The origin of the
pekingnese is veiled in Oriental Mystery and romance. It
is believed that the breed is a miniature version of the
ancient "Fo Dogs" of China which, because of their
terrifying lion-like appearance, were thought to ward off
evil spirits. Such dogs appear in chinese works of art dating
to 900 A.D. and bear a striking resemblance to the present-day
pekingese. The small dogs became favourites of the Chinese
Imperial court where they were bred in great numbers but
only those within the royal circle were permitted to own
one. The dogs were lavishly tended, considered to be bringers
of good fortune and possessed of the courage of the lion.
Closely watched over within the palace
precincts, the breed did not reach the Western world until
after British troops stormed the Summer Palace in peking
in 1860. There they found five small dogs protecting the
body of the Imperial Princess who had taken her own life.
There dogs were of the "sleeve" type - that
is, all weighed about five pounds. the five were looted
and taken back to England. A pair was presented to the
Duchess of Wellington and to the Duchess of Richmond,
and one female was given to Queen Victoria, who promptly
named her Looty. In the years that followed, by various
means, more Pekingese were smuggled out of China, brought
to England, and became the foundation stock of what was
soon to become the most popular toy breed in Britain.
The Pekingese was first exhibited in
the show ring in 1894 and in 1898 was accepted for registration
by The Kennel Club (England). In that same year the first
standard for the breed was draughted.
News of the breed's romantic background
quickly travelled, and created great interest in the Pekingese.
First imports began arriving in the United States early
in the 1900s, and in 1909 the Pekingese Club of America
was founded. The following year the first of the breed
were registered in Canada.
The most illustrious Pekingese of them
all was International Champion Chik T'Sun of Caversham,
bred in Emgland, who was to become the world's top winner
of Best in Show awards. His record of 125 top awards still
stands.
Official Breed Standard for
the Pekingnese
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General
Appearance:
Expression must suggest the Chinese origin of the Pekingese
in its quaintness and individuality, resemblance to the
lion in directness and independence and should imply courage,
boldness, self-esteem and combativeness rather than prettiness,
daintiness, or delicacy.
Size:
Being a toy dog, medium size preferred, providing type
and points are not sacrificed; extreme limit 14 lb. (6
kg).
Coat
and Colour:
Coat long, with thick undercoat, straight and flat, not
curly nor wavy, rather coarse, but soft; feather on thighs,
legs, tail, and toes long and profuse. Mane profuse, extending
beyond the shoulder blades, forming ruff or frill round
the neck. All colours are allowable. Red, fawn, black,
black and tan, sable, brindle, white and particolour well
defined: black masks and spectacles around the eyes, with
lines to ears are desirable. The coloruing of a particoloured
dog must be broken on the body. No large portion of any
one colour should exist. White should be shown on the
saddle. A dog of any solid colour with white feet and
chest is not a particolour.
Head:
Skull massive, broad, wide and flat between the ears (not
dome shaped), wide between the eyes. Stop deep. Muzzle
wrinkled, very short and broad, not overshot nor pointed.
Strong, broad underjaw, teeth not to show. Nose black,
broad, very short and flat. Eyes large, dark, prominent,
round, lustrous. Ears heart shaped, not set too high,
leather never long enough to come below the muzzle, nor
carried erect, but rather drooping, long feather.
Forequarters:
Firm at shoulder, bones of forearm bowed, short forelegs.
Body:
Back level. Not too long in body; allowance made for longer
body in bitch. Heavy in front, well-sprung ribs, broad
chest, falling away lighter behind, lion-like.
Hindquarters:
Hind legs lighter than forelegs but firm and well shaped.
Feet flat, toes turned out, not round, should stand well
up on feet, not on ankles.
Tail:
Set high; lying well over back to either side; long, profuse,
straight feather.
Gait:
Fearless, free and strong, with slight roll.
Faults:
Protruding tongue, badly blemished eye, overshot, wry
mouth.
