The Pekingese is a dignified, lion-hearted companion known for its regal bearing and devoted loyalty to its people.
How the Pekingese coat is built, and what that means when you groom it.
Critical: A Pekingese should not be shaved.
The undercoat keeps heat out as well as in, and the outer coat shields the skin from sun and insect bites. Clipping the whole coat off removes both. It often grows back patchy, soft or a different colour, and in some animals the guard hairs never return properly. Brush the undercoat out instead of cutting it off.
Caution: A Pekingese coat mats easily.
Fine or long hair tangles at the base of the coat, out of sight, where the mats tighten and pull on the skin. Brushing has to reach right down to the roots in sections, not just skim the surface.
A few of the Pekingese profiles members have added to United Pet Club.
The Pekingese is a small, dignified companion breed from China, weighing up to about 6.4 kg, with a flowing double coat and a temperament suited to quiet Filipino households.
The Pekingese is a toy breed that started out as a palace companion in imperial China. It carries itself with a calm, deliberate air, often described as dignified rather than showy. The breed is compact but solidly built for its size, with a broad chest, short legs, and a heavy double coat that frames the face like a lion's mane.
Even with its small frame, the Pekingese is bold and sure of itself. It attaches closely to one or two family members and stays guarded around visitors, a trait that suits many gated subdivisions and condominium buildings where a watchful small dog is welcome. It is affectionate with its own household but keeps its independence, and it often decides on its own terms when it wants to be petted.
This is a dog built for life indoors, not for the outdoor heat that defines most of the year in the Philippines. It needs only modest exercise but steady grooming, and its flat face makes it vulnerable to the local climate. The Pekingese fits calm households, retirees, and owners who want a devoted companion that does not need a yard.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | China |
| Size | Small (up to about 6.4 kg / 14 lb) |
| Lifespan | 12 to 14 years |
| Group / role | Toy / companion |
| Good with | Adults, older children, calm households |
The Pekingese suits condo dwellers, retirees, and anyone who wants a companion that stays close to home rather than one that needs long walks under the sun. It is not the right fit for very active families or homes with boisterous young children, and the coat needs an owner willing to brush it several times a week, even with the humidity.
The Pekingese was bred for centuries inside the palaces of imperial China and only left the country in 1860, when British and French troops took several dogs out of Beijing.
The Pekingese ranks among the oldest companion breeds still around today, with a history in China stretching back well over a thousand years. The dogs lived inside the imperial court and were tied to Chinese royalty. Their lion-like look connected them to Buddhist symbolism, and for long stretches of history, only the palace was allowed to keep them.
Outside the court, the breed stayed almost unknown for centuries. Breeders inside the palace favored a small size and a flat face that matched court taste, and the dogs were treasured as palace animals rather than raised for work.
The Pekingese reached Europe in 1860, when British and French forces entered the imperial palaces in Beijing during the Second Opium War. Soldiers brought several dogs back to Britain, and one was given to Queen Victoria. These dogs became the foundation of the breed in the West.
The breed built a following in Britain, then the United States, through the late 1800s and early 1900s, and major kennel clubs recognized it around the turn of the twentieth century. In the Philippines, the Pekingese is registered through the Philippine Canine Club, Inc. (PCCI), the country's member body with the Federation Cynologique Internationale, and it remains a familiar toy breed in local dog shows.
The Pekingese has a compact, stocky frame, a flat face, big round eyes, and a heavy coat that needs regular care in the local climate.
The Pekingese has a compact, pear-shaped body, heavier in front than in the rear. The head is broad and flat between the ears, with a short, wrinkled muzzle and a black nose. The large, dark, round eyes sit well apart and give the breed its open, watchful expression. The ears are heart-shaped and lie close to the head, feathered with long hair.
