The Peekapoo is a mixed breed dog-a cross of a Pekingese and a Miniature or Toy Poodle, also known as Pekingese Poodle Mix. It's a small dog breed that can reach up to 11 inches of height and 4 to 20 pounds of weight. The lifespan of this crossbreed is around 10 to 15 years.
This Designer Dog breed is as cute as it is friendly, and they make excellent family pets.
Keep reading to find out why!
One of the First Doodles
The Peekapoo was one of the first Poodle crosses who came around in the 1950’s. This gives them the official title as one of the first “Doodles”, the name given to all the poodle crosses.
Their popularity swelled in the 1960’s thanks to their ability to make fantastic companions.
While the American Kennel Club does not recognize them, the American Canine Hybrid Club, the Designer Dogs Kennel Club, International Designer Canine Registry, and Designer Breed Registry recognize the breed.
The best way to get to know the Peekapoo is by getting to know its parents!
The Pekingese is Royalty
The Pekingese has been around for a long time. In fact, many scholars suggest that the Pekingese is one of the oldest dogs in the world. There are references to them in ancient China as being beloved companions to Emperors. This makes them over 2000 years old!
They’re often called the Lion Dog thanks to their similar appearance to lions. This is because their fur is usually very long and falls around their face like a mane. Here are a few of their other well know characteristics:
- Flat face
- Large eyes
- Low to the ground
- Muscular build
- Unusual rolling gait
- A wide variety of color combinations. Red, white, black, gold, and tan are just a few.
- A wide variety of markings, though a black face is most common.
They may look small, but they are courageous and prominent barkers. They are confident, proud, and pretty stubborn. Pekingeses can be affectionate, usually to one specific person in the house. So don’t be offended if they play favorites, it’s just their nature.
These dogs can be challenging to train at times, but they are playful and a joy to be around.
One of the Most Popular Dogs: the Miniature or Toy Poodle
Though not around as early as the Pekingese, the Poodle has also been around for quite some time. Originating in many European countries, they initially came to America in the 1920s.
But it took a few decades for them to gain popularity and eventually become one of the most popular dogs in America. It’s no wonder with how adorable they are!
The Poodle has distinctive physical characteristics most could recognize. Very graceful in appearance, this dog has stunning and coarse fur that comes in a wide variety of colors.
Their coat can be long or cut short in their famous haircut, and their body comes in a variety of sizes. The Standard Poodle is one of the biggest dogs out there, while the Toy Poodle is one of the smallest.
Best described as shy and lively, the Poodle is an incredibly intelligent breed. They are obedient and eager to please their owners.
Pekingese Poodle Mix Comes in a Variety of Colors
No two Peekapoo pups look the same. This happens because they are first generation dogs only, which means their parents can only be a Pekingese and a Miniature or Toy Poodle.
Breeders don't breed two Peekapoos together, and it is very rare to find a second generation one due to this fact.
That means the appearance of this breed isn't easily controlled. You could get any possible combination of characteristics from the parents.
Your Peekapoo might have a short or long muzzle, long or medium fur, a broad or normal sized chest, and short or tall legs. It's all a guessing game, but a very fun one at that.
There are many markings and color combinations available for these dogs too. A few common colors are white, black, brown, gray, red, cream, apricot, and more.
Despite this, they do have a few shared characteristics:
- Their coat is soft to the touch and has the same texture as cotton. It is also wavy in style and medium to long in length.
- They have no undercoat, which means they can be low shedding. However, they can also be an average shedding dog depending on their parents and which breeder you purchase your pup from.
Is a Peekapoo Hypoallergenic?
Yes and no!
Whether your particular Peekapoo puppy is hypoallergenic or not depends on the parents. If the puppy inherits the Poodle’s coat, then this is a good sign they won’t kick up your allergies.
However, if their coat is long and silky like the Pekingese, they will surely cause lots of sneezing.
Unfortunately, this is not easily controlled.
Speak with your breeder so the two of you can work together to pick a dog that will best fit your allergic family member’s needs. This may mean waiting some time for a hypoallergenic puppy to be born.
The two of you can look for a puppy in the litter that sheds less and produces less dander. This means thick and coarse fur, like the Poodle.
How Big Do Peekapoos Get?
These dogs can come in three different sizes.
Ranking from largest to smallest, the first is miniature, the second toy, and the third teacup.
As mentioned above, you can expect your full-grown Peekapoo to be around 11 inches tall (28 cm) and 4 to 20 pounds (2 to 9 kg) in weight.
Intelligent like a Poodle and a Lap Dog like a Pekingese
These pups will always be there to sit in your lap. Because of this, they do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. If this happens, they will suffer from separation anxiety.
The Pekingese Poodle Mix (along with other small dogs like the Puli) proves that size is not an indicator of protective instincts. This breed makes an excellent guard dog, because they always bark at strangers.
If this is a negative trait for you, know that you can train this habit away with lots of patient and time.
