10 Things You Didn’t Know about the Pekepoo
Source © Shutterstock
Given its wonderful name, it should come as no surprise to learn that the Pekepoo is a cross between a Pekingese and a Poodle. As such, the members of the breed can be rather unpredictable when it comes to their exact characteristics, though most of the time, Pekepoos make for outstanding canine companions. Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about the Pekepoo:
1. Unpredictable Combination of Characteristics
Crossbreeds can inherit an unpredictable combination of characteristics from both sides of their heritage. As a result, they are more unpredictable than purebred dogs, meaning that interested individuals should exercise more care and consideration when seeking to bring a crossbreed home with them.
2. Not Recognized By the Most Respected Kennel Clubs
More respected kennel clubs such as the American Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club won’t recognize Pekeboos. Depending on the dog owner, this may or may not be important.
3. Bred from the Pekingese
On one side, the Pekepoo comes from the Pekingese, which is a Chinese breed that is supposed to have been very popular with members of the Chinese imperial court. Appearance-wise, Pekingeses are very distinctive because of features such as their big eyes, their flat faces, their rolling gaits, and their low, compact forms.
4. The Pekingese Is Said to Have Come Into Existence Because of the Buddha
There are various legends told about how the Pekingese is supposed to have come into existence. For example, one version says that a lion and a monkey fell in love but had obvious problems with consummating their relationship. As a result, the two went to the Buddha, who shrank the lion to the same size as the monkey, with the result that the two proceeded to create the Pekingese. From the lion, the Pekingese received its noble appearance; from the monkey, the Pekingese received its unusual walk.
5. Sometimes Called the Lion Dog
Sometimes, Pekingeses are called Lion Dogs, which is something that they share with other Chinese breeds. The name is because the breed resembles Chinese guardian lions, which were very stylized representations of lions that saw widespread use in imperial China.
Source © Shutterstock
6. Bred from the Poodle
On the other side, the Pekepoo comes from the Poodle. Said breed doesn’t have the most dignified of reputations, but it is important to note that they are a smart, sociable breed that is capable of performing well in a wide range of roles. In other words, there are very good reasons for why the Poodle is as popular as it is.
7. Bigger Poodles Are Better with Children
Generally speaking, the bigger kinds of Poodles are better with children than their smaller counterparts. In part, this is because the size of smaller Poodles means that they can become fearful when they are hugged by young children who grab them without knowing what they are doing, which can led to bites. With that said, Poodles are capable of getting along very well with children so long as the introduction process is well-supervised.
8. One of the Smartest Breeds
It isn’t uncommon for gun dogs to be smart. However, the Poodle is notable in that it is the second smartest breed out there, being just behind the Border Collie. This is the reason that it has seen such a wide range of uses that include but are not limited to pets, performers, gun dogs, and even military dogs.
9. Can Be Protective
Both the Pekingese and the Poodle can be protective of their owners. As a result, it is unsurprising to learn that Pekepoos can be very protective as well. Fortunately, this is a potential issue that can be mitigated with proper socialization, which is particularly important because concerned Pekepoos have been known to proceed past growling into outright biting when they interact with strangers that they are already disinclined to trust.
10. Will Give Out Warning Barks
Speaking of which, Pekepoos can be pretty loud. This is because they are one of the kinds of dogs that are willing to give out warning barks, which can happen when they encounter strangers as well as when they sense something that seems suspicious to them. If not properly trained, Pekepoos can create a lot of nuisance noise, thus providing interested individuals with even more reason to train their pets properly.