The body sits low to the ground and runs slightly longer than it is tall. The breed moves with a rolling, unhurried walk that comes straight from its build, not from any lack of energy. The tail sits high and curls over the back, fringed with long hair.
| Trait | Standard |
|---|---|
| Height | 15 to 23 cm (6 to 9 in) at the shoulder |
| Weight | Up to 6.4 kg (14 lb) |
| Coat | Long, straight double coat with a thick mane around the neck and shoulders |
| Colors | Most colors and patterns, including red, fawn, cream, black, black and tan, and parti-color |
| Eyes | Large, round, dark, set well apart |
The outer coat is long and coarse, with a soft, dense undercoat underneath. Feathering shows on the ears, legs, tail, and feet, and a thicker ruff frames the neck. Most colors are accepted, with red, fawn, and cream the most common in local litters. A dark mask on the face is typical on many of the lighter coats, and the coat needs extra care to stay clean in humid weather.
The Pekingese is loyal and affectionate at home but independent and wary of strangers, with a confident streak that can look like stubbornness.
The Pekingese forms a tight bond with its household and stays loyal and affectionate with the people it knows well. It usually picks one favorite person and follows that person from room to room. At the same time, it keeps an independent streak and is content to rest on its own for long stretches, unbothered by the rest of the household's activity.
Around strangers, the breed stays reserved and watchful. It tends to bark at visitors or unfamiliar sounds, which makes it an alert, if undersized, watchdog for a condo unit or a small house. Early socialization helps it accept new people and new situations with less suspicion.
Around children, the Pekingese does best with older, gentle ones who understand that a small dog can get hurt from rough handling. It does not always put up with teasing. With other pets, it can be choosy and may stand its ground despite its size, so introductions should stay calm and supervised. The breed's confidence and independent streak can come across as stubbornness during training.
| Trait | Rating |
|---|---|
| Affection | 4 |
| Energy | 2 |
| Trainability | 2 |
| Vocalness | 3 |
| Shedding | 4 |
The Pekingese needs frequent brushing, light daily exercise, and a cool, air-conditioned home, since its flat face makes it especially sensitive to Philippine heat and humidity.
The long double coat needs regular attention to stay free of mats and tangles, more so in the local humidity.
The Pekingese has modest exercise needs that fit indoor, air-conditioned living.
The Pekingese is built for life indoors and does best in a cool, air-conditioned home. Its flat face limits how well it can cool itself by panting, so it can overheat fast in tropical heat. It adapts well to condominiums and small units and does not need a yard, which suits many households in Metro Manila and other cities.
Pekingese dogs do well on a measured, high-quality small-breed diet, typically fed twice a day, since the breed gains weight easily without portion control.
The Pekingese does well on a complete, balanced dog food made for small or toy breeds. Since the breed is compact and not very active, it gains weight easily, so portions should be measured rather than left out all day. Extra weight adds strain to the joints and makes breathing problems worse in a flat-faced dog.
Small kibble, or food the dog can pick up easily, suits the short muzzle. Fresh water should always be within reach, especially in the heat.
| Life stage | Amount per day | Meals |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy (2 to 6 months) | Per product guide, divided | 3 to 4 |
| Puppy (6 to 12 months) | Per product guide, divided | 2 to 3 |
| Adult | About 1/2 to 1 cup of small-breed food | 2 |
| Senior | Adjusted for lower activity | 2 |
Keep treats to a small share of daily calories to guard against weight gain. Most Pekingese on a complete diet do not need supplements, but a veterinarian may recommend joint or coat support for individual dogs. Introduce any new food gradually to avoid an upset stomach.
A Pekingese typically lives 12 to 14 years, and its flat face and long back leave it prone to breathing, eye, and spinal issues.
The Pekingese typically lives 12 to 14 years. It is a sturdy breed for its size, but its build brings a set of predictable health concerns. The flat face is behind most brachycephalic airway problems, and the prominent eyes and long back carry their own risks. Responsible breeding and a healthy weight ease many of these issues.
| Condition | Signs | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Brachycephalic airway syndrome | Noisy breathing, snoring, intolerance of heat and exercise | Linked to the flat face; severe cases may need surgery |
| Eye problems | Tearing, cloudiness, ulcers, irritation | Prominent eyes are exposed to injury and dryness |
| Intervertebral disc disease | Back pain, reluctance to move, weakness in limbs | The long, low back is vulnerable; keep weight down |
| Patellar luxation | Skipping steps, intermittent lameness | A kneecap that slips out of place; common in toy breeds |
| Skin fold dermatitis | Redness or odor in facial wrinkles | Keep folds clean and dry |
Pekingese dogs are smart but independent and stubborn, so short, patient, reward-based sessions plus early socialization work best.
The Pekingese is a smart dog with a strong independent streak. It can learn commands well but often weighs whether it feels like obeying, which can look like stubbornness. Harsh methods tend to make the breed shut down or dig in further. Calm, consistent, reward-based training gets far better results. Housetraining can take patience, and crate training often helps.
Early socialization matters. Exposing the puppy to different people, sounds, and situations early on lowers the breed's natural wariness and keeps excessive barking in check later.
Small litters, a flat face, and a compact body make Pekingese breeding a job for experienced, veterinary-supported breeders.
Breeding the Pekingese calls for experience and close veterinary involvement. Females reach maturity within their first year, but responsible breeders wait until a bitch is physically mature and health-screened before mating. The breed's body shape can make natural mating difficult, and the large head of the puppies relative to the dam's size means whelping can be hard.
Gestation runs about 63 days. Litters stay small, typically one to four puppies. Given the risk of difficult births, a veterinarian supervises many Pekingese deliveries, and cesarean section is not unusual. Newborns are tiny and need a warm, clean space and close monitoring in their first weeks.
Responsible breeding includes screening parents for eye, knee, and breathing problems and avoiding the most extreme flat-faced features that make the breed's health worse. Puppies should stay with the dam and litter until at least eight weeks and start gentle socialization before moving to new homes.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Female maturity | Around 6 to 12 months (breed later) |
| Gestation | About 63 days |
| Litter size | 1 to 4 puppies |
| Weaning age | About 6 to 8 weeks |
| Whelping note | Difficult births common; cesarean often needed |
The city vet office handles the RA 9482 paperwork; a free United Pet Club record is what a finder anywhere can actually search for your Pekingese.
Type in your Pekingese's name, his birth date, and a clear photo, add your mobile number, and save. That is the entire process, and the profile stays free for his whole life. Dog registration works with or without a chip, so the vet visit can come later.
The clinic's part ended with the implant; the tracing part is yours. File your Pekingese's 15-digit number with United Pet Club and every scan leads to your phone: free for life, all brands accepted, updates free every time your details change. Microchip registration plus a free account finishes the job.
Open a free United Pet Club account, add your Pekingese's details and a photo, then save the profile. It stays free for his whole life and sits alongside the city vet office registration RA 9482 requires.
Type the 15-digit chip number into your free account together with your mobile number and address. The lifetime plan charges nothing for the registration or for any update, whatever brand the clinic used.
Yes, RA 9482 requires dog registration with your city or municipal veterinary office, along with current anti-rabies vaccination. The United Pet Club profile is the searchable half: free, worldwide, and tied to your current mobile.
Nothing. The free lifetime plan covers the profile, the microchip record, and every update, with no renewal fees at all.
Common questions about Pekingese size, temperament, care needs, lifespan, and how well the breed fits Filipino households.
The Pekingese is a small toy breed. It stands about 15 to 23 cm at the shoulder and weighs up to around 6.4 kg (14 lb), with a stocky build that feels heavier than its size suggests.
The Pekingese is affectionate and devoted to its family but independent and reserved with strangers. It carries itself with confidence and dignity, and that self-direction can make it stubborn during training.
It needs a fair amount of care. The long double coat requires brushing several times a week, the facial folds and eyes need regular cleaning, and the flat face means the dog has to be kept cool, ideally in an air-conditioned room, and protected from heat.
The typical lifespan is 12 to 14 years. Keeping the dog at a healthy weight and managing its breathing and eye health support a longer, more comfortable life.
Yes. The breed has low exercise needs, adapts well to small spaces, and prefers life indoors. It suits condo dwellers, retirees, and calm households across Metro Manila and other cities.
They do best with older, gentle children and calm introductions to other pets. They can be choosy and do not put up with rough handling, so they are not the best fit for homes with very young or boisterous children.
Yes. The thick double coat sheds steadily and even more during seasonal changes, so regular brushing is needed to manage loose hair and prevent mats, especially in humid weather.