Like their Poodle parents before them, the Peekapoo is an incredibly intelligent breed that makes training a walk in the park through positive reinforcement methods.
Make sure to socialize your pup at an early age. Doing so helps these small dogs become more confident in a big world, which also means less barking for you. It also ensures your dog will get along with others better, including other pets and small children.
However, the Peekapoo is best with older children. Younger children can easily hurt or frighten them, as they don’t know how to handle smaller dogs like these.
For this particular breed, we recommend crate training to help with separation anxiety and give you your space when you need it. However, your dog shouldn’t be in their cage all day.
They need to be able to stretch out and walk around, so plan to keep them in their crate for only a few hours at a time.
They love to chew. To protect your furniture and sanity, make sure to provide them with chew toys.
Other than this, you'll rarely run into behavioral issues with the Peekapoo.
Common Health Problems with the Peekapoo
Peekapoos are healthy. However, there are a few health conditions that they are prone to having:
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). This is an inherited disease of the retina, in which the rod cells will eventually die and leave your friend blind. Unfortunately, about 67% of Pekingeses have this disease. As this is one of the Peekapoo’s parents, you’ll want to be sure you’re getting yours from a good breeder so your dog won't receive this medical issue.
- Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease. This happens when the blood supply to the femur decreases. It can cause the pelvis to break down, and it’s a common condition for smaller dog breeds.
- Patellar Luxation. This condition occurs when the knee slips out the place and causes issues with walking.
- Hip dysplasia. In other words, when the hip disconnects from the pelvis.
- Overactive tear ducts. This can cause staining on the fur around the eye and eye irritation. Keep this area clean to avoid any potential problems.
Overall, they will thrive in a place where they can be kept cool. Hot temperatures can become dangerous for them as they are Brachycephalic dogs. This is just a term meaning they have short muzzles and are more prone to breathing issues.
Take Care of Your Peekapoo
As mentioned in the first paragraph the Peekapoo has a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years. That’s a long time to love on your furry friend and create lots of memories together. But you’ll need to give them the proper care they require.
These dogs have high energy levels, much like many small breeds do. That hyper personality can turn destructive if not managed.
Take your Peekapoo on a daily walk and ensure lots of play time with your pooch. Play some fetch or with their favorite chew toy, and you two will have a great time. These dogs would do best with a yard to run around, not cooped up in an apartment all day.
However, you must be careful about exercising. Since they are brachycephalic dogs, over-exercising can cause respiratory problems. You certainly don’t want your pooch to have difficulties breathing.
Keep These Things in Mind While Grooming your Peekaboo
Grooming these dogs can take a good amount of work. But it’s worth it to have such an adorable friend in your life. There are several concrete steps you can take to ensure your Peekapoo stays cute and happy.
- If your friend has a clipped coat, you will only need to brush them once a week. If they have a longer coat, brush their coat daily.
- Their adorable wrinkles around their face need lots of upkeep. Make sure to clean all creases and folds around the eyes, muzzles, ears, and nose. Keep those free of dirt and debris to prevent infections.
- Make sure their fur isn’t getting into their eyes and irritating them.
- Check their ears once a week for dirt, redness, or any bad odor. If you find any of those things, it could mean an ear infection. To keep anything from building up, wipe out their ears out weekly with a cotton ball dampened with a gentle PH-balanced ear cleaner
- If you hear their claws clicking on the floor, they’re too long. Keep them short.
- Try to brush your dog’s teeth daily to prevent bad breath and gum disease. However, cleaning once a week is great too because it prevents the buildup of tartar and bacteria.
- Start getting your pup accustomed to handling and grooming at an early age, so it’s easier for you and the groomers in the future. You’ll thank yourself later.
Don’t Overfeed Your Pekingese Poodle
It's essential that you measure out all food. Feed them ¼ to ¾ cup split into two meals. As well, don't leave this food out all day for them to munch on. Try to feed them during a designated time.
This will help protect you and your dog from overeating and obesity, a common problem with this breed.
How Much is a Peekapoo Puppy?
You can find Peekapoo puppies for sale everywhere!
Do lots of research before buying to make sure you are getting from someone who is reliable and safe.
A few steps you can take to ensure this is to visit the breeder’s home, meet the parents, see how the dogs interact with the breeder, ask for references from previous buyers and health screenings for the dogs, and investigate the puppy's pedigree before purchasing.
As well, make sure to ask for medical history from the parents to be able to ensure your pup won’t receive any of the conditions listed above.
The price for a Peekapoo puppy can range from $500 – $1500. Here are few breeders you could choose from:
If you’re willing, check rescue groups for Peekapoo dogs! Chances are, there is, and you’ll be able to save a life while bringing in a new addition to your family. Search in Petfinder or PuppyFind to find puppies near you.
Conclusion
The Peekapoo is known for its loving and fun personality, as well as its adorable looks that come in a wide variety. Training your pup will be a breeze, and their grooming and health needs aren’t too bad either.
