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Peekapoo (Poodle & Pekingese Mix): Info, Pictures, Traits, Facts

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Peekapoo (Poodle & Pekingese Mix)

Height: 8–11 inches
Weight: 4–20 pounds
Lifespan: 10 –15 years
Colors: White, grey, silver, cream, black, brown, chocolate, red
Suitable for: Families, singles, apartments, seniors
Temperament: Friendly, loyal, affectionate, gentle, intelligent, active

The Peekapoo is a hybrid breed, a mix of the adorable Pekingese and the showy Poodle. This little designer dog has quite a history and was one of the first Poodle mixes that took hold in the ‘50s and ‘60s. The breed comes mostly from first-generation crosses — Peekapoos are rarely crossed with other Peekapoos. They are bred exclusively as adorable companion animals and are lapdogs through and through. That being said, their Poodle heritage gives them a prey drive at times, and they can be adept little ratters. Taking a brief look at the parent breeds can help you get to know this little dog better.

The Pekingese were long the loyal companions of Chinese Imperials, thought to have first been bred around 2,000 years ago. They are courageous little dogs with long mops of hair, earning them the nickname, “Lion Dog,” and they live up to this nickname with their fearless temperament. Lions they are not, but Pekingese are one of the closest modern relations to wolves. They do not resemble wolves physically, but believe it or not, they are among the least changed dog breeds at the DNA level.

Poodles have a long history and reputation as pampered show dogs, complete with fancy haircuts and hand-crafted collars. Despite this reputation, these dogs were actually bred as adept hunting dogs and can hold their own with any other hunting breed out in the field. They are also among the most intelligent dogs in the world, second only to the Border Collie.

If the Peekapoo sounds like the perfect lap companion for you, read on below for a deeper look at this pint-sized hybrid breed.

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Peek-a-Poo Puppy

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

The Peekapoo is a lapdog for sure, but they require a great deal of exercise for such a small canine. This makes them ideal companions for small homes and apartments, but they’ll still need to get out for a run daily. They can vary greatly in size, depending on the Poodle side of their parentage, but still stay relatively small.

They are not guard dogs, but they make excellent watchdogs and bark at anything that seems out of the ordinary. Don’t be fooled by these dogs’ pint-sized statures — they have quite a bark in them. Their small size also fools owners into thinking that they are happy to be on your lap all day, but these dogs have a ton of energy and need a fair amount of exercise every day. They are wary of strangers, and it may take them a while to warm up to new faces. They are rarely aggressive, though, and once you’ve earned their trust, you have a friend for life.

So, although small in size, these dogs make up for it in character and energy, and this needs to be taken into careful consideration before bringing a puppy home.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Peekapoo

1. Both the Poodle and Pekingese are ancient breeds

The Poodle is an ancient breed, and variations have been around for thousands of years. While their true heritage is largely unknown, some theories hold that a Poodle-like dog originated in Asia and eventually made it to Germany with travelers. Poodles are the official dog of France and have long been associated with the French, but in fact, the modern version of the breed originated from and was developed in Germany.

The Pekingese is also an ancient breed, commonly being kept as companions for Chinese Imperials. Some DNA evidence confirms that the Pekingese is one of the oldest known dog breeds, believed to have existed in China for as long as 2,000 years.


2. The fancy hairdo of Poodles serves a vital purpose

The pampered appearance of Poodles is not only for style but also has a useful purpose in hunting. The manicured fluffballs are designed to keep the dog’s joints and vital organs warm when they are running through cold water during hunting. The hair is thick and coarse, and keeping it short prevents them from getting tangled in grass and bush and prevents knotting and matting. Their coats will keep growing if not trimmed and eventually curl into long locks if left unchecked.


3. They are highly intelligent

The Poodle is one of the most intelligent dogs on the planet, second only to Border Collies. Their rating means they can learn a new command in fewer than five exposures and obey commands 95% of the time.

The Pekingese is no slouch either when it comes to intellect, with many owners describing them as “opinionated.” They are often not recognized for their high intellect due to their stubbornness and independent nature. While they may not learn commands as quickly as Poodles, it is more due to the fact that they just do not have the same desire to follow orders.

The parent breeds of the Peekapoo
Image Credit: Left – akihirohatako, Shutterstock | Right – T.Den_Team, Shutterstock

Temperament & Intelligence of the Peekapoo 🧠

Peekapoos are loving and affectionate dogs that love to cuddle with their owners, and if they are not curled up on your lap, they are likely to be close by your side. They are loyal and protective animals and will often pick fights that they cannot possibly win in order to protect their owners. With a bark far bigger than their bite, these dogs can get themselves into dangerous situations, which is funny at times but can cause real problems. Early socialization is essential.

These dogs love to be a part of every activity, leading them to become shadow dogs that follow your every movement. While they will still appreciate loads of outdoor activity — especially if you are there — they love to cuddle close to their owners more than anything.

Are Peekapoos Good for Families? 🏡

Peekapoos make great family dogs as they are small and easy to maintain and rarely aggressive. They become highly attached to their owners, though, and are not a great choice if you are away from home frequently. They can be a problem with very small children, as they don’t enjoy being handled roughly. This can lead them to snap at small kids, so it’s important to teach any kids that may be around them how to gently handle them.

Do Peekapoos Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

The Peekapoo is a mostly gentle breed that doesn’t have a strong prey drive or aggressive streak and will get along great with other pets. The only problem that you may run into is the nature of these dogs to become highly attached to their owners, and they may snap or show aggression toward other pets if they feel that connection is being threatened in any way.

Peekapoo groomed
Image Credit: Christine Olson, Flickr

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Things to Know When Owning a Peekapoo

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Peekapoos are small pooches with equally small appetites, but they will overeat if given the chance and are prone to getting overweight. This is why we recommend a diet that is high in concentrated nutrition and low in empty filler calories like wheat and soy. A cup or two of quality dry kibble (depending on your particular Peekapoo’s size) is perfect, and it’s a great idea to substitute lean meats like chicken and fish occasionally too.

These dogs don’t have any needs that differ greatly from most other dogs, and a high-quality kibble and the avoidance of foods like wheat, sugar, and other “treats” will ensure a healthy and happy pooch.

Exercise 🐕

Although they are small and appear to be pampered lapdogs, Peekapoos have a great deal of energy for such a pint-sized pooch and require at least an hour or two of exercise every day. This will help you form a bond with your pup, as well as help reduce or prevent any bad behavior like barking or digging.

Peekapoos are playful dogs, and interactive games of fetch or frisbee are great mental and physical stimulation for them. Depending on the parent breeds, these dogs may have a higher-than-average energy level, so it may take time to tire them out. That is why we recommend taking a minimum of an hour a day to keep these pooches sufficiently exercised.

Peekapoo Dog smiling looking at the camera
Image Credit: The Real Prince Club, Shutterstock

Training 🦮

Peekapoos are intelligent pooches, so they are usually a breeze to train. That being said, they will still need a consistent and regular training program that begins from the day you bring them home. Without good training, these dogs are prone to excessive barking and will run off chasing other animals. For these reasons, basic obedience training is a must, and although formal training classes are great, informal home training is still important. This can easily become a part of your daily routine with your pooch, and getting them to sit for food or before activities is an ideal method that will get them obeying commands fast.

Try and keep training sessions as entertaining and as short as possible — a maximum of 20 minutes. This will get your dog excited for the training and help them learn faster, and short sessions will prevent them from getting bored and distracted.

Grooming ✂️

The Peekapoo typically has a curly and wavy coat that need close attention and regular brushing to avoid knotting and matting. Some will inherit the tight curls of their Poodle parent, and others may have the predominantly wavy or straight hair of the Pekingese. Brushing their hair at least every other day, no matter the coat they inherit, is essential. Bathing is not necessary unless they get extremely muddy, in which case, it’s better to use clean, warm water or a special pet shampoo. Standard soaps and shampoos can quickly dry out your dog’s skin.

A tooth brushing at least a few times a week is necessary to prevent any tartar buildup or dental issues, and dogs with small mouths can often be affected with supernumerary teeth, in which food can quickly become trapped and cause tooth decay. Other than that, they may need the occasional nail trimming to prevent pain or infection.

Health Conditions ❤️

Although Peekapoos benefit from hybrid vigor, a crossbred trait that allows them to be healthier than their parent breeds, they can still inherit the health issues associated with Poodles and Pekingese.

Collapsing trachea is common in small dog breeds, as well as supernumerary teeth. Small dogs can develop this condition because they have small mouths in which teeth can become overcrowded and cause food to get trapped. Regular brushing and feeding them dry food will help this drastically.

Pekingese have small, short snouts and can suffer from brachycephalic airway syndrome. This can cause difficulty breathing, and the condition can commonly be passed down to Peekapoos.

Patella luxation and hip and elbow dysplasia are common in both Poodles and Pekingese and may be inherited by your Peekapoo. Progressive retinal atrophy is also commonly associated with these pooches, as they have bulging eyes that are also fairly easily injured.

Obesity is one of the most common health issues in these dogs, so you need to keep a strict eye on their nutrition. They are prone to eating and will often eat way beyond they are full, and they should definitely not be freely fed.

Minor Conditions
  • Allergies
  • Bloat
  • Obesity
  • Progressive retinal atrophy
  • Supernumerary teeth
  • Collapsing tracheae
Serious Conditions

Divider 5Male vs. Female

The first point to take into consideration when deciding on a female or male dog is that every dog is an individual. Your dog’s upbringing and environment will have a far more profound effect on their personality than their gender. Neutering males or spaying females will further mitigate most, if not all, differences between the genders, as it suppresses hormonal traits that can cause things like aggression.

The other point to consider is the dogs that you already have at home. Dogs of the same sex are more prone to fighting and becoming territorial, especially males. This, however, can be largely mitigated with spaying and neutering and good socialization.

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Final Thoughts: Peek-a-Poo Dog

Peekapoos are the perfect lapdog and will soon become your new shadow around the home. While they love a good cuddle on the sofa, they are fairly high energy and still need regular daily exercise. Training these dogs is usually a breeze because they are highly intelligent and will swiftly pick up commands. They become highly attached to their owners, so leaving them at home alone for long periods is sure to result in misbehavior. They make adorable, loving, and affectionate family dogs that adapt well to almost any environment.

If you are looking for a cuddly lapdog that can still keep up with you on the trail, the Peekapoo is a great choice!

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Featured Image Credit: jbentler, Shutterstock

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