Instructions
Look at the general appearance of the Pekingese. With its heavy front and light rear, it is still well-balanced. It is also known as the “lion dog” because of its courageous expression, dignity and boldness. Its body is quite stocky and muscular. Males and females can weigh up to 14 pounds and have a rectangular shape, as it is longer than tall.
Check that the head is bigger than the body as far as proportion goes. The eyes are set wide apart and the skull is wider than it is deep. They are dark, large and round. While not bulging, they should give a definite bold look. The heart-shaped ears lie flat against the head and have heavy feathering. The nose is wide, short and black with wide nostrils.
Make sure the neck is short and thick and blends in with the thick, heavy-boned forequarters. The body itself is pear-shaped and rides low to the ground. The chest is broad, but the breatbone does not protrude. The front legs are slightly bowed and lead to front feet that are turned out a bit. The rear is lighter than the front and has moderate angulation. The rear feet point forward. The slightly arched tail is carried over the back and should not kink or curl. It has long, straight hair, forming a fringe that may fall to the left or right.
Look at the long, coarse double coat. The outer coat is straight and covers a soft, thick undercoat. It forms a mane on the neck and shoulders that is a bit longer than the rest of the coat. The toes, backs of the thighs and forelegs all have long feathering. The ears also have a long fringe. There is no particular color for the Pekingese, other than the nose, exposed skin of the muzzle, lips and eye rims all should be black.
How to Identify a Pekingese
The Pekingese is a big dog in a little dog package. They can be aggressive to other dogs unless socialized properly. Though it is a loyal breed, and protective of its family, it can be difficult to train, even though it is an intelligent breed. The Pekingese is good-natured, but also opinionated.