Peke-A-Chow

The Pekingese is a compact, well-balanced toy dog with a distinctive lion-like appearance that reflects its imperial Chinese heritage spanning over two thousand years. Standing between 6 and 9 inches at the shoulder and typically weighing between 7 and 14 pounds, this breed presents a surprisingly stocky and muscular build beneath its abundant coat. The body is slightly longer than it is tall with a level topline, well-sprung ribs, and a broad chest that contributes to the breed's substantial feel when held. The characteristic rolling gait results from its unique combination of a broad chest, heavier forequarters, and lighter hindquarters, creating dignified movement. Some individuals, known as sleeve Pekingese, weigh under 7 pounds and were historically carried in the flowing sleeves of Chinese royalty. The Pekingese possesses a luxurious double coat that is one of the breed's most striking features. The undercoat is soft, thick, and dense, while the outer coat is coarse, straight, and stands away from the body to create impressive volume. The coat forms an impressive mane around the neck and shoulders, giving the breed its celebrated lion-like appearance. Extensive feathering appears on the ears, legs, tail, and toes, contributing to the breed's opulent presentation. The coat comes in a wide variety of colors including gold, red, sable, black, cream, white, and black-and-tan, as well as various parti-color combinations. All colors are equally acceptable in the breed standard, and many individuals display a distinctive black mask. The breed's flat, brachycephalic face is immediately recognizable, featuring a broad skull, wide-set dark eyes that are large and lustrous, and a short, wrinkled muzzle with a blue-black nose and lips. The facial wrinkles should be evident but not excessive. The large, heart-shaped ears are set high on the head and lie flat against the skull, covered with long feathering that frames the face. The tail is set high and carried curved over the back to either side, heavily plumed with long, flowing hair. The overall expression conveys dignity, self-importance, and confidence befitting the breed's royal ancestry. The Pekingese's unique physical structure requires special attention to grooming, temperature regulation, and care of facial folds.

The Chow Chow is a medium-sized, powerfully built dog with a distinctive lion-like appearance and an air of inscrutable dignity. Standing between 17 and 20 inches at the shoulder and weighing between 45 and 70 pounds, this ancient breed presents a square, sturdy profile with well-developed musculature throughout. The body is compact with a broad, deep chest and straight, post-like legs that contribute to the breed's characteristic stilted gait. The head is large and broad with a flat skull, and the small, triangular ears are set high and carried erect with slightly rounded tips, adding to the breed's alert expression. The Chow Chow's coat is one of its most impressive features, coming in two distinct varieties: rough and smooth. The rough coat is extremely dense and stands away from the body, creating a profuse mane around the neck and head that enhances the lion-like appearance. This thick ruff extends around the entire head, framing the face dramatically. The smooth coat variety is dense and medium-length, lying closer to the body but still requiring regular maintenance. Both coat types feature a soft, dense undercoat. Acceptable colors include red, black, blue, cinnamon, and cream, with solid coloring preferred throughout the breed standard. Perhaps the most unique physical characteristic of the Chow Chow is its blue-black tongue and lips, a trait shared by only one other breed, the Shar-Pei. The eyes are dark, deep-set, and almond-shaped, giving the breed a somewhat scowling expression that reflects its dignified personality. The tail is set high and carried curved over the back, covered with thick, flowing hair. Another distinctive feature is the breed's straight hind legs, which create the characteristic stilted movement when the dog walks. The overall appearance should convey strength, power, and an almost regal bearing that has made the breed popular for thousands of years.