Fascinating by reason of its Oriental background and distinctive personality, the Pekingese holds an honored place in the dog world. In ancient times it was held sacred in China, the land of its origin, and intricately carved Foo Dog idols of varying sizes, ranging in materials from ivory to bronze and jewel- studded wood, have been handed down.
The exact date of origin is debatable, the earliest known record of its existence being traceable to the Tang Dynasty of the 8th century. However, the very oldest strains (held only by the imperial family) were kept pure, and the theft of one of the sacred dogs was punishable by death.
The characteristics we seek to retain and perfect today were in evidence in the earliest Pekingese as shown by three of the names by which they were designated in ancient China. Some were called Lion Dogs, evidently because of their massive fronts, heavy manes and tapering hindquarters. We find a second group termed Sun Dogs because of their strikingly beautiful golden red coats. Since those early days as many other darker red shades have been identified with certain strains, but even today we see numerous Sun Dogs at our shows. A third name was Sleeve Dog, this being given only to those diminutive specimens which were carried about in the voluminous sleeves of the members of the imperial household.
Introduction of Pekingese into the western world occurred as a result of the looting of the Imperial Palace at Peking by the British in 1860. It is a matter of history that five were found behind some draperies in the apartments of the aunt of the Chinese emperor. Apparently they were her particular pets--she committed suicide on the approach of the British troops. It is said that throughout the palace the bodies of many of these dogs were found, the Chinese having killed them rather than have them fall into the hands of the Caucasians. The five Pekingese found by the English were of different colors; a fawn and white parti- color was the one presented to Queen Victoria on the return to Great Britain.
Pekingese were not exhibited in England until 1893, when Mrs. Loftus Allen exhibited one at Chester. However, the undeniable beauty and interesting history of the breed placed it in the foreground where it has since remained. The three dogs which were outstanding in the breed's earliest development in the Occident were Ah Cum and Mimosa, termed the "pillars of the stud book" in England, followed by a large black-and-tan specimen named Boxer, so-called because he was obtained by Major Gwayne during the Boxer uprising in 1900. Curiously enough, Boxer had a docked tail and so was never exhibited. He undoubtedly did more for the breed in the early part of the century than any other Pekingese.
The Pekingese was first registered by AKC in 1906. That the Oriental dog took quick hold of the American fancy is evidenced by the age of the Pekingese Club of America, which became a member of the American Kennel club in 1909.
The transplanting of the Pekingese into Western soil has in now way changed his personality. He combines marked dignity with an exasperating stubbornness which serves only to endear him the more to his owners. He is independent and regal in every gesture; it would be a great indignity to attempt to make a lap dog out of him. Calm and good-tempered, the Pekingese employs a condescending cordiality toward the world in general, but in the privacy of his family enjoys nothing better than a good romp. Although never aggressive, he fears not the devil himself and has never been known to turn tail and run. He has plenty of stamina, much more in fact than have a number of the larger breeds, and he is very easy to care for.
Since he has been brought down from his pedestal in Chinese temples, the Pekingese has but one purpose in life, to give understanding companionship and loyalty to his owners. It may be truly said that the Pekingese fulfills his mission to perfection.