must be very heavy in relation to the size of the dog. All weights are correct within the limit of 14 pounds, provided that type and points are not sacrificed. Disqualification: weight over 14 pounds. Proportion the length of the body, from the front of the breastbone in a straight line to the buttocks, is slightly greater than the height at the withers. Overall balance is of utmost importance.

Head

The Skull, The topskull is massive, broad and flat (not dome-shaped). The topskull, the high, wide cheekbones, broad lower jaw and wide chin are the structural formation of the correctly shaped face. When viewed frontally, the skull is wider than deep and contributes to the rectangular envelope-shaped appearance of the head. In profile, the Pekingese face must be flat.

The chin, nose leather and brow all lie in one plane. In the natural position of the head, this plane appears vertical but slants very slightly backward from chin to forehead.

Nose, It is black, broad, and very short and in profile, contributes to the flat appearance of the face. Nostrils are open. The nose is positioned between the eyes so that a line drawn horizontally across the top of the nose intersects the center of the eyes.

Eyes, they are large, very dark, round, lustrous and set wide apart. The look is bold, not bulging. The eye rims are black and the white of the eye does not show when the dog is looking straight ahead. Wrinkle it effectively separates the upper and lower areas of the face. The appearance is of a hair-covered fold of skin, extending from one cheek, over the bridge of the nose in a wide inverted "V", to the other cheek. It is NEVER so prominent or heavy neither as to crowd the facial features nor to obscure a large portion of the eyes or the nose from view.

Stop, it is deep. The bridge of the nose is completely obscured from view by hair and/or the over-nose wrinkle.

Muzzle, this is very short and broad with high, wide cheekbones. The color of the skin is black. Whiskers add to the Oriental expression.

Mouth, the lower jaw is slightly undershot. The lips meet on a level plane and neither teeth nor tongue show when the mouth is closed. The lower jaw is strong, wide, firm and straight across at the chin. An excessively strong chin is as undesirable as a weak one.

Ears, they are heart-shaped and set on the front corners of the skull extending the line of the topskull. Correctly placed ears frame the sides of the face and with their heavy feathering create an illusion of additional width of the head. Pigment the skin of the nose, lips and eye rims is black on all colors.

Neck, Body, Tail

Neck, is very short, thick and set back into the shoulder. Body, is pear-shaped and compact. It is heavy in front with well-sprung ribs slung between the forelegs. The broad chest, with little or no protruding breastbone, tapers to lighter loins with a distinct waist. The topline is level. Tail The base is set high; the remainder is carried well over the center of the back. Long, profuse straight feathering may fall to either side.

Forequarters

They are short, thick and heavy-boned. The bones of the forelegs are slightly bowed between the pastern and elbow. Shoulders are gently laid back and fit smoothly into the body. The elbows are always close to the body. Front feet are large, flat and turned slightly out. The dog must stand well up on feet.

Hindquarters

They are lighter in bone than the forequarters. There is moderate angulation and definition of stifle and hock. When viewed from behind, the rear legs are reasonably close and parallel and the feet point straight ahead. Soundness is essential in both forequarters and hindquarters.

Coat

Body Coat, it is full-bodied, with long, coarse textured, straight, standoff coat and thick, softer undercoat. The coat forms a noticeable mane on the neck and shoulder area with the coat on the remainder of the body somewhat shorter in length. A long and profuse coat is desirable providing that it does not obscure the shapeliness of the body, nor sacrifice the correct coat texture. Long feathering is found on the back of the thighs and forelegs, and on the ears, tail and toes. The feathering is left on the toes but should not be so long as to prevent free movement.

Color

All coat colors and markings, including parti-colors, are allowable and are of equal merit.

Gait

The gait is unhurried and dignified, with as slight roll over the shoulders. The bowed front legs and heavier, wider forequarters pivoting on the tapered waistand the lighter, straight parallel hindquarters cause the rolling gait. The rolling motion is smooth and effortless and is as free as possible from bouncing prancing, or jarring.

Temperament

A combination of regal dignity, self-importance, self-confidence and exasperating stubborness make for a good natured, lively and affectionate companion to those who earned its respect.

The foregoing is a description of the ideal Pekingese.