Information on AKC Pekingese Puppies
Pekingese Breed Standard
General Appearance
The Pekingese is a well-balanced, compact dog of Chinese origin with a heavy front and lighter hindquarters. Its temperament is one of directness, independence and individuality. Its image is lionlike, implying courage, dignity, boldness and self-esteem rather than daintiness or delicacy.
Size, Substance, Proportion
Size/Substance - The Pekingese, when lifted, is
surprisingly heavy for its size. It has a stocky, muscular body. All weights
are correct within the limit of 14 pounds. Disqualification: Weight
over 14 pounds. Proportion - Overall balance
is of utmost importance. The head is large in proportion to the body. The
Pekingese is slightly longer than tall when measured from the forechest
to the buttocks. The overall outline is an approximate ratio of 3 high to
5 long.
Head
Face - The topskull is massive, broad and flat
and, when combined with the wide set eyes, cheekbones and broad lower jaw,
forms the correctly shaped face. When viewed from the front, the skull is
wider than deep, which contributes to the desired rectangular, envelope-shaped
appearance of the head. In profile, the face is flat. When viewed from the
side, the chin, nose leather and brow all lie in one plane, which slants
very slightly backward from chin to forehead. Ears
- They are heart-shaped, set on the front corners of the topskull, and lie
flat against the head. The leather does not extend below the jaw. Correctly
placed ears, with their heavy feathering and long fringing, frame the sides
of the face and add to the appearance of a wide, rectangular head. Eyes
- They are large, very dark, round, lustrous and set wide apart. The look
is bold, not bulging. The eye rims are black and the white of the eye does
not show when the dog is looking straight ahead. Nose
- It is broad, short and black. Nostrils are wide and open rather than pinched.
A line drawn horizontally over the top of the nose intersects slightly above
the center of the eyes. Wrinkle - It effectively
separates the upper and lower areas of the face. It is a hair-covered fold
of skin extending from one cheek over the bridge of the nose in a wide inverted
V to the other cheek. It is never so prominent or heavy as to crowd the
facial features, obscure more than a small portion of the eyes, or fall
forward over any portion of the nose leather. Stop
- It is obscured from view by the over-nose wrinkle. Muzzle
- It is very flat, broad, and well filled-in below the eyes. The skin is
black on all colors. Whiskers add to the desired expression. Mouth
- The lower jaw is undershot and broad. The black lips meet neatly and neither
teeth nor tongue show when the mouth is closed.
Neck, Body, Tail
Neck - It is very short and thick. Body
- It is pear-shaped, compact and low to the ground. It is heavy in front
with well-sprung ribs slung between the forelegs. The forechest is broad
and full without a protruding breastbone. The underline rises from the deep
chest to the lighter loin, thus forming a narrow waist. The topline is straight
and the loin is short. Tail - The high set tail
is slightly arched and carried well over the back, free of kinks or curls.
Long, profuse, straight fringing may fall to either side.
Forequarters
They are short, thick and heavy-boned. The bones of the forelegs are moderately bowed between the pastern and elbow. The broad chest, wide set forelegs and the closer rear legs all contribute to the
correct rolling gait. The distance from the point of the shoulder to the tip of the withers is approximately equal to the distance from the point of the shoulder to the elbow. Shoulders are well laid back and
fit smoothly onto the body. The elbows are always close to the body. Front feet are turned out
slightly when standing or moving. The pasterns slope gently.
Hindquarters
They are lighter in bone than the forequarters. There is moderate angulation of stifle and hock. When viewed from behind, the rear legs are reasonably close and parallel, and the feet point straight ahead
when standing or moving.
Coat & Presentation
Coat - It is a long, coarse-textured, straight,
stand-off outer coat, with thick, soft undercoat. The coat forms a noticeable
mane on the neck and shoulder area with the coat on the remainder of the
body somewhat shorter in length. A long and profuse coat is desirable providing
it does not obscure the shape of the body. Long feathering is found on toes,
backs of the thighs and forelegs, with longer fringing on the ears and tail.
Presentation - Presentation should accentuate
the natural outline of the Pekingese. Any obvious trimming or sculpting
of the coat, detracting from its natural appearance, should be severely
penalized.
Color
All coat colors and markings are allowable and of equal merit. A black mask or a self-colored face
is equally acceptable. Regardless of coat color the exposed skin of the muzzle, nose, lips and eye
rims is black.
Gait
It is unhurried, dignified, free and strong, with a slight roll over the shoulders. This motion is smooth
and effortless and is as free as possible from bouncing, prancing or jarring. The rolling gait results
from a combination of the bowed forelegs, well laid back shoulders, full broad chest and narrow light
rear, all of which produce adequate reach and moderate drive.
Temperament
A combination of regal dignity, intelligence and self-importance make for a good natured, opinionated
and affectionate companion to those who have earned its respect.
Disqualification
Weight over 14 pounds.
The foregoing is a description of the ideal Pekingese. Any deviation should be penalized in direct proportion to the extent of that deviation.
Approved: January 13, 2004
Effective: March 2, 2004
