Page 272 - (DK) The Dog Encyclopedia

CATALOG OF BREEDS | COMPANION DOGS

Pekingese

HEIGHT WEIGHT LIFE SPAN Variety of colors
6–9in 11lb Over 12 years
(15–23cm) (5kg)

Dignified and courageous yet sensitive, this good-natured THE LION AND
dog has a mind of its own, making it difficult to train THE MARMOSET

Named after the Chinese capital (formerly By the 1820s breeding had reached its height In Chinese legend, the story is told that a
Peking, now Beijing), the Pekingese has been in China and the best dogs were painted by lion once fell in love with a marmoset—an
impossible love because of their differing sizes.
revealed through DNA analysis as one of court artists in “Imperial dog books,” which
The lion therefore begged Ah Chu, the protector
the oldest dog breeds in existence. Small, served as a visual pedigree. The dogs reached
of animals, to shrink his body to the same size
snub-nosed dogs have been associated the West when the British sacked the Imperial as the marmoset, but keep his lion’s heart and
with the Chinese Imperial Court since at Palace in 1860, capturing five of them. Less character. From the union of the two animals,
least the Tang dynasty (618–907CE). They controversially, in the 1900s the Dowager the Fu Lin, or “lion dog” was born (shown below
were considered sacred because of their Empress Cixi gave dogs as presents to some in an illustration from an Imperial Dog Book
with a Happa Dog, right).
resemblance to the lion—an exalted symbol of her European and American guests.
of Buddha—and could only be owned by The perfect dog for an apartment, the
royalty. Commoners had to bow to the dogs, Pekingese loves exercise but not long walks.
and anyone caught stealing one was put to It makes a loyal and fearless companion but
death. The smallest individuals were “sleeve can be jealous of children and other dogs.
dogs,” carried as guard dogs in noblemen’s
billowing sleeves.

Long, coarse,
straight topcoat
Gold
Lionlike mane
around face

Very short muzzle

Lighter-colored
undercoat

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