Dignified and stately, the Peke has a comical side with their family, but can be reserved with strangers. Under the coat there is a robust little dog, but even if clipped short they are not inclined to strenuous activity. Preferring to be with their people at all times, this is very much a companion breed, and they will not thrive if left alone for very long. Clever and brave in their own way, Pekes are stoic little characters for the most part, but can be surprisingly strong willed and determined, despite their small stature.

Country of Origin: China

The Pekingese or Peke has been around a long time, since the Shu Dynasty, around 2000 years ago. At this time China had recently become a Buddhist country, however the major symbol of Buddhism, the lion (which Buddha tamed and turned into a faithful servant and powerful protector) does not exist in China. So, the Buddhist monks created their own miniature lion by selectively breeding the Pekingese!

Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed them at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food. You can find out more about balanced diets for dogs with our step-by-step guide.

The Peke is a brachycephalic breed, which means they have very short noses. Coupled with their heavy coats and short legs, they are not built for fast walks or long walks. Of course, keeping your Pekingese as lean and fit as possible will help them, so half hour walks at a steady pace and off lead running in secure places is ideal as a dog exercise. Take care in hot weather or even warm weather, to exercise before the temperatures rise or late at night once they have cooled. Be aware that being low to the ground, temperatures can remain high at pavement level, even if things feel cooler for you, higher up.

Ideal Peke owners will have the ability to groom this heavy coated dog frequently, and the budget for expensive vet bills, as this breed does have a high risk of health issues due to their short necks and short faces/noses and extreme coat. The Peke is a steady companion with bags of character, who is friendly, personable and won’t demand hours of exercise.

Space requirements

Suited to any size home as long as owners are almost always present – the Peke left alone is a sad and deeply unhappy dog. Not great with stairs, so single-storey living is ideal, and a decent sized garden will be appreciated, but ensure it is well fenced! Suited to city or countryside as long as there are safe places to walk and train, the Pekingese really doesn’t mind where you live, as long as you are there!

Training pekingese dogs

The Peke responds well to kind dog training methods using food or toys as rewards. They are not overly inclined to enjoy training for its own sake, but you should work hard to teach your Pekingese to walk nicely on the lead without pulling, a good solid recall and of course, socialise well with other animals and people whilst young. Pekes are capable of learning, they are far from stupid, but you will need to work hard to motivate a Peke to do as you ask.

Best family dog

Ideal for those who are home a lot, and want a companion dog who is not demanding. However, they do need an owner who understands the implications of a brachycephalic breed, and someone who enjoys grooming every day. Not really suited to smaller children due to the time taken up by grooming, and the difficulty very young children have in discerning real dog from toy. Better with older children, but would prefer a quieter and more sedentary home than most families can provide. While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.

Did you know?

• The Pekingese really found fame with the character Tricky-Woo in James Herriot’s veterinary books and the subsequent TV series ‘All Creatures Great and Small’. In the books, Tricky-Woo suffers from ‘cracker dog’ and ‘flop-bott’ (likely excessive energy and ‘zoomies’ and anal glad issues respectively). In the recent remake of the series, Tricki-Woo is played by a Pekingese called Derek who apparently would upstage the actors by adding his own ad-lib ‘grrs’ and ‘woofs’ when addressed during a scene!
• In ancient China, the smallest and fiercest Pekingese were kept up the wide sleeves of Emperors and couriers who would release them to fend off any potential attackers