Peke-A-Boo

The Bolognese is a small, charming companion dog that belongs to the Bichon family of breeds, sharing ancestry with the Maltese, Bichon Frise, Havanese, and Coton de Tulear. This breed presents a compact, square build that is surprisingly sturdy despite its dainty appearance. Males typically stand ten to twelve inches at the withers and weigh between six and ten pounds, while females are slightly smaller at nine to eleven inches tall and weighing five to nine pounds. The body is well-muscled with a straight, level back, well-sprung ribs giving a cylindrical body shape, and relatively short limbs in comparison to body length. Despite their small size, Bolognese dogs possess good muscling and could not be described as delicate or fragile. The most distinctive feature of the Bolognese is its unique coat, which sets it apart from other Bichon breeds. The fur is always pure white, sometimes with subtle cream or ivory shadings that are considered acceptable. Unlike the tightly curled coat of the Bichon Frise, the Bolognese coat falls in loose, open ringlets or flocks all over the body, with shorter hair on the face. The texture is distinctively woolly rather than silky, and the breed lacks an undercoat, making it a single-coated breed. This cotton-like coat gives the Bolognese an endearing, somewhat tousled appearance that is characteristic of the breed when properly maintained. The head of the Bolognese is of medium length, well-balanced with the body, and features a moderately broad skull with a well-defined stop. The eyes are large, round, and dark, set well apart with black rims, giving an expression of curiosity and alertness. A full coat can sometimes nearly obscure the eyes from view, adding to their distinctive appearance. The nose is large and black, the jaws are strong with evenly aligned white teeth, and the ears are set high and hang pendulously. The tail is carried curved over the back, completing the picture of an elegant yet approachable companion dog.

The Pekingese is a compact, stocky toy breed that carries itself with an air of dignity befitting its imperial Chinese heritage. Despite their small stature, standing only six to nine inches at the withers and weighing between seven and fourteen pounds, these dogs feel surprisingly heavy when lifted due to their muscular, well-built bodies. The breed presents a distinctive lion-like appearance with a broad, flat head that is wider than it is deep, creating an envelope-shaped profile. Their faces are remarkably flat when viewed from the side, with the chin, nose, and brow all lying on one plane that slants slightly backward from chin to forehead. The overall balance of the Pekingese is of utmost importance, with the head appearing large in proportion to the body. The crowning glory of the Pekingese is undoubtedly their profuse double coat, consisting of a long, straight, harsh-textured outer coat and an abundant soft undercoat. This magnificent coat forms a luxurious mane around the neck and shoulders, extending beyond the shoulder blades and creating a cape-like appearance. Generous feathering adorns the ears, back of the legs, tail, and toes, contributing to their regal presence. The breed standard accepts all coat colors and markings equally, with gold, red, and sable being the most common, though cream, black, white, tan, and various combinations also occur. A black mask and dark outlining around the eyes and ears are considered desirable features. Their large, round, dark eyes are set wide apart and have a lustrous, slightly prominent appearance that gives them their characteristic sweet yet somewhat aloof expression. The heart-shaped ears lie flat against the head and are heavily feathered, framing the face beautifully. The Pekingese moves with an unhurried, dignified gait featuring a distinctive rolling motion over the shoulders, a trait that was historically believed to have been selectively bred to prevent these royal dogs from wandering far from their imperial masters.