How to Groom a Pekingese

The Pekingese is a small dog which belongs to the Toy Group. They have a long, double coat with lots of feathering. The undercoat is soft and dense like a cushion. Pekingese require a full grooming every 4 to 8 weeks and a general grooming twice per week. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Slicker brush
• Metal combs
• Moist, soft cloth
• #10 blade, #15 blade, #4F blade, #5F blade

1. Brush with a slicker brush and metal combs to remove excess shed hair from the undercoat and to keep the coat looking neat and clean. Pay special attention to their hindquarters, which have the potential to become extremely tangled and coarse. Female dogs shed the undercoat when in heat. In general they are average shedders.

2. Clean off the eye area and face with a soft, moist cloth. Sometimes hairs on the face can become stained. In this case, carefully trim these hairs with scissors. Lightly powder if your Pekingese's face becomes too moist.

3. Dry shampoo the dog frequently.

4. Check your dog's feet for any objects which may be stuck there, such as burrs.

5. Give the dog a final brush out after bathing/dry shampooing. Brush the hair up slightly to give the coat some volume. Make a part in the tail and let it lie naturally.

6. Trim the stomach hair with a #10 blade, the pads of the feet with a #15 and use a #5F or #4F for a short body trim. Be very careful not to cut your dog with the sharp blades.

Tips & Warnings

• If healthy, Pekingese have a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years.
• At one time, the Chinese thought of Pekingese as divine animals. They believed that the dogs could drive away evil spirits.
• The Pekingese gain weight very easily and quickly, so don't overfeed them.
• This breed is susceptible to eye problems, breathing problems, herniated disc and dislocated kneecaps. They also don't respond well to extreme temperatures, and easily become very hot or cold.