The Pekingese dates back as far as 2000 B.C. The Pekingese has for years, been worshiped in the temples of China. It was also customary for the emperor to select four Pekes who were to become his bodyguards.
The emperor would be preceded by these four Pekes on such occasions of state, whereby two of them would announce his approach at correct intervals with sharp, piercing barks, while the other two would daintily hold the hem of his royal robe in their mouths.
At night, they would carry small lanterns strapped to their necks. It would be considered a crime to steal or injure a Peke, and this would result in the punishment of death.
Most of the memorable history of the Pekinese goes back to these times, especially the old legend of the lion who fell in love with a marmoset, and in order for him to marry his lady love, the lion had to beg the patron saint of the animals, who was named Ah Chu, to reduce him to the size of a pygmy, but to allow him to retain his lion heart character.
It was then that the dogs Fu Lin or the Lion Dog of China was descended.
These then became the special pets of the Chinese Emperors, and such items of art such as screens, vases, pottery and sculpture included these likenesses. These dogs were described in Confucius times as little dogs.
The breeding of these dogs, which were now called Pekingese, reached its height during the Tao Kuang period between the years of 1821 to 1851. There were never any records of pedigrees kept. Prenatal impression was the method which was mostly in fashion.
The mothers would be taken to see pictures and sculptures of the most beautiful dogs several times a day. They would then have their preferred colors hung in their sleeping quarters, while they would sleep on sheepskin which would suggest a generous coat.
All Pekingese that were white in color were greatly prized and the subject of much superstition.
This was partly because of the rarity and partly because white is the color of mourning in China. Whenever a white Pekingese came into sight, it was believed that it was the spirit of a great man and was usually kept in the Temple and treated with the highest of respect.
The Pekingese was first taken to England after the Allied occupation of Peking in 1860, whereby five of the dogs were found in the Summer Palace next to their masters who had committed suicide to avoid being captured.
The Pekingese received a great deal of attention in England, and one of the five dogs was even presented to Queen Victoria as a gift.
It was in 1911, after the death of the Empress Dowager that Chinese officials began an extensive extermination of the Pekingese, in order to prevent them from ending up in unworthy hands. There were very few Chinese Pekingese that escaped the massacre.
It was in the year of 1898 that the first Pekingese came to America.
The Pekingese has since been highly popular in the USA, ranking in the top 25 on the AKCs registrations listing. The Pekingese is an ideal pet. It makes a fabulous companion and has low exercise demands, which means that it is ideal for those individuals that do not have a great deal of mobility for long walks.
Some dog owners and breeders and changed the way they spell the original name and miss out the G; Pekinese is a now a commonly used term for this dog.
This breed is very loyal and affectionate, and because of its tendency to bark, it can make a good watchdog. These dogs do not like to be handled in a rough manner or being shouted at, as they have a very sensitive personality. Therefore, a Pekingese dog would not be recommended for such individuals that are impatient, or with very little time for their pet.
Even though the Pekingese does like to play and has energetic moments, it is at its happiest to sit and relax, gladly accepting any creature comforts that you may want to give it. It is a breed that gets along well with children, as long as the children are gentle. They will usually get on well with other animals, however, it is recommended that early socializing is undertaken.
It is essential to remember that the Pekingese can be somewhat proud, over confident and self-centered, therefore making it difficult to train.
