Juliette Cunliffe - Pekingese: A Comprehensive Guide to Owning and Caring for Your Dog

Physical Characteristics of the Pekingese

(from the American Kennel Club breed standard )

Neck: Very short, thick and set back into the shoulder.

Skull: Topskull is massive, broad and flat.

Ears: Heart-shaped and set on the front corners of the skull extending the line of the topskull.

Eyes: Large, very dark, round, lustrous and set wide apart.

Nose: Black, broad, very short and in profile, contributes to the flat appearance of the face. Nostrils are open.

Pigment: Skin of the nose, lips and eye rims is black on all colors.

Wrinkle: Effectively separates the upper and lower areas of the face. The appearance is of a hair-covered fold of skin, extending from one cheek, over the bridge of the nose in a wide inverted V, to the other cheek.

Stop: Deep.

Muzzle: Very short and broad with high, wide cheek bones.

Mouth: Lower jaw is slightly undershot. The lips meet on a level plane and neither teeth nor tongue show when the mouth is closed.

Forequarters: Short, thick and heavy-boned. The bones of the forelegs are slightly bowed between the pastern and elbow. Shoulders are gently laid back and fit smoothly into the body. The elbows are always close to the body. Front feet are large, flat and turned slightly out.

Proportion: Length of the body, from the front of the breast bone in a straight line to the buttocks, is slightly greater than the height at the withers. Overall balance is of utmost importance.

Body: Pear-shaped and compact. It is heavy in front with well-sprung ribs slung between the forelegs. The broad chest, with little or no protruding breast bone, tapers to lighter loins with a distinct waist. The topline is level.

Tail: Base is set high; the remainder is carried well over the center of the back. Long, profuse straight feathering may fall to either side.

Hindquarters: Lighter in bone than the forequarters. There is moderate angulation and definition of stifle and hock. When viewed from behind, the rear legs are reasonably close and parallel and the feet point straight ahead.

Coat: Body Coat: Full-bodied, with long, coarse textured, straight, stand-off coat and thick, softer undercoat. The coat forms a noticeable mane on the neck and shoulder area. Feathering: Long feathering is found on the back of the thighs and forelegs, and on the ears, tail and toes.

Color: All coat colors and markings, including parti-colors, are allowable and of equal merit.

Size/Substance: Stocky, muscular body. All weights are correct within the limit of 14 pounds, provided that type and points are not sacrificed.

Contents

Revered for its size, personality, intelligence and looks, the Pekingese is one of todays most popular dogs. Discover its imperial beginnings in China, learn about important people in the breeds early days and trace its journey into the Western World.

The Pekingese is as distinct in personality as he is in looks. Find out all about the breeds temperament, what physical characteristics make him unique and the best kind of owner for a Pekingese , as well as breed-specific health concerns.

Learn the requirements of a well-bred Pekingese by studying the description of the breed set forth in the American Kennel Club standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

Be advised about choosing a reputable breeder and selecting a healthy, typical puppy. Understand the responsibilities of ownership, including home preparation, acclimatization, the vet and prevention of common puppy problems.

Enter into a sensible discussion of dietary and feeding considerations, exercise, grooming, traveling and identification of your dog. This chapter discusses Pekingese care for all stages of development.

By Charlotte Schwartz

Be informed about the importance of training your Pekingese from the basics of house-breaking and understanding the development of a young dog to executing obedience commands (sit, stay, down, etc.).

Discover how to select a qualified vet and care for your dog at all stages of life. Topics include vaccinations, skin problems, dealing with external and internal parasites and common medical and behavioral conditions, plus a special section on eye disease.

Experience the dog show world in the conformation ring and beyond. Learn about the American Kennel Club, the different types of shows and the making of a champion, as well as obedience and agility trials.

K ENNEL C LUB B OOKS P EKINGESE

ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-253-5

eISBN 13: 978-1-93704-976-8

Copyright 2003 Kennel Club Books An Imprint of I-5 Press A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC

3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618 USA

Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Photographs by Carol Ann Johnson, with additional photographs by:

Norvia Behling, T. J. Calhoun, Doskocil, Isabelle Franais, Bill Jonas, Mikki Pet Products and Alice Roche.

Illustrations by Rene Low.

The publisher would like to thank the owners of the dogs featured in the book, including Maria Castro, Anthony & Elizabeth Deck, Gloria Henes, Edith N. Jones, Roxanne Luchesi, Miss Winnie Mee, Lorraine Moran, Nicolas Odette, Sylvia Roznick, Alice & Robert Sohl, Ev Spaulding, Susan Speranza and Elizabeth Tilley.

Eng. Ch. Chu-Erh of Alderbourne, owned by Mrs. C. Ashton Cross and painted by Lilian Cheviot in 1907.