Peekapoo: The not so popular designer dog

There are breeds we don’t talk about much. For example, the Pekingese. Not a lot of people like them. They used to be huge, but now no one buys them. There are many reasons for that but we won’t get into them right now. Instead, we’ll talk about one of their mixes. The Peekapoo.

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I know, that name sounds a bit funny. But trust me, you’ll love them! It’s a crossbreed between the Pekingese and Poodle breeds, the miniature Poodle or toy Poodle. And they make great companion dogs.

We also have to add that, the American Kennel Club accepts both parent breeds, so the Pekingese and Poodle. But, they do not recognize the Peekapoo as a separate breed.

In this article, I’ll talk about the nature of Peekapoos. What they look like. And I’ll show you why they might be a dog for you!

While you’re here, read about other amazing crossbreeds:

Peekapoo – All their traits

The Peekapoo is one of the oldest hybrid, or designer, breeds. He was created in the 1950s by crossing a Pekingese with a Miniature or Toy Poodle. The idea was to create a non- to low-shedding dog acceptable for allergy sufferers. The Peekapoo became popular at the same time as the Cockapoo in the early 1960s.

Despite its popularity, the Peekapoo has no breed club. The hybrid has remained the first-generation cross; the parents are Pekingese and Poodles. There is no sign that multigenerational breeding will occur — but never say never.

The Peekapoo has a cult following because of its petite, lap-friendly stature and charmingly cuddly demeanor.

Traits of the Peekapoo

When I say that this mix is a great companion dog, I mean it. They could spend days being on your lap or napping next to you. But, let’s first see what they look like.

Because the Peekapoo isn’t a purebred dog, there also isn’t a set standard on how they look. They can look like a combination of both parents. Or they can look more like one parent breed or the other. There is no way to control what the Peekapoo puppies will look like.

Because both their Pekingese parents and their Poodle parent are small dogs, we know that the Peekapoo will be of small size too. They can be between nine and 11 inches tall and weigh between 10 and 20 pounds. Peekapoos that weigh less than 8 pounds are considered miniature Peekapoos.

Their coat can be many colors, for example:

fawn

white with brown or brindle

silver

white with black patches

cream

white

gray

chocolate brown

Or they can be any combination of those colors or one color!

What’s interesting about Peekapoos is that they were bred for people with allergies. But are they hypoallergenic?
Well, not quite. They don’t shed a lot, so people with allergies won’t have big issues with them. But they are also not completely hypoallergenic. Poodles are, but the Pekingese are not.

You don’t know which parent the puppies will be like, so you also can’t claim that all Peekapoos are hypoallergenic. But, to better understand what a Peekapoo can look like, we need to take a closer look at its parent breeds, Pekingese and Poodle.

Pekingese appearance

The Pekingese is 6 to 9 inches tall and weighs 7 to 14 pounds. Pekingese weighing less than six pounds were known as “sleeve dogs” in imperial China and rode in the sleeve cuffs of the robes worn by members of the imperial court.
Pekingese are long-bodied, compact canines with slightly bent limbs. Despite its diminutive size, the body is strong, and the structure adds to a “rolling” stride.

Pekingese are distinguished by their short muzzles, huge eyes, and a “v” shaped nose wrinkle between the muzzle and the eyes. The enormous circular head has long ears, and the tail is draped magnificently over the back.

These dogs have black eyes that are so dark when they gaze straight ahead that there is scarcely any white visible. He is a brachycephalic breed, which means he has a smooshed, flat face framed by heart-shaped, flat-hanging ears. Grooming a Pekingese two to three times a week (or whenever tangles appear) and bathing him on occasion are required to keep him looking his best.

The luxuriant coat is the Pekingese’s finest beauty. The hair is long and straight, with a rough texture and an abundance of soft underneath. There is a lot of fringe hair on the ears, tail, and limbs. All colors are permissible, but, a black mask, black eyeliner, and black on the ears are preferred.

Poodle appearance

Poodles are classified into three varieties:

Standard Poodle: The first breed type to be produced, also known as French Poodle, Barbone, Caniche, Chien Canard, and Grosse Pudel. It is a medium to large-sized breed, weighing 45 to 70 pounds and standing 15 inches or higher from the highest point of the shoulders.

Miniature Poodle: Miniature Poodles stand 10 to 15 inches tall and weigh 15 to 17 pounds.

Toy Poodles: Also known as Teacup Poodles, these dogs are the smallest in the breed lineup, standing 10 inches at the highest point of the shoulders and weighing between 6 and 9 pounds.

Poodles all have a square form, a long, beautiful neck, and a straight back. The tail is docked but not clipped, allowing it to wave freely.

Poodles have a long nose and drooping ears, giving them a lanky look. They have a brisk, bouncy stride.
Poodles are distinguished by their curly hair, long pointed snout, and tiny black eyes. Poodles are most often seen with white, black, or brown coats, but they can come in a variety of colors ranging from apricot to silver.

Unless properly combed, the poodle coat should be tight and curled. Poodles are popular among allergy sufferers because their hair does not shed regularly; instead, it mats to itself. Poodles need trimming or regular grooming since matting may be uncomfortable. Poodles are usually found in silver, black, white, apricot, and chocolate hues. Reds, creams, and blues may all be found. Parti-colors, such as black and white, are not permitted in the show ring.

Peekapoo temperament

Just like we can’t say what your Peekapoo will look like, we also can’t say what they will be like. They can be more like one parent breed or the other. That’s the thing with designer dogs, you don’t know what you’re getting.

But, generally speaking, the Peekapoo is an outgoing, fun, and active dog. Sure, they love cuddling and just spending time with you on the couch. But they also love to go on walks and little adventures. This is a very energetic dog.

10 facts about Peekapoos

The Peekapoo is an intelligent breed, so don’t forget about mental stimulation games. You can either DIY some, or buy games for your pooch.

Even though Peekapoos is full of love with their family, they aren’t like that with strangers. They tend to be more reserved and they will probably bark at every unknown person.

Like it is with every dog, early socialization and training are a must. Focus on positive reinforcement training and teach your Peekapoo basic commands. Training them and teaching them new tricks can provide your dog with mental stimulation too. But, don’t forget the treats! Peekapoos will learn best if there’s a treat involved.
So, you shouldn’t have a hard time with adult Peekapoos, no matter if your goal is socialization or training, it’s just important that you stay consistent and positive.

Now, let´s talk more about the personality of both parent breeds.

Pekingese personality

The Pekingese may seem silly, but he’s a stand-up character who’s stronger and bolder than his looks implies. The Peke’s royal majesty, self-importance, confidence, and obstinate streak combine to form a vivacious, friendly, good-natured dog that will respect you if you respect him. He is devoted to and protective of his humans, barking as a warning when outsiders approach. Use positive stimuli like food rewards and praise to train him with strong, compassionate consistency. You will always succeed if you can convince Peke that everything you are doing is his idea, not yours.

The Pekingese is a stately, extremely confident dog that is one of the most independent (and obstinate) toy breeds. The Peke prefers to spend most of his time inside, calm and peaceful, lying on the couch cushions and studying his domain with his straight, enigmatic stare. He will surprise you with unexpected spurts of hilarious fun.

Amazing dogs

A variety of variables influence temperament, including inheritance, training, and socialization. Puppies with good temperaments are interested and lively, eager to approach and be held by humans. Choose the puppy amid the pack, not the one that is tearing up his littermates or cowering in the corner. Always meet at least one of the parents to confirm that they have pleasant personalities with whom you are comfortable. Meeting the parents’ siblings or other relatives is also beneficial in determining what a puppy will be like as he grows up.

But, most Pekingese are devoted to their owners without becoming clingy. They are often friendly to strangers and other animals. This self-assured, confident dog is an excellent option for an adults-only household, particularly for older persons. We do not advocate him for households with youngsters since he will not succumb to mischief or hard treatment from anybody. He might be protective of his food and toys as well.

Pekingese, like other dogs, need early socialization – exposure to a variety of people, sights, noises, and experiences — while they are young. Socialization ensures that your Peke puppy develops into a well-rounded dog. Enrolling him in puppy kindergarten is a terrific place to start. Inviting guests over, as well as bringing him to busy parks, shops that accept dogs, and on strolls to meet neighbors, can help him improve his social abilities.

The Pekingese might be exasperatingly stubborn, yet he or she is also surprisingly sensitive. He is offended when he has pulled about or even chastised. But, if he respects you, he will be well-mannered without the need for any formal instruction.

Poodle personality

The temperament of a poodle relates to how the poodle was when it was born. Personalities evolve, alter, and bloom during a poodle’s life, but temperaments tend to predict a poodle’s emotions, habitual behavior, and baseline mood. Poodles are characterized as being attentive, affectionate, devoted to owners and friends alike, full of knowledge, highly clever, energetic, hyperactive, easy to train, guided by intuition, and wise beyond their years in terms of disposition.

The temperament of a standard poodle and a toy poodle are remarkably similar, which is just one of many instances that demonstrate how closely-aligned each variety of poodle is while being classified individually. But, just because poodle temperaments are similar across the board does not mean they are identical. There are several differences between standard poodle temperament, toy poodle temperament, and miniature poodle temperament.

Ideal for families with children

Miniature poodles are ideal for families with children since they are so little that they provide little to no physical danger to youngsters. A tiny poodle is an ideal size and weight for newborns, toddlers, and younger children. Standard poodles are ideal for families of all sizes and individuals of all ages. If you’re worried about a standard poodle’s height and how it could affect small children in the house, be assured that standard poodles will not endanger anybody in the house. Aside from their size, standard poodles are fairly gentle.

Toy poodles are not as suitable for tiny children as you may believe. Toy poodles, believe it or not, are considered too little for children to play with, especially since young children may treat the poodle pup too forcefully, which is harmful to an already-tiny dog. Also, since toy poodle temperament makes them very sensitive to loud sounds, angry tones, and disturbing voices, toy poodles are best suited for people whose children have either reached puberty or moved out of the home altogether.

Because of their high intelligence levels, owners find it quite simple to teach their poodles from the start. Poodles are lively, outgoing, and eager to participate in physical activities. They like participating in activities, and their favorite pastimes are those that include their adoring owners. Poodles are particularly family-oriented in the sense that they like to be around their owners and others they are acquainted with. If a poodle is left in a position where he or she does not know someone well, anxiety might develop – notably separation anxiety in dogs.

There are many other crossbreeds worth getting to know:

Care and Health

The coat of the Peekapoo is soft and easy to take care of. This is because they don’t have a double coat or an undercoat like many other breeds. So, they also don’t shed much.

Brushing every day or every other day and bathing when needed is all that you have to do. Brushing is very important so their beautiful coat doesn’t get mated.

Their coat can be mid to long, so brushing is a must. But if you don’t want to brush them you can cut it very short. This won’t have any effect on the Peekapoo’s coat, because they don’t have that double coat.

This is especially advisable during the summer or if you live where it’s hot all the time.

You should also know that caring for a dog doesn’t only mean daily brushing of its coat. Small dogs usually have dental problems, so it’s very important to take them for teeth cleaning at the vet. But, you also have to take care of their teeth at home. Which means regular brushing.

We have a number of articles explaining how to clean a dog’s teeth:

Health

We’ve talked about brachycephalic dog breeds. Sadly, the Peekapoo is one of those dogs. Because of how their face is built they will have respiratory problems. Over 67% of Pekingese have Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome or BOAS for short.

This is a condition that can’t be treated and that makes it hard for your dog to breathe. Your dog sadly has to live with it, you can’t do anything about it.

There is also the risk of Peekapoos overheating. So, please don’t take them with you on your beach vacation. It’s also a good idea to clip their fur very short in the summer months.

Peekapoos look adorable with their big eyes, but there’s a risk to that too. These dogs are prone to dry eyes, which can be painful if not dealt with. They are also susceptible to different eye injuries.

Other possible health problems your Peekapoo can have:

Patellar Luxation
Hip Dysplasia
Entropion
Sebaceous Adenitis
Skin Fold Dermatitis
Addison’s Disease Mitral Valve Disease
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Difficulty breathing
Itchy eyes
Dental disease

But generally speaking, the average lifespan of this designer dog is between 10 to 15 years, as it usually is for small breeds.

When it comes to health we also have to talk about how much exercise these dogs need. The Peekapoo enjoys being outside. He thrives in a house with a fenced-in yard, but he may also thrive in an apartment. Because of his flat-faced ancestry, the Peekapoo should surely reside in a place with air conditioning.

He should not be allowed to live outside or be left unaccompanied outside. Exercise is essential; plan on at least one walk and a nice playtime in the yard each day. He has a lot of energy, and if he doesn’t receive his regular exercise, he might become disruptive.

A part of a dog’s health is making sure they have a balanced diet that will provide them with all the needed nutrients. Because we love to give our dogs human food, you should also know which human food is safe and which is not.

You can learn more about human foods in our “Food category” or check out the following articles:

How much they cost

We’ve learned a lot about Peekapoos. But how much do they cost?

Be careful who you buy your Peekapoo from. With designer dogs, you need to be very careful. Always get all the possible info on the parent breeds from the breeder. Also, make sure you’re buying from a trustworthy person.

Generally speaking, a Peekapoo costs around 500 to 1500 dollars. The price depends on the breeder and the area you live in.

But, there is also the possibility of adopting a Peekapoo. Designer dogs are mixed breeds. So there is a very good chance that a Pekingese Poodle mix is waiting for you at the shelter or rescue. You just need to dig a bit deeper and do research.

Besides the cost of buying a puppy, don’t forget the costs of having one. There will be many expenses. From buying food and toys to vet visits and checkups. Let’s not forget about the cost of grooming either.

Conclusion – Peekapoo

The Peekapoo is a not very popular or widely known designer breed that was developed in the United States. But despite being so little known, they make a great lap dog and wonderful companion dog. They will give you a lot of love and affection. But, they also come with health issues. You can’t forget about those and that is the most important Peekapoo fact you should take from this article. They have serious health issues, especially breathing problems. You need to decide if getting this mixed breed dog with all of its health problems is worth it.

The Poodle and Pekingese make a great mix for anyone, but they are the best choice for singles and older people. But, generally speaking, Peekapoos are a good option for almost everyone, especially first-time owners. This is because they are low-maintenance, so they don’t need a lot of grooming. And in addition to that, they are easy to train, which means that crate training, teaching them commands, and so on will be a breeze.

Not for families with small kids

But they might not be for you if you have small children, older children are okay. The reason for this is that Peekapoos are small too! So your child could hurt them. It’s not worth the risk. Many other dogs are great for kids. But, if you still want a Peekapoo, teach your kid how to behave with the dog. Let them know they can’t be too rough with them, pull their tail or ears.

If you want to get a hold of this designer dog, you will have to look into different breeders until you find one Peekapoo breeder you feel comfortable buying from. We say this because of the many health issues these dogs are facing and because it´s important to get a puppy from a reputable breeder. You want to buy your dog from someone who will sell you a healthy puppy.

Also, because this is a mixed breed you might be able to find them in shelters and different rescues as well! So if you want to bring a Peekapoo designer dog home, then also consider adopting, not shopping!

You can also check out some of our other interesting articles:

My name is Jackie and I am a veterinarian with a degree in veterinary medicine. With extensive experience in treating various animals, I am known for my compassionate and personalized approach to animal care.

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