Picture taken from www.flickr.com
From the Desk of Sharda Baker
Good day and welcome everyone!
This is Sharda with another Pekingese newsletter.
Here we go!
CHOOSING A HEALTHY PEKINGESE
Knowing a bit about the breed will help you choose a healthy Pekingese puppy or adult Pekingese.
It is important to do a bit of investigating and research before you start looking at puppies or dogs, especially if you are one that is easily influenced by a cute face and an adorable personality.
KNOW YOUR BREEDER
Since Pekingese are prone to respiratory and health issues due to their flat muzzles, it is important to talk with your breeder to make sure that the line that you are considering is as free as possible from these conditions.
The breeder should be willing to provide you information on this subject, as well as let you see the mother and father dog, as well as any other adult dogs in the kennel that might be related.
Watch for any signs of excessively loud breathing, rapid panting when not exercising, or any other signs of respiratory discomfort.
The kennel area should be clean from any waste materials, and the water dishes should be full of clean water. The puppies should be in a draft free and temperature controlled environment.
Many breeders will raise the puppies in their own homes, to start early socialization and interactions with people. Watch the breeder interact with the mother dog and the littermates, and see how the dogs respond.
Breeders should provide all necessary paperwork for registration with the Kennel Club, as well as local breed registry in your area. Talk to a number of breeders and find the person that you feel most comfortable with.
GET A CONTRACT
A reputable breeder will offer a contract that outlines the purchase and registration of the puppy or dog, the health guarantee, and the options for returning the dog or treating the dog if difficulties arise in the future.
Most breeders will require that the puppy is spayed or neutered unless it is to be shown and bred. Since there are concerns with breeding certain lines with Pekingese, the breeder will often require that they be consulted prior to breeding the dogs.
This is not meant to be intrusive; rather it shows genuine concern for both the individual dog and the breed as a whole.
Many breeders will also provide a list of references of other individuals that have bought puppies or dogs. Take advantage of this resource, and speak to these individuals.
OBSERVE THE PEKINGESE
Watch the puppy as it interacts with its littermates, its owner and you. Does the puppy or dog seem to have bright and lustrous eyes and a healthy looking coat? Dull eyes and coat may be a sign of nutritional imbalance or more serious health concerns. Look for any discharge from the eyes, ears, nose or urinary or excretory tracts.
Discharge is usually the sign of infection or other conditions, and this can be difficult to treat as well as potentially dangerous to other pets.
A Pekingese puppy will be active and playful, inquisitive and more self-confident and independent than some of the other breeds. The puppy should not appear afraid of humans or littermates, and should interact appropriately.
A mature Pekingese will be more dignified and refined. They will be alert and a little wary of strangers, but should respond well to new people when the owner is present.
Mature dogs that appear aggressive, or bark excessively may be difficult to work with if you would like more of a quiet companion dog. Ask if the dog adjusts well to change, and discuss what will happen if the Pekingese does not adjust to the new home.
VET CHECK-UP
The puppy or dog will likely come with all the necessary shots and veterinary visits up-to-date. It is still a good practice to take the puppy or dog to your own vet as soon as possible, however, for a complete check-up.
If you are purchasing your puppy from another area of the country, it may not have certain shots that may be an issue in your area. Make sure that you obtain a complete vet report from the breeder or past owner to take to your vet.
If at all possible, see and interact with the puppy or dog before making the decision to purchase. Dogs, just like humans, respond differently to people, and it is important to make sure that the puppy is not only healthy, but is a good match for you and your family.
I hope that you learned a lot from today’s Pekingese newsletter
All the best and take care
Warmly,
Sharda Baker