| Description: The Pekingese is relatively short with | | | | Peking club of England was established. The first of |
| strong boned front legs it is quite muscular with a | | | | this breed in Ireland had been given to a Dr Heuston; |
| slow dignified walking style, they have a medium to | | | | it had been presented to him by the Chinese minister, |
| long coat with their topcoat being quite thick and | | | | as a sign of gratitude for his work establishing |
| course and the undercoat softer. Their ideal weight is | | | | smallpox vaccination clinics in various locations, about |
| between 8 and 10 pounds; they are surprisingly | | | | China. |
| sturdy and quite muscular. They come in a variety of | | | | Temperament. Typically speaking, the Pekingese is a |
| colours including Sables White Gold black and tan and | | | | loyal and loving dog without being too clingy, to its |
| unusually blue or slate. Their face is a little pug nosed | | | | owner. They are a proud dog and are of regal |
| in appearance with a black mask. | | | | stature, often giving the impression, as they look |
| History. As you may guess, the Pekingese originated | | | | around, that they are studying their minions. They |
| in China, although exactly when has been lost in the | | | | can be very stubborn, and definitely like to have their |
| annals of antiquity. Although what appears to be the | | | | own way. On the upside, if the Pekingese respects |
| commonest story, is that the dogs were a favourite | | | | you, they will be well mannered with very little formal |
| of the Emperor, and pursuant to that were revered, | | | | training required. However, problems can occur if the |
| and they lived mostly in the temples of China. History | | | | dog gets the impression that they are actually in |
| dates this breed of dog at anything from 2000 years | | | | charge. Indoors they tend to generally lounge around |
| ago to 2000 years BC. Pekingese dogs were | | | | the house, but can burst into sudden bouts of |
| introduced to England in 1860; this was after the | | | | activity, which can be of great entertainment to the |
| occupation of Peking during the second opium War. | | | | owners and family friends. They are a fearless dog, |
| One of the original five dogs taken to England was, | | | | and may get into arguments with animals much larger |
| allegedly, presented to Queen Victoria as a gift. The | | | | than themselves, but they are very strong |
| first official standard was written in 1898 for the | | | | considering their small stature, and do not back down |
| Pekingese dog, and during 1904, in England, the | | | | easily. |