Pekingese: Temperament, Size, Lifespan & Care

Pekingese temperament and personality

VCA describes the Pekingese as devoted and dignified with family, but reserved and not very demonstrative, wary of strangers and unfamiliar dogs, and often calm indoors.

Pekes were bred as palace companions, and they still carry themselves like royalty. They are affectionate on their own terms and tend to attach to one person. They are not a breed that wants to be carried around or fussed over constantly.

Let a Peke come to you.

How big do Pekingese get?

VCA gives a height of 6 to 9 inches. The AKC's breed weight chart lists the breed at about 14 pounds, and VCA lists the same figure. Neither source sets separate ranges by sex.

Pekes are heavier than they look for their height, with a stocky, low body. VCA notes the breed tends to gain weight and may need a calorie-controlled diet, and extra weight makes breathing harder for a short-faced dog.

Pekingese lifespan and common health issues

VCA gives a lifespan of 13 to 15 years. It names dental disease, which regular tooth brushing can largely prevent, infection in the facial wrinkle and overheating. VCA's page on brachycephalic airway syndrome lists the Pekingese among the affected breeds.

Ask a breeder how they select for open nostrils and easy breathing, and about eye and back health in the parents. Ask your vet to assess your dog's airway and teeth early. Labored breathing, a bulging or injured eye, or sudden back pain needs a vet the same day.

Exercise and heat

VCA says Pekes need daily exercise such as a relaxed walk or a short play session and are not built for intense activity. It rates warm-weather tolerance at 1 out of 5 and says the breed tolerates cold well but overheats easily and needs a cool environment.

Walk in the cool of the morning or evening in summer, keep play indoors on hot days and never leave a Peke in a car. Use a harness rather than a collar to protect the airway.

Short, gentle play sessions indoors, such as rolling a ball or a gentle game of tug, are often enough exercise on hot days. Stop at the first sign of heavy panting.

Grooming and shedding

VCA says the long, coarse outer coat and thick undercoat need brushing about twice a week to prevent mats, rates shedding as average, and says the facial wrinkle should be cleaned and dried daily and the hindquarters checked for hygiene.

Brush in layers down to the skin with a pin brush and comb. Many pet owners keep the hair around the rear and feet trimmed. Brush the teeth often, as VCA advises.

Training a Pekingese

VCA says Pekes are independent and stubborn, resist harsh methods and do best with food-based rewards, and rates ease of training at 1 out of 5. It notes many have been trained to use indoor potties.

Keep sessions very short and positive. Focus on house training, handling for grooming and calm behavior with visitors. Patience matters far more than repetition.

End every session with a treat and a rest so the dog associates training with something pleasant.

Are Pekingese good with kids and other pets?

VCA says Pekes can do well with children but may not have enough playfulness for them. A dignified small dog suits calm, older children better than toddlers.

VCA says Pekes usually get along with small pets but are often unfriendly toward other dogs. Supervise meetings with larger dogs, which could injure a Peke's eyes or back.

Give the dog a quiet bed away from busy areas, and supervise all play.

What a Pekingese needs at home

A cool home in summer, a cooling mat, a soft bed, a small crate, a lightweight harness and ramps or steps so the dog does not jump off furniture are the basics.

For care, keep a pin brush, a metal comb, soft cloths for the facial wrinkle, eye wipes, nail clippers and a dog toothbrush. Ask your vet about airway and dental checks early.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.