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Affectionate and loyal, the Pekingese were among the prized companions of imperial families in China, iconic for their “lion’s mane” and unique “rolling” gait. No wonder the Pekes have a self-important temperament, given their history as royal favorites.
See the fact file below for more information on the Pekingese or alternatively, you can download our 18-page Pekingese worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
HISTORY
- According to Chinese folklore, the Pekingese came from the story of the lion and the marmoset: “A lion and a marmoset fell in love. But the lion was too large. The lion went to the Buddha and told him of his woes. The Buddha allowed the lion to shrink down to the size of the marmoset. And the Pekingese was the result.”
- Another less-known origin story is about the butterfly lions: “A lion fell in love with a butterfly. But the butterfly and lion knew the difference in size was too much to overcome. Together they went to see the Buddha, who allowed their size to meet in the middle. From this, the Pekingese came.”
- The Peke is known to have existed in China 2000 years ago. Named after the capital city of Peking, currently Beijing, they accompanied nobles, princes, and members of the royal family.
- These dogs were closely protected and were never permitted to leave the palace, let alone China, but reached the Western world due to the Opium War in 1860.
- When the British army seized the imperial palace after conquering Peking, they found five Pekingese dogs guarding the body of their owner, who had chosen to commit suicide instead of being held captive. They became prizes of battles and were brought to England; two were presented to the Duchess of Wellington, two to the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and Gordon, and one to Queen Victoria, who named her Pekingese “Looty”.
- They remained uncommon, although by the end of the 19th century, more of these breeds were smuggled out of China. Pekin Peter was known to be the first Pekingese to be displayed at a British dog show, in 1894. During those years, these dogs were referred to as the Chinese Pug and the Pekingese Spaniel.
- A Pekingese club was created in 1904.
- In 1906, the very first Pekingese listed in the American Kennel Club (AKC) was named Rascal.
- Three years later, the Pekingese Club of America was established.
PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES
- The Peke is heavy for its small stature, with a compact, muscular body. It stands at an average of 6 to 9 inches at the shoulder and weighs 7 to 14 pounds.
- Its skull is wider than deep, which adds to the desired rectangular, envelope-shaped feature of the head. The Peke’s ears are heart-shaped, set on the front sides of the topskull, and lie flat against the head.
- Cataracts. An eye condition which causes difficulty in seeing, usually affecting dogs in old age. This happens when the Pekingese’s eyes have a cloudy appearance on the lens.
- Cleft Palate. A Pekingese with a cleft palate has a slit that runs bilaterally or unilaterally in the roof of the mouth and can vary in size from a small hole to a large cut.
- Cryptorchidism. A disorder where in one or both testicles on the Pekingese fail to descend and naturally affects small dogs.
- Distichiasis. An additional layer of eyelashes emerges on the oil gland in the Pekingese’s eye and protrudes along the corner of the eyelid.
- Hydrocephalus. A congenital defect, obstruction, or trauma during birth causes cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to pile up in the brain. Pekingese with hydrocephalus have swollen or enlarged heads.
- Progressive retinal aAtrophy (PRA). An eye condition that may lead to blindness.
CARE
- The Pekingese loves a regular walk or playing outdoors. They often stay cheerful well into old age. Since they are active indoors and do not need too much exercise, it does not require a great deal of effort to maintain them in good shape.
- It is appropriate to wait until your Pekingese puppy is 8 months old to take it for long walks, because its bones are still developing.
- Allow your puppy to play at its own pace in your fenced backyard until it is old enough, and take it to the vet for a checkup before putting it on a regimented exercise program.
- Trim their nails once or twice a month and brush their teeth at least two or three times a week to get rid of tartar buildup and bacteria.
Pekingese Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Pekingese across 18 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Pekingese worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Pekingese which were among the prized companions of imperial families in China, iconic for their “lion’s mane” and unique “rolling” gait. No wonder the Pekes have a self-important temperament, given their history as royal favorites.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Maltese Facts
- Peke-a-boo
- Breed Standards
- Fetch Some Facts
- Growing Up a Peke
- Pekingese FAQs
- Two Royals
- Other Ancient Imperial Breeds
- Taking Care of Peke
- Pros and Cons of Peke
- Adopt, Don’t Shop
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Link will appear as Pekingese Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 4, 2020
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.