One of the biggest misconceptions about the Pekingese is that they’re all coat with no body, but when you put your hands on a correct Peke, you quickly realize that there’s a lot of dog in a little package. This is why judges will pick up a Pekingese during judging at a dog show –  they’re ascertaining that while the dog may look small, s/he “picks up heavy.”

It’s a toss up whether density or a proper head is of greater importance when evaluating a Pekingese because a broad top skull, correct ear set, a wide cushiony muzzle, and width of under-jaw is a large part of breed types. There is so much more to a Pekingese, but from the neck up, it’s the combination of those attributes that helps the Pekingese appear regal, distant (if not arrogant), and royal.

Image: “Reflections On The Peke Of Perfection” by Anne Zoutsos
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