All about the royal Pekingese
The Pekingese is a miniature dog breed that originated 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 more likely a PR stunt and refers to purebred long-haired dogs. This funny four-legged friend is endowed with exquisite habits and a good-natured character. This decorative breed is suitable for those who love "tame", calm and affectionate pets who do not bark for no reason.
Breeding history
To breed the royal Pekingese, decorative pets of the breed were crossed with larger dogs. According to some legends, the progenitors 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.
Rather, they were an indicator of luxury and prosperity. In some cities, temples were built and worshiped in honor of these animals.
The Pekingese were available only to the rulers and their immediate entourage. Images of miniature dogs can still be seen today in ancient Chinese frescoes. Only the emperor could give such pets to someone. There were cases of theft of puppies, as people believed that they would bring wealth and success to the family, but the perpetrators of these incidents were found and severely punished.
Royal Pekingese came to Europe during a coup d'état, when the imperial mansions were burned. The 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 given to decorative dogs only at the end of the 19th century.
In the countries of the Soviet Union, miniature pets appeared in the middle of the 20th century, but initially they were brought to Leningrad, where dog handlers started breeding these cute puppies.
External characteristics
The Imperial Pekingese is a miniature breed, so these four-legged are often called decorative. Their lifespan is approximately 20 years. The growth of an adult dog reaches 30 cm in length and 16 cm in height, and weighs 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 wrong to single out the dwarf Pekingese as a separate species of breed.
External characteristics of the Imperial Pekingese:
- flat back, narrowed lower back and slightly slanted shoulder blades;
- well-defined muscular withers;
- tarsi short, massive, hind ones smaller than front ones;
- long hair grows between the toes;
- the muzzle is short, wide, with folds near the nose;
- the tail is set high, pressed to the back and slightly curved to the side;
- the ears are small, heart-shaped, because of the long hair it seems that they are drooping;
- large, slightly protruding brown eyes.
Most often, royal Pekingese have long hair with a little down, but smooth-haired puppies with shorter hair are also found. This factor largely depends on the breeding and nutritional conditions of the dogs. The color of miniature animals is quite varied and ranges 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 tightly adjacent to each other, but puppies with an irregular bite are also found. The teeth of a healthy pet should be even and white. Owners must definitely monitor the oral hygiene of their pet.
The nature of the Pekingese
Royal Pekingese have a calm, friendly character, so they get along well with people, love affection, and obediently sit in their arms. The pet has a special bond with its owner - he feels his mood, is happy or sad with him and is hard to bear separation. A dog can completely refuse water and food if his loved one is not around.
The four-legged furry is very playful, loves to walk and lends itself well to training. Despite the external defenselessness, the doggie is quite freedom-loving and does not tolerate when the boundaries of his personal space are violated. The owner must take into account the peculiarities 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 should not be treated rudely or raised a voice at them, as they will be offended and angry for a long time... The animal will show its aggression by barking and growling, in extreme cases it can bite. In addition, this behavior can manifest itself in cases where the pet comes into contact with other dogs or strangers. Surprisingly, such a miniature 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 their owner. Also, the doggie 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.
Common diseases
The health of the royal Pekingese is relatively strong, so with proper nutrition and care, there are no particular problems. However, this breed has an innate tendency to some diseases:
- cataract;
- conjunctivitis;
- inflammation of the lacrimal canals;
- violation of the heart valve;
- back problems;
- skin diseases;
- kidney ailments.
To keep your pet healthy and active, you need to regularly visit the veterinarian with him and get all the necessary vaccinations. In addition, the owner must be aware of the characteristics of the organism of his four-legged friend and not endanger him.
For example, large physical activities are contraindicated in Pekingese due to possible problems with the cardiovascular system.
Also, in dogs of this breed, the function of heat exchange is impaired due to the peculiarities of the structure of the muzzle, therefore, at high temperatures, asthma attacks may occur. If the animal is constantly kept in hot conditions, then respiratory diseases will begin to develop.
Care
For a Pekingese to look truly royal, it must be carefully looked after. First of all, it must be combed out daily, otherwise tangles will form on the wool. To do this, use special brushes.
Miniature dogs get dirty quite often, which is why the owners have to bathe them almost every week. According to experts, such scrupulous care can harm the animal. They advise to bathe your baby at most once a month, and if he gets dirty often, 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 spout - they must be wiped with damp wipes or cotton swabs dipped in warm water. It is important to ensure that no water gets into the ears, as this breed may develop deafness due to this.
The Imperial Pekingese is very active and playful, so you need to regularly walk with him 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.
Power features
Puppies under 4 months old need to be fed 4 times a day, while it is 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. Also, gradually increase portions and reduce the number of meals. It is permissible to feed an adult dog 2 times a day.
The diet of a Pekingese should be balanced and monotonous. Typically, it includes vegetables, grains, dairy and dairy products, fish and lean meats.
For the convenience of the pet, it is recommended to cut food into small pieces, especially meat.
Bones should not be given to a Pekingese, as he simply will not master them, but he will chew on the cartilage with pleasure.
In order not to harm the health of the four-legged pet, the following food should be prohibited:
- all kinds of sweets;
- foods that cause bloating;
- fatty meats;
- fried, smoked, salted, spicy and pickled foods;
- Exotic fruits;
- muffins and pasta;
- broth dishes.
If the owners want to transfer the Pekingese to 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.
For interesting facts about the Pekingese, see the next video.
