What has soft, wavy hair, looks like a teddy bear, is loving and loyal, and can make a lot of noise? The answer is a Peekapoo!
Peekapoos are hybrid or designer dogs obtained by crossing a Pekingese with a Poodle. Are you looking to add this cute-as-a-button dog to your household? Do you want to know more about its origins, physical attributes, and temperament? Wondering if the Peekapoo makes a good pet? Then read on! We have all the answers for you!
What is a Peekapoo?
Origins of the Peekapoo
You get a Peekapoo by breeding a Pekingese with a Toy or Miniature Poodle. Other names of this designer dog breed are Pekapoo, Peke-A-Poo, Pekedoodle, and Pekepoos.
The origins of this designer dog breed can be traced back to the 1950s. The Pekingese is an ancient dog breed from China that might have existed since the Tang Dynasty. The Poodle is also fairly ancient and is believed to have been around since the 15th or 16th Century.
The Peekapoo might have come into existence quite accidentally around the 1950s.
The large-scale breeding of designer dogs started only in the 1990s after the first ‘official’ designer dog – the Labradoodle – came into existence. The Labradoodle was obtained by crossing a Poodle with a Labrador Retriever. This designer dog became a huge hit because of its high intelligence, easy trainability, and hypoallergenic, non-shedding coat. (Note that the AKC does not recognize the Labradoodle as a breed since it is not purebred).
Soon people started demanding smaller-sized dogs having similar smarts and low-shedding coats like the Labradoodles. The Poodle was considered an excellent choice for mixing with other dogs – mainly because it was super smart. Add to this, the fact that it comes with a hypoallergenic coat makes it a popular dog to experiment with crossbreeding.
Many people think that the Peekapoo is obtained by crossing a Standard Poodle with a Pekingese. That isn’t true – breeders only use Mini or Toy Poodles to create a Peekapoo with a Pekingese. After all; they are similar-sized small dogs and it doesn’t matter who the dam or sire is. Like other poodle mix designer dogs, the Peekapoo is not AKC recognised.
Physical Attributes of the Peekapoo
How much does a full-grown Peekapoo weigh?
As with any designer dog breed, the height and weight of a Peekapoo are not standard and you will find these dogs in a range of sizes. The typical height range for Peekapoos is between 8 and 11 inches (20-27.94 cm) at withers and their weight is 4 to 20 lb. (1.8 to 9 kg). A Teacup Peekapoo is a tiny teddy bear-like dog that weighs less than 2kg. To breed a Teacup Pekepoo, breeders cross a Teacup Toy Poodle with a Pekingese.
Just like their colourful parents, the Peekapoos’ coat colours can range from brown tan, beige, cream, white, black, grey, apricot, silver, red, chocolate-brown, etc.
The full-grown Peekapoo is small enough to be a lap dog, which makes it a great choice for people with limited mobility.
The exact features of the Peekapoo will depend on canine genetics. It could develop the short stocky frame and lion-like face with a black muzzle of the Pekingese or it could have a rounded skull with a long snout like a Poodle. One thing is for sure, the Peekapoo is very cute to look at and can be considered a cuddly teddy bear dog.
Is a Peekapoo hypoallergenic?
If your Peekapoo inherits the tight curly coat like the Poodle, there is a good chance that it will be hypoallergenic. However, if it develops a long and wavy double coat like its Pekingese parent, then it will shed and chances are that it won’t be good for allergy sufferers. Poodle mix breed dogs are inherently lower shedding than their double-coated parent. Generally speaking, first-cross Poodle mixes tend to be low shedding and the f1b generation cross (first generation Poodle mix crossed with a purebred Poodle) tends to shed the least but require more regular brushing and combing to keep their coats from matting.
Always remember that no dog is truly 100% hypoallergenic. A person sensitive to a dog’s fur could also be sensitive to its saliva and urine. Therefore, even the so-called hypoallergenic dog breeds can still trigger allergy symptoms in very sensitive individuals.
The temperament of the Peekapoo
How smart is a Peekapoo?
Peekapoos are known to be fairly smart, fun-loving, cheerful, and affectionate little dogs. They are devoted to their family and love being a part of all activities. However, they can be unfriendly towards children and other dogs but that can be remedied through early puppy socialisation.
Like the royal Pekingese, the Peekapoo can be stubborn, haughty, and quite independent. These traits can pose a challenge during training but with consistency and patience (and plenty of treats!) you can get your little Peekapoo to do what you want to be done.
Are Peekapoos protective?
Yes, Peekapoos are extremely protective and loyal pets. They also tend to bark a lot and are wary of strangers, which makes them good watchdogs. However, their bark can be rather loud for their small size, so you’ll need to train your dog to not disturb the neighbours!
Are Peekapoos good pets?
Peekapoos are easy to keep as pets since they do not need much. Of course, they will still need healthy food and daily walks. Being small dogs, two walks of 10-15 minutes each should be enough to keep your little dog healthy. As you play and train your Peekapoo, it will form a loving bond with you and never leave your side!
How often should you groom a Peekapoo?
Peekapoos do need a fair amount of grooming. This includes brushing the coat, ear cleaning, anal gland expression, nail trimming, and teeth cleaning. Like all small dogs, they are prone to dental issues, so daily oral hygiene is a must. Similarly, including raw meaty bones in your Pekapoo’s weekly feeding routine will help to keep their teeth clean and breath fresh.
While a Peekapoo’s coat won’t shed much, it will still need weekly brushing and combing. This is necessary to keep it free from mats and knots and also remove dirt, debris, and parasites. You can bathe your buddy once a month.
Are Peekapoos hard to potty train?
As mentioned earlier, training a Peekapoo can be tricky because of its stubborn nature and independent streak. Also, small dogs can be hard to train because of their cute looks.
This is because many pet parents let small dogs like Peekapoos get away with bad behaviours.
All these factors can make house training your Peek a Poo puppy unnecessarily difficult. The best way to train a Peekapoo is through consistency and rewarding them when they do good behaviour. You must establish the house rules from the start and adhere to them strictly. Keep the training positive – no hitting or punishing your sensitive dog – these negative methods of training will only make it aggressive or timid.
How Much Does Peekapoo Cost?
The price of a Peekapoo puppy is not standard and it varies from breeder to breeder. Expect to pay anywhere between $1000 and $3000 for this small dog. This price usually depends on the breeder’s reputation, the puppy’s parents (show dogs and champion winners’ pups usually cost more), coat colour, size of the puppy, degree of shedding etc.
It is very important to find a responsible breeder of the Peekapoo. The best breeders in Australia conduct health checks on the Pekingese and Poodle parents and only use dogs that are cleared through these genetic tests in their breeding programs.
In addition to the puