Animal register · DogIn the app

Pekingese

Peke, Pekinese, Lion Dog

The Pekingese is a small, lion-like toy dog from China with a moderately long, straight coat and a mane around the neck. The FCI breed standard gives an ideal weight of no more than 5 kg for males and 5.4 kg for females; PDSA gives an average weight of 5 kg and a height of 15–22 cm. A dog of this size is fully grown at about 8–12 months (PetMD); PDSA gives a lifespan of over 12 years and PetMD 12–14 years.

PDSA recommends at least half an hour of exercise a day without overdoing it, because the flat face can make breathing hard, and no exercise on hotter days. It writes that the long coat needs a daily brush, that the breed sheds a lot, especially in spring and autumn, that the facial wrinkles can lead to skin fold infections, that Pekes tend to do better with adults or older children, can suffer from separation anxiety when left alone and should be socialised from a young age. PetMD advises daily tooth brushing, cleaning the ears every week or two and professional grooming every six to eight weeks for a long coat.

Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).

Updated: 10 October 2026

Pekingese — photo (AI) — AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size: small — PDSA S693
Adult weight: up to males 5 kg, females 5.4 kg — FCI S690; males 5 kg, females 5 kg — PDSA S693
Daily exercise: at least 30 minutes a day — PDSA S693
Brushing: every day — PDSA S693
Shedding: sheds — PDSA S693
Lifespan: more than 12 years — PDSA S693; 12–14 years — PetMD S694

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Keep in mind:

flat face — breathing and heat problemsS693
small dog — better with older childrenS693
loves company — best with someone home most of the dayS693
eyelids and eyes — check eye testsS693
sensitive skin — prone to itching and inflammationS693
shedsS693
needs brushing several times a weekS693 S694

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

Daily exercise: at least 30 minutes a day — PDSA S693

Coat and grooming

Coat: long — PDSA S693
Brushing: every day — PDSA S693
Shedding: sheds — PDSA S693

Meals

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

Lifespan: more than 12 years — PDSA S693
Lifespan: 12–14 years — PetMD S694

Life stages

Reaches adult size at: about 8–12 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

Size: small — PDSA S693
Height at the withers: males 15–22 cm, females 15–22 cm — PDSA S693
Adult weight: up to males 5 kg, females 5.4 kg — FCI S690
Adult weight: males 5 kg, females 5 kg — PDSA S693

Training

No. 73 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Wikipedia S35
FCI standard no. 207, group 9 (companion and toy dogs); origin: China. — FCI S691

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does a Pekingese need?

According to our sources, the Pekingese needs this much exercise: at least 30 minutes a day — PDSA S693.

How long does a Pekingese live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the Pekingese is: more than 12 years — PDSA S693; 12–14 years — PetMD S694. The sources give different values, so each one is listed.

How big does a Pekingese get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the Pekingese, according to our sources: Size: small — PDSA S693; Adult weight: up to males 5 kg, females 5.4 kg — FCI S690; males 5 kg, females 5 kg — PDSA S693.

How much grooming does a Pekingese need?

Coat and grooming of the Pekingese, according to our sources: Brushing: every day — PDSA S693; Shedding: sheds — PDSA S693; Coat: long — PDSA S693.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stage	Starts	Meals a day	Daily step goal
Puppy	arrives at 2 months	4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 2	1,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 3,000 from month 3
Young dog	month 9	2	3,000 steps
Adult	month 36 (3 years)	2	3,000 steps
Senior	month 108 (9 years)	2	2,300 steps

Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 30 minutes, so 3,000 steps a day.
Learns commands more slowly than the mixed breed of the free plan (0.5× its speed).
Becomes a senior in month 108 (9 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
Combing 7 times a week.
Care: brushing the teeth every day — a task for the child.
Care: checking and cleaning the ears once a week — a task for the child.
Care: a visit to the groomer every 6 weeks — a reminder for the parent.
In summer (June–August; December–February in the southern hemisphere) the child and walk screens show a calm reminder between 11:00 and 16:00 family time: no walks in the heat. No weather data, no penalty — steps still count.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine, PDSA S10 S11 S14 S18 S19 S21 S24 S35 S45 S693 S694

Common Pekingese owner mistakes

Small habits that cause bigger problems — each point comes from the sources of this breed.

Too little daily exerciseExercise needed: at least 30 minutes a day. Plan it into every day, not only at weekends. — PDSA S693
Skipping coat careBrushing: every day. Sheds. — PDSA S693
Walks in the heatOverheats quickly and is more vulnerable to heatstroke than most dogs, especially in warm weather. — PDSA S693
Forgetting that the puppy is still growingAdult size reached at: about 8–12 months (guidance for its size class). Until then, plan exercise and food for a young animal that is still growing, and ask your vet what suits yours. — PetMD S10
Overlooking the breed's known health issuesFlat-faced (brachycephalic) breed: the short muzzle, narrow nostrils and extra soft tissue in the airway can make breathing harder (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, BOAS). Eyelids that turn inwards (entropion) or outwards (ectropion) can occur in the breed; ask for eye-checked parents. Eye problems such as corneal ulcers are more likely because of the skull shape and prominent eyes; eye testing is available. Dry eye, where the eyes do not make enough tears and become dry and painful, can occur in the breed. Progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited eye disease that can slowly lead to blindness, can occur in the breed. Luxating patellas, where the kneecap temporarily slips out of place, occur in the breed. Like many small dogs, the breed is prone to dental disease, so brushing the teeth at home with a dog toothbrush and toothpaste is advised. — PDSA, PetMD S693 S694

In PetPrep a child practises exactly these habits — steps, meals, care — before the real pet comes home.

93 foodsWhat can dogs eat?Safe, risky and toxic foods for dogs — each with the reason, the signs to watch for and the sources.

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breed: the short muzzle, narrow nostrils and extra soft tissue in the airway can make breathing harder (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, BOAS). — PDSA S693
Overheats quickly and is more vulnerable to heatstroke than most dogs, especially in warm weather. — PDSA S693
Eyelids that turn inwards (entropion) or outwards (ectropion) can occur in the breed; ask for eye-checked parents. — PDSA S693
Eye problems such as corneal ulcers are more likely because of the skull shape and prominent eyes; eye testing is available. — PDSA S693
Dry eye, where the eyes do not make enough tears and become dry and painful, can occur in the breed. — PetMD S694
Progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited eye disease that can slowly lead to blindness, can occur in the breed. — PetMD S694
Luxating patellas, where the kneecap temporarily slips out of place, occur in the breed. — PetMD S694
Like many small dogs, the breed is prone to dental disease, so brushing the teeth at home with a dog toothbrush and toothpaste is advised. — PetMD S694

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1 K2
The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1 K9 K10
National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9 K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

Other screening schemes for this breed

Breathing test for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS grading) — Dogs NSW K40

These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

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