The Pekingese is a small, fun-loving, affectionate, and lovable lap dog. They tend to make great family companions. Here are a few more facts about the Pekingese:

1. The Pekingese is an Ancient Dog Breed

The Pekingese is one of the ancient dog breeds. Although the earliest records are during the Tang dynasty in the 8th century, it’s difficult to determine how old the breed actually is because their origins stretch back so many centuries.

These small dogs even appear in Chinese legends. Legends say the Pekingese was created by Buddha who shrunk lions down to the size of a small dog. The “lion’s mane” of longer fur around their neck helps to support the legend. This is also why one of their nicknames was Lion Dog.

2. They Were Bred by the Ruling Classes of China

Although many ancient Chinese toy breeds were bred by the ruling classes of China, there are still only a few dog breeds that were specifically bred by them. The Pekingese is one of these dog breeds.

They were created by Chinese emperors and their court to be royal companions. Because of their royal background and the fact they were small enough to be carried inside large sleeves, other nicknames included Sun Dogs or Sleeve Dogs. Additionally, as members of the imperial household, it was considered a crime punishable by death to steal one of the royal dogs.

This exclusive breeding and ownership are also some reasons why it took so long for the Peke to become popular outside of China. It wasn’t until British Troops brought a few Pekingese back to the Queen after the Second Opium War of 1860 that the breed started to make its way West.

3. The Peke is Great for Families

The Pekingese is a companion dog with an affectionate, friendly nature. Plus, they love attention. They tend to get along with children, other dogs, and other pets. All of this makes them a great fit for families.

They can be wary of strangers at first. But, as long as they are properly socialized, they will warm up quickly. After all, they love the attention and are more interested in charming their new friends and being praised.

4. They Can be Prone to Barking

Pekes may be small dogs, but they are also confident and alert dogs that will let you know when something or someone is around. This can make them prone to barking a lot.

Because of this, you will want to train your dog to stop barking early on to keep it from becoming a nuisance behavior. You may not be able, or even want, to make them stop barking to alert you completely. But, you can train them to respond to a cue or a redirection to stop barking on command.

These are just a few facts about the Pekingese. If you think the Pekingese could be the right dog breed for you, learn more about them, and then check out the available Pekingese puppies. Who knows? You could end up finding your new best friend!