How to Care for and Maintain a Healthy Pekingese Puppy
The Pekingese is a small, affectionate dog that makes a good companion. According to the American Kennel Club, the Pekingese is intelligent and eager to learn and requires minimal daily exercise. The Pekingese has a long, rough, straight outer coat and a thick soft undercoat. Pekingese puppies are loving and opinionated, and with the right amount of care and love they can grow into healthy, well-balanced adult dogs.
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Instructions
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Begin potty training as soon as the puppy enters your home, since the Pekingese is especially difficult to housebreak. Consider using a crate as a training tool to prevent housebreaking accidents and protect your furniture from sharp teeth. Take the Pekingese puppy outdoors as often as possible---and especially after eating, drinking, sleeping and playing. Praise the puppy when he eliminates outdoors.
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Feed your Pekingese puppy a puppy food that lists the first two ingredients as meat and does not contain corn, soy products, artificial preservatives, by-products or animal digest. Ask your vet for advice on the best food for your puppy. Feed the puppy at least three times per day and ensure fresh water is constantly available. The amount of food you feed depends on the weight of the Pekingese puppy. Look on the food bag for the recommended daily amount to feed a puppy by its weight. The Pekingese gains weight easily so do not overfeed. If you notice your puppy start to look overweight, reduce the amount of food and ask your vet for diet and exercise advice.
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Have your puppy vaccinated against infectious diseases such as parvovirus and distemper, which can be fatal if caught left untreated. Do not take your puppy out in public until he has had all his vaccines at around four months of age. Pekingese are especially prone to developing colds, so keep yours away from sick dogs to avoid illness. Do not expose your Pekingese puppy to extreme temperatures as his short muzzle means he is prone to breathing problems, which are heightened during extreme heat or cold.
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Train your Pekingese puppy basic obedience commands. Start with "sit" by holding a treat above the pup's nose and luring its nose backwards using a treat. The puppy's rear end should sink to the floor automatically. Build on your basic obedience with commands such as "down," "stay" and "come." Pekingese puppies are strong-willed dogs that need a firm hand; however, they are also sensitive and should always be trained using positive reinforcement-based methods.
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Exercise your puppy on leash when it is old enough to go out. Bear in mind that the Pekingese does not require a large amount of exercise and a daily walk should suffice. Play with your puppy every day to keep its mind stimulated and prevent boredom. Buy a number of toys and rotate them every few days so they stay exciting.
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Set boundaries and make rules that the Pekingese puppy must abide by. Ask the puppy to sit before you feed him, and before you put on his leash. If you decide not to allow the puppy on the bed, make sure all family members enforce this rule or the puppy will be confused. Pekingese often develop a behavioral problem known as Small Dog Syndrome. This behavioral issue occurs to small or toy breeds that do not have rules or boundaries and can cause aggression. Treat your Pekingese puppy like you would any size dog by enforcing rules such as no jumping to avoid this problem.
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Tips & Warnings
If you ever feel frustrated when training, take a break and return to it when you are calm, otherwise the dog will pick up on your frustration and the sessions will end negatively.
References
- Photo Credit Portrait of pretty pekingese dog image by Stana from Fotolia.com
