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Pekingese Pekingese or Pekinese is an ancient breed of toy dog, originating in China. They were the favored imperial pet. Good-natured and happy, these dogs enjoy family environments, but require regular cleaning if in outdoor environments. Their eyes are very delicate as they sit above the socket rather than within the socket. These dogs are also called Dogs of Foo (or Fu) by the Chinese, and how much they are revered can be seen in the number of Chinese artworks depicting them. They were considered a guardian spirit as they resembled Chinese lions (see Lion dance). In ancient times, Pekingese were kept by royal Chinese emperors. The emperor's Pekingese was to be treated like royalty. If someone tried to kidnap the Pekingese and the emperor found out, they would commonly have the kidnapper executed. Appearance The Pekingese breed is over 2000 years old and has hardly changed in all that time. One exception is that modern breeders and dog-show judges seem to prefer the long-haired type over the more-traditional spaniel-type coat. All breed standards allow all sorts of color combinations. The most common is gold; this is the color of the majority of Pekingese exhibited. Although the breed once came in a variety of colours, the majority of Pekingese are gold, red or sable. Light gold, cream, black, white, sables, black and tan and occasionally 'blue' or slate grey have appeared in the breed. The latter often has poor pigment and light eyes. Albino Pekingese (white with pink eyes) should be bred cautiously due to health problems that have been associated with albinism. The Chinese bred them to be companions to the Emperor of China and his ladies and eunuchs. They have short legs that are bowed. It is said that this was done to discourage wandering. However, they can and will keep up with the big dogs when allowed. The bowed legs makes their walk, run, or trot quite striking. The juvenile appearance of the Pekingese has been attributed to the artificial, perhaps inadvertent, paedomorphosis of an "ancestral" form of the dog through breeding. Pekes weigh from 7 to 14 pounds (3-6 kg) and stand about 6-9 inches (15-23 cm) at the withers. Temperament These dogs can be stubborn and jealous. Do not expect this dog to come when it is called. Pekes are sometimes aggressive, especially to other dogs. It may take a long time for Pekes to get used to any other dogs except puppies, mates, and siblings. However, Pekes can be properly socialized with dogs and other types of pets and can become fast friends. It is easy to believe that Pekes know that they are royalty and expect you to know it, too. The Pekingese personality has been compared to a cat, although this isn't quite right. Where a cat can be trained, a Pekingese needs to be convinced that the training is beneficial to him as well as to you. But, if they love you they will do anything for you, even fight to the death to protect you. The Pekingese is generally a one-person dog. They decide who they like best, and it might surprise you. They more than tolerate the others in their person's life. Most healthy and well-trained Pekes are fine with children who have been raised to be respectful. Many breeders will not place the breed in households with young or boisterous children as the Breed simply does not enjoy being mauled or expected to tear around in a manner that would be more befitting an agile Poodle or other smalls breeds. The Pekingese is a large dog in a small body. It expects to be respected and will not tolerate being treated otherwise. Health The leading cause of death for Pekes is congestive heart failure. When diagnosed early and successfully treated with prescription meds, a Peke with this problem can expect to live many years. A heart murmur is a potential sign of a problem, and must be evaluated by a veterinary cardiologist. Very often, the problem does not surface until the dog is 6 or more years old, so it is very difficult to screen the problem in a pup. Pekes' other main problems are eye issues and breathing problems, resulting from its tiny skull and flattened face, and skin allergies (and hotspots). An especially common problem is eye ulcers, which may develop spontaneously. Pekes should never be kept outside as their flattened faces and noses can develop breathing problems, which makes it difficult for them to regulate their body temperature in overly hot or cold weather. Their long backs, relative to their legs, make them vulnerable to back injuries. Care should be taken, when picking them up, to give Pekes adequate back support: one hand under the chest, the other under the abdomen. Short legs give some Pekes difficulty with stairs; older dogs may not be able to go up or down stairs alone. Care Keeping the Peke coat healthy and presentable requires brushing once a day. If you do this, they will need to see a groomer only once every 3 months. If a Peke becomes dirty, it is important to take it to a groomer as soon as possible, as it is difficult to remove dirt from its coat once it has dried, but this can be avoided if by brushing regularly, especially the belly, and between the front and hind legs. One important thing for new owners to remember is that dogs intended as a house pet may be kept in a puppy cut which is much more low maintenance than a show cut. It is also important to remove dirt from the eye pores daily, and from the creases on the face to prevent sores (hotspots). History The breed originated in China in antiquity, in the city of Peking most likely from Asian wolves. Recent DNA analysis confirms that the Pekingese breed is one of the oldest breeds of dog. For centuries, they could be owned only by members of the Chinese Imperial Palace. During the Second Opium War, in 1860, the Forbidden City was invaded by Allied troops. The Emperor Xianfeng had fled with all of his court. However an elderly aunt of the emperor remained. When the ‘foreign devils’ entered, she committed suicide. She was found with her five Pekingese mourning her passing. They were removed by the Allies before the Old Summer Palace was burnt. Lord John Hay took a pair, later called ‘Schloff’, and ‘Hytien’ and gave them to his sister, the Duchess of Wellington, wife of Henry Wellesley, 3rd Duke of Wellington. Sir George Fitzroy took another pair, and gave them to his cousins, the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and Gordon. Lieutenant Dunne presented the fifth Pekingese to Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, who named it Looty. The Empress Dowager Cixi presented Pekingese to several Americans, including John Pierpont Morgan and Alice Lee Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt, who named it Manchu. 19th Century Chinese Happa Dog, probably ancestor of the modern Pekingese. Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum, Tring, EnglandThe first Pekingese in Ireland was introduced by Dr. Heuston. He established smallpox vaccination clinics in China. The effect was dramatic. In gratitude, the Chinese minister, Li Hung Chang presented him with a pair of Pekingese. They were named Chang and Lady Li. Dr. Heuston founded the Greystones kennel. Miscellaneous Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Dowager Cixi, said: Let the Lion Dog be small; let it wear the swelling cape of dignity around its neck; let it display the billowing standard of pomp above its back. Let its face be black; let its forefront be shaggy; let its forehead be straight and low. Let its eyes be large and luminous; let its ears be set like the sails of war junk; let its nose be like that of the monkey god of the Hindus. Let its forelegs be bent; so that it shall not desire to wander far, or leave the Imperial precincts. Let its body be shaped like that of a hunting lion spying for its prey. Let its feet be tufted with plentiful hair that its footfall may be soundless and for its standard of pomp let it rival the whick of the Tibetans' yak, which is flourished to protect the imperial litter from flying insects. Let it be lively that it may afford entertainment by its gambols; let it be timid that it may not involve itself in danger; let it be domestic in its habits that it may live in amity with the other beasts, fishes or birds that find protection in the Imperial Palace. And for its colour, let it be that of the lion - a golden sable, to be carried in the sleeve of a yellow robe; or the colour of a red bear, or a black and white bear, or striped like a dragon, so that there may be dogs appropriate to every costume in the Imperial wardrobe. Let it venerate its ancestors and deposit offerings in the canine cemetery of the Forbidden City on each new moon. Let it comport itself with dignity; let it learn to bite the foreign devils instantly. Let it be dainty in its food so that it shall be known as an Imperial dog by its fastidiousness; sharks fins and curlew livers and the beasts of quails, on these may it be fed; and for drink give it the tea that is brewed from the spring buds of the shrub that groweth in the province of Hankow, or the milk of the antelopes that pasture in the Imperial parks. Thus shall it preserve its integrity and self-respect; and for the day of sickness let it be anointed with the clarified fat of the legs of a sacred leopard, and give it to drink a throstle's eggshell full of the juice of the custard apple in which has been dissolved three pinches of shredded rhinoceros horn, and apply it to piebald leeches. So shall it remain - but if it dies, remember thou too art mortal. Peke legends There are two origination stories for the Pekingese. The first is the most common, 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. The second, less-common, originating story is 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. Another legend says that the Peke resulted from the mating of a lion and a monkey, getting its nobleness and coat from the former and its ungainly walk from the latter. Because the Pekingese was believed to have originated from the Buddha, he was a temple dog. As such, he was not a mere toy. He was made small so that he could go after and destroy little demons that might infest the palace or temple. But his heart was big so that he could destroy even the largest and fiercest. (A book was written from this premise, although the author denies knowledge of the legends: Bride of the Rat God.) Mythology The story of the lion and the marmoset Once ago in a far away land there was a magical kingdom where just about everything was perfect. The land was green, the food was plentiful, and the animals that dwelled there were happy. They had a great lion king, and though he was brave and fearless he was also merciful and kind. He ruled the land with gentle paws, and all that knew him loved him. Many of his servants brought gifts to him, to show their gratitude for all he had done. One day a young marmoset entered the majestic castle bringing fresh fruit for the king. She kneeled before him saying " Your grace I have brought you a gift from my father, he wishes to thank you for all you have done for our family. It means much to us to know that our king is kind and understanding." She then looked up at the great manned lion. Her large dark eyes meeting his. Then a strange thing happened. The lion felt his heart plunge deep within his chest. Those eyes….He had never seen such beautiful brown eyes. He collected his thoughts and said. "Thank you little marmoset, what is your name?" She was bewildered by his question for even though the king was a kind king he had never asked for anyone's name. They were always referred to as his servants. She began to tremble in fear, for why would a great king want to know her? She was no one just a peasant. She found courage to answer.." I am Miranda, your highness." "Miranda" What a lovely name. "Miranda how would you like to take a walk with me? I will show you my castle" What was he doing? What would the gods think of him? He didn't know the answer but he knew that his heart was reaching out to the marmoset called Miranda. And so they walked through the palace talking and listening to each other's thoughts. The more they talked the more in love he fell. Miranda was beginning to feel the same thing, her small heart was beating so hard that she thought for sure the king could see her chest moving. Oh why was she feeling this way? He was a king and non-the less a lion. It was impossible!!! And yet she could dream…. "Well Miranda how do you like the castle?" "I like it very well your highness" she replied. "You can come back and visit me anytime you like." Said the lion. Miranda looked up at him her eyes as big as ever. His heart jumped a thousand times and then he said, "Stay with me…." Miranda didn't know what to say…. For here was the great king asking her to live with him… Her heart wanted to say yes but her mind spoke the truth "Oh lion it could never work" and she ran out of the castle tears running down her face. The great king was heart broken for he so loved her. I will petition the gods !! He said to himself, they will listen they just have to. And so he went to the gods and petitioned them to make him small enough to be with his love, yet still retain his brave heart and lion sized nobility. And did the gods grant him his wish? That they did. For you see the offspring of the little marmoset and the great lion is what we now know as the
Pekingese- a dog with the size and face of the little monkey, and the mane and heart of a lion.
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