Peekapoo Dog Breed Info: Pekingese Poodle Mix

What is a Peekapoo?

Heritage:

Pekingese Poodle Mix

Other Names:

Pekepoo, Peke-A-Poo, Peke a Poo, Pekapoo, Pekingese Poodle Mix

Pekingese Poodle Mix Breed History

Pekingese Breed History:

The Pekingese dates all the way back to ancient China, where they were the breed of choice by powerful emperors and their families. A Chinese legend states that this breed was created by Buddha himself, who took a lion and shrunk it down to the size of a dog.

The Chinese adored the Pekingese’s flat facial features and it was said that those caught stealing a Peke were sentenced to death. This breed was unknown to the western world until 1860 when during the Opium Wars, British troops that were raiding the emperor’s summer palace found five Pekingese puppies and brought them back as a gift for Queen Victoria.

They quickly grew in popularity in Europe and eventually arrived in America around the 1890s. One interesting fact about the Pekingese is that it was one of only three dogs to survive the tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic.

Poodle Breed History:

While commonly associated with the French, the Poodle actually originated as a duck hunter in Germany over 400 years ago. In German, “pudelin” refers to the splashing in water that the dogs would do to retrieve waterfowl. The Poodle’s curly, weatherproof coat as well as its natural swimming ability and high intelligence made it an excellent retriever.

Eventually, Poodles made their way from the lake to the life of luxury as they were the breed of choice by French nobles, and eventually royalty across all of Europe. To this day, the Poodle is still the national dog of France. The entertainment industry then caught on to the Poodle’s showy looks, intelligence, and ease of trainability and gave them a prominent role in circus acts across the world.

While the Poodle started out as the “standard” variety, eventually the miniature and toy variations were bred. The Toy Poodle started in the United States in the early 20th century to be a city-dwelling companion dog. Due to the many positive personality traits and its hypoallergenic coat, Poodles are now commonly bred with a wide variety of other breeds to produce the “designer” hybrid dogs known and loved by many as “doodles.”

Peekapoo Breed History:

The Peekapoo dog breed actually has a lengthier history than most Doodle breeds, originating back to the 1950s or 1960s. While it’s not nearly as popular as other varieties of hybrid breeds, the Peekapoo has a smaller, dedicated following and breeders which do their part to responsibly keep this breed growing and thriving.

Pekingese Poodle Mix Appearance & Grooming

How Big Do Peekapoos Get?

A Peekapoo’s size is determined mostly by whether its Poodle parent was a standard, miniature, or toy. On top of that, the gender of the puppy and the genetics of the parents play important factors as well.

With that in mind, a Toy Peekapoo (also known as a Teacup Peekapoo) will typically weigh between 8-13 pounds and have a height of 8-10 inches. A Miniature Peekapoo will weigh in at around 13-20 pounds and stand roughly 10-12 inches tall. Peekapoos are rarely, if ever, bred from Standard Poodles.

Peekapoo Dog Breed Coat & Grooming:

The coat of a Pekingese Poodle Mix can be a single color or a mix of two or more colors, with the most popular being white, black, gray, or cream. Their fur can range anywhere from wavy, like the Pekingese to curly like the Poodle and usually is of medium to long length.

How curly your dog’s fur is dictates how often they must be brushed. A minimum of brushing every other day is required for Peekapoos, with the ideal frequency being every day to prevent matting and tangles.

Are Peekapoos Hypoallergenic?
Do Peekapoos Shed?

Due to the presence of the Poodle’s genes, Peekapoo puppies are sometimes promoted as being hypoallergenic and/or non-shedding. While this can be true, due to the unpredictability of genetics, there is no guarantee that any particular dog, or litter of dogs will be hypoallergenic. Some individuals’ allergies are more sensitive to certain breeds than other breeds, but there is no scientific evidence that shows that certain hybrid breeds are universally more or less hypoallergenic than others.

With that being said, as a rule of thumb, the larger the percentage of Poodle is in a dog’s heritage, the more likely they are to be hypoallergenic or non-shedding. So an F1BB Peekapoo (87.5% Poodle) is more likely to be hypoallergenic than an F1B Peekapoo (75% Poodle) which is more likely than an F1 or F2 Peekapoo (50% Poodle).

Pekingese Poodle Mix Health & Wellness

Peekapoo Dog Breed Lifespan:

A healthy and well-cared-for Peekapoo’s life expectancy is around 10-15 years.

Peekapoo Dog Breed Common Health Concerns:

Peekapoos may be susceptible to the common health problems of both the Pekignese and the Poodle. However, due to the genetic diversity from crossing these two breeds, the result may be a lower chance of developing these inherited health concerns.

Some of the more common genetic disorders to be on the lookout for in the Poodle Pekingese Mix include Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome, Collapsing Trachea, Dental Diseases, Haemolytic Anaemia, Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca, Patellar Luxation, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and Von Willebrand’s Disease.

Due to the cost of treating these common health concerns, we highly encourage all dog owners invest in pet insurance. We recommend getting a free online quote from Healthy Paws Pet Insurance.

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Pekingese Poodle Mix Temperament & Personality

Peekapoo Dog Breed Behavioral Traits:

Peekapoo dogs are loyal and dedicated companions. They can only thrive with a family who is willing to constantly be home with them on a regular basis.

Although small in size, these pups make excellent watchdogs as they are alert and naturally suspicious of strangers. Due to this, they need to be socialized at an early age to prevent them from being defensive around people and other animals. Even so they’re not recommended for families with small children as they tend to snap when in distress.

Other small dogs are fine, but Peekapoos are often not fond of large dogs—and for a good reason. Peekapoos are very tiny and can be easily injured accidentally by larger dogs.

This Pekingese Poodle Mix is not recommended for first-time dog owners as they are notoriously stubborn and difficult to train, though not as difficult as a purebred Pekingese. They need to be constantly rewarded and have positive reinforcement as they can become resentful if pushed too hard.

Peekapoo Dog Breed Activity Requirements:

Depending on how flat their facial structure is from their Pekingese genetics dictates how much exercise they must get. For those with flatter faces, a more sedentary lifestyle is acceptable with light walks and playtime sufficing. For those with facial structures more reminiscent of a Poodle, significantly more exercise is required, with walks of at least 30-45 minutes a day.