Appearance

The Pekingese is a small and fragile looking toy dog. The body is long, compact and low to the ground, with bowed legs and a high-set, slightly arched tail carried over the back. The head has a flat face with a short muzzle, prominent eyes and heart shaped ears. The coat is long and straight with a dense undercoat and a coarse topcoat, and a distinctive lustrous mane. The coloring varies but tends to include brown, black, red, sable, white, a blend of black and tan amongst others.

History

Dating back to the Tang Dynasty of 8th-century China, Pekingese were beloved pets in the emperor’s court and called Fu Lin, or “the Lion Dogs of China,” because of their regal attitudes and flowing manes. For centuries Chinese royals and nobles carefully bred these dogs. In 1860, British troops raided the imperial summer palace and discovered these dogs. Several “Pekes” were brought back to Europe, where they were given to queens and duchesses, boosting their exposure and popularity. The AKC registered the Pekingese breed in 1906.