The Pekingese, a dog breed that originated in China, has a lion-like appearance when his coat is full. Compact, intelligent and amiable, the Pekingese is an affectionate dog who requires only a daily walk for exercise. The dog's puffy, full coat gives him a very distinctive appearance. The coat can tangle without proper care. Establish a regular grooming routine as early as possible in your Pekingese's life.
Step 1
Brush your Pekingese regularly. Have him lie on his side and start at the chest, wetting the hair with spray conditioner and using a natural-bristle brush to brush it toward his head. Make sure the bristles get all the way to the dog's skin to effectively clean his thick undercoat. Work in sections until the entire side is brushed out. The hair should naturally stand as you brush. Flip him over and repeat the brushing routine on his other side. Stand your Pekingese up, and brush the hair forward to create a full appearance in front. Brush his head flat, and bring the hair under his ears forward toward his face. Flip his tail so that it lies across his back. Part the long tail hair in the middle, and brush it smooth. Brush the hair on his legs upward to encourage fullness.
Step 2
Keep your Pekingese clean. Bathe him only when he feels particularly dirty, as too-frequent washing will strip his coat of healthy oils and leave his skin irritated and dry. Use baby powder or corn starch in his coat between baths to clean his hair, or use dry shampoo.
Step 3
Bathe your Pekingese by wetting him down completely and thoroughly. Rub a small amount of shampoo in your hands to work up a lather, and gently work it into his coat. Rinse thoroughly, and apply a conditioner. Wait the amount of time recommended on the bottle, then rinse thoroughly. Squeeze excess water from your dog's hair, then use a towel to remove as much moisture as possible from the coat. Do not rub your Pekingese with the towel, as this will damage and tangle his coat. Use a hair dryer on a comfortable setting, and brush your Pekingese as you dry him.
Step 4
Remove any mats. Use spray conditioner, your fingers and a mat ripper to remove mats as soon as you find them. Wet the mat with the conditioner, and work it loose with your fingers. Use the mat ripper to separate the hairs and free the mat. Work slowly and carefully so you don't tug or yank painfully on your Pekingese's hair. Brush his hair to smooth it once the mat has been removed.
Step 5
Clean the Pekingese's face and ears. Wipe his face daily with a wet cloth or cotton ball, playing close attention to his wrinkles and eyes. Wash gently with warm water to remove excess skin oils or moisture and to prevent the “tear stains” some Pekingese develop. Check your Pekingese's ears regularly for signs of infection, ear mites or wax buildup. Use a cotton ball and ear cleaner to gently clean the ears at least once a week. Remove long hairs with tweezers.
Step 6
Check your dog's nails. Have an expert trim your Pekingese's toenails as often as necessary, or at least once a month. Because trimming nails can cause bleeding and pain if done incorrectly, have a groomer trim the nails and show you how to do it before you attempt it yourself.
Step 7
Check the bottoms of your Pekingese's feet, and trim the hair between his pads if it appears too long. The hair can mat or accumulate dirt and become uncomfortable for your dog if it is left untrimmed.
Tips
If your Pekingese will not be shown, consider having his coat trimmed to a shorter, more manageable length. Shortening the coat will speed grooming routines and prevent his coat from matting as he plays.
Brushing frequency will depending on your Pekingese's coat length, thickness and texture. Brush him at least once a week, more often if his hair has a tendency to tangle or if he's shedding.
Always use a spray bottle with conditioner or other static-preventing product to wet the coat before brushing. Never brush the coat without moistening it, as dry brushing may cause hair breakage.
Find a professional groomer who has experience with the Pekingese breed to handle any grooming necessities you're uncomfortable with, such as trimming the toenails or the hair between his foot pads.
Items You Will Need
- Dog shampoo
- Dog conditioner
- Natural-bristle brush
- Slicker brush
- Mat ripper
- Spray conditioner
- Nail clippers
- Scissors
- Dry dog shampoo
- Tweezers
- Baby powder or corn starch
References
Photo Credits
- Portrait of pretty pekingese dog image by Stana from Fotolia.com