Our Pekingese: A Lifesaving Addition to Our Family

It's pretty funny how all the big decisions in our family are made on a whim.

I'm not surprised, really, that's how our little furball ended up with us.

I'd been wanting a dog for ages, but knowing I'd be the one taking on all the responsibility, I'd been trying to push the idea aside. But after spending some time at my in-laws' house and seeing how much fun their dog was, my husband said, 'How about we get a dog too?' We were actually in a different city at the time, getting ready to head back home, but seeing how much I wanted one, he quickly hopped on the idea of getting a dog.

We were originally looking at either a Shih Tzu or a Mopsh, but there weren't any good options nearby or on our route home. And then, out of the blue, I saw an ad for a Pekingese for sale in the next town over. My husband's parents used to have a Pekingese, and I'd had a bad experience with it, so we weren't even considering them. But when I saw the photo in the ad, we both said, 'Let's get it!' Unfortunately, I don't have that photo anymore. But here's what she looked like at 2 months old:

By the way, at the time we were making the decision, we already had a cat, who, of course, was not thrilled about the new addition, but more on that later.

We decided to get a bunch of essentials before picking up our pup, so we wouldn't have to make a million trips back and forth. We grabbed a carrier, some blankets, food and water bowls, the right food for her age and breed, and some toys.

CarrierBlanketsFood and water bowlsAppropriate food for her age and breedToysEven though the drive wasn't super long, our little pup had already been on the road a few times before, so she handled it like a pro. At the time, she was almost two months old, and she slept most of the way home. When we got to our place, she immediately started exploring her new territory without any hesitation.

First photo. The drive home

Okay, so let's get to my impressions of the breed and our little Taisia specifically.

Personality

We don't have kids yet, just our furry little ones. I think that's why we're a bit lenient when it comes to their antics. Our cat causes way more problems, and honestly, all of our friends and family fell in love with Taisia the moment they met her.

I've got to say, our Pekingese is an absolute sweetheart. She's super affectionate, playful, and friendly - but also super clever. I've heard some people say that Pekingese aren't great with kids, but I totally disagree. Yeah, she can be a bit aggressive towards other kids at first, but as soon as she gets to know them, she's completely smitten. It doesn't matter what age the kid is - I've seen her go from grumpy to gooey with kids aged 1, 3, 10, and 13. It's always the same - she falls head over heels in love.

At the time of writing, our pup is only 9 months old, and she's still super energetic.

Training

I know some people say that Pekingese are impossible to train, but I think they're just really stubborn and strong-willed. In my opinion, they're actually really smart - they just need a firm but patient approach. Unfortunately, neither me nor my partner are exactly the most authoritative trainers, so our pup isn't exactly a model student. But despite that, she's still got some great manners and is a true lady.

Walking, potty training

I've got to say, even though Pekingese dogs are small and can be potty-trained like any other pup, I wouldn't leave mine without regular walks. The recommended walk time is at least 15 minutes, twice a day. Our Tisha loves being outdoors and all the excitement that comes with it. She's a total fan of active playtime, and after a good run, she can sleep for days - literally, 'without a care in the world.'

Our breeder actually started us off with the basics of housebreaking, considering the first few months, it's not recommended to take your pup outside - before the necessary shots are administered. But, despite getting our pup to use the potty pad initially, Tisha easily could've ignored it. Especially when she was left alone for extended periods (although we still don't leave her alone overnight, just yet). As she grew older, the issue resolved itself around 6 months, and she learned to do her business outside, and even mastered the potty pad (the pad is always kept at home, just in case).

And, to be honest, we've never had any accidents, like stepping in puddles or anything like that. The most we've gotten was a stern and disappointed 'huff' from her).

Diet

Our, and my personal, go-to favorites:

Chicken (boiled, sometimes I can get raw fillets when cutting it),Beef liver (boiled),Fruits and veggies (she loves carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, apples, and pears),Dairy products (she prefers kefir, sometimes yogurt. Cheese is just her love)I try not to give her dry food, but she sometimes steals it from my cat. And she's not picky about 'dipping' her paws in the food on other people's plates either. She doesn't eat oatmeal, that's my fault - I spoiled her. Again, in other people's homes, she's not picky about oatmeal, as long as it's not hers. She loves boiled potatoes. Occasionally, she'll eat boiled fish (without bones), especially if she sees the cat enjoying it. She's willing to go crazy for chips and salted fish for hours on end (our neighbors might not appreciate the ear-piercing howl, though - she uses it only when she wants something).

Care

When deciding to bring a Pekingese dog into your family, be prepared for some unique care requirements.

Her fur is super thick and long. It needs regular brushing. Otherwise, you'll be dealing with plenty of mats. Pekingese have short legs and long fur, so trips to the groomer are a must if you don't want to turn bath time into a ritual after every walk, especially during rainy seasons. We've been to the groomer once, but I've since learned to cut her fur myself. If you haven't socialized your dog to this from a young age, good luck getting them to stand still for it like a pro groomer can. So, here's a little tip - we cut her fur and nails in the bathtub, in the water, and on a slippery surface. Tisha always stands still for it. I read that Pekingese shouldn't be bathed too frequently. We bathe her often, every time I notice her fur gets really dirty.

This is us before the first haircut

After a bath

And here's a photo after our first haircutMy experience with eye issues was a relief - we didn't encounter any problems with our Pekingese's eyes 'drooping.' However, I do recommend being cautious and seeking professional help if you notice any issues. It's essential to avoid trying to help your dog yourself.

You can bet your Pekingese will have tear stains, though - it's almost a guarantee. Unfortunately, they're a permanent fixture, but you can try to reduce their appearance with homemade or specialized products. We've found some success with eye drops and wipes that help to lighten the area. Check out the photo below to see the darkening under our pup's eyes.

I also recommend investing in ear cleaning drops.

As for any 'dog smell,' I haven't noticed it with our Pekingese - unless their coat is severely waterlogged. However, if you neglect regular grooming, you might notice an unpleasant odor, which is hard to describe.

Our experience with the breeder

We don't often hang out at home, we love exploring other cities, crashing at friends' and family members' places, or even camping out in nature. Our cat never had any issues with this - she actually prefers staying at our parents' dacha more than at home. But with the arrival of our dog, everything changed. Now we travel as a trio. I just can't leave her alone for more than five hours, let alone overnight. The thought of her getting upset is unbearable. Leaving her with our parents (who she loves too) might be an option, but she drives them crazy with her separation anxiety - she starts whining and crying the moment she loses sight of us, and it continues until I or my husband or both of us return. I couldn't live with myself if I subjected her to that, so she's always with us. Even our friends and acquaintances are used to seeing us with her now, and they often joke, 'Hey, where's Tisha? Is she in the car?'

Our Dog's Relationship with Other Animals

I've got a two-year-old cat at home, and to be honest, he's not really aggressive. He's more laid-back. If you leave him alone, he's happy as a clam. The only time he showed any interest in our dog was during their first encounter. Our dog, Tisha, on the other hand, loves the cat, but she used to get jealous and would whine whenever she saw someone petting the cat or giving him attention. Now she's pretty chill about it, but if she sees someone holding the cat, she'll run over to lick his face. It's become a funny routine - Tisha tries to kiss the cat, and the cat gets annoyed. (We have to hold their paws, or they might give each other a little nip, but they never draw blood.)

To be honest, we're not really cat people. We're more interested in the birds outside our window.

But we do love watching our dog play with bigger dogs. What really matters is that there's a human parent nearby to keep an eye on things. When our little Pekingese feels safe, she becomes incredibly brave. These dogs are fearless, but they're also pretty good at assessing their own strengths and weaknesses. If there's a safe place to retreat to, and they know they're not in any real danger, they'll keep on playing. Take our move to a new city, for example - we were all a bit down, but we didn't have to be held back by anyone else.

I've got to say, the snoring and snorting are a real hoot! Some people might see it as a drawback, but to me, it's just adorable. I've noticed that the snoring was more intense in the first few months, and even louder than my husband's! But now, I hardly ever hear it. As for the snorting, forget about it – it's just part of this Pekingese's charm. And honestly, it's kind of cute.

This photo was taken during one of her snoring sessions.

She started getting a bit messy around 8 months old. We didn't sterilize her, and we're actually planning on breeding her in the future. As for finding her a partner, we're not quite ready yet – our living situation is a bit of a challenge.

I'd definitely recommend her, but maybe not to families with super young kids.