Pekingese Story

This love affair with the Pekingese started when I was about twelve years old. A neighborhood child had received a Pekingese puppy for her Birthday. It was about the cutest little thing I had every seen. I wanted one just like it--- My mom contacted the breeder but alas there were no puppies for sale- She did have a brood bitch that needed a good home with the promise that we would have her spayed.

I was ecstatic- she was a lovely red girl named “Candy”  “ Candy” lived out her years with us. I went away to college and sadly ‘ CANDY” passed on.

I really never gave the breed much of a thought after that with a family to raise and a career. We did show and raise dogs for a time but they were big dogs and that was my husband’s passion not mine.

I made a visit home one summer to find that my stepmother had adopted a little peke named “Sparky” he was a parti-colored dog and her constant companion. Sparky was a fun little dog my children just adored him. When my stepmother passed on no-body wanted an eleven-year-old Pekingese. There was no question-he was coming home with us.

Sparky was a fun dog – we loved his playfulness and he was a great watchdog.  When he died of cancer at age-thirteen we were all sad.  My boys were grown-ups by now but they too missed the little dog.

I set about searching the Internet for a “ pet” peke. I found little fellow that just fit the bill-he already had a name “fooie on you” we call him fooie- after about a year I decided that I would like to try showing dogs again this time little dogs-Pekingese.

My husband Gene and I went home to Pittsburgh Pa. for a visit with family and to attend the National Pekingese specialty show.  I bought a program, parked myself ringside and watched the judging of the dogs. Silly as it seemed one of the dogs that I liked the look of (he was so glamorous with all of that hair) was from Burlington North Carolina-about 10 minutes from where we made our home. The Breeder was Lance Bryson and the handler was Charlotte Carter.

When I returned home I used information from the program to e-mail several breeders looking for that special puppy. Little did I know that Pekingese breeders, just like the dogs, are a very particular group of people. These dogs are like their children. I often tell my friends that you must have the right blood type before they will sell you a Pekingese.  The breeder needs to meet you first-then you must pass their test and answer all the questions correctly- Have you ever owned a peke before?  Do you have children?  How old are the children? Is some one home during the day?  Who is your Vet? Do you have a fenced in yard? Do you own other pets? How many? Then if they really like you then and only then will you get to purchase a puppy?  Don’t ever call or e-mail a peke breeder and ask how much the puppies are and can you have a white female six-weeks old. Not if you are really serious about a purchasing a dog.

I finally made the acquaintance of Mr. Lance Bryson who is a peke breeder and happens to live not far from my home in North Carolina. He was also the owner and breeder of the gorgeous dog that I saw at the specialty show. He happened to have two male-show quality puppies for sale, which had the same sire as the dog I was in love with.  After careful consideration I purchased my first show dog- he was six months old and just a mass of hair and personality. I showed him myself and actually put two points on him and then I turned him over to the capable hands of Charlotte Carter (professional handler) ,Pudgie finished his championship in four shows. He is now retired from the ring and lives the life of a sultan in my house. He even has his own room as well as his own harem.

People who breed to show-breed for themselves first they don’t breed to sell puppies. The greatest honor a breeder can have is to finish a dog from the bred-by-exhibitor class. All dogs competing in this class were bred by the person that is showing them.

Pekingese are  most difficult to breed. They have small litters and almost always need a c-section. Some pekes are not good mothers- sometimes they die during the birth process-the breeder ends up caring for the litter. This means many sleepless nights feeding babies.

This is only one reason that breeders are very careful about who gets a Pekingese child.

Pekes are a very special dog- they were born into royalty- this is something the pekes have never quite forgotten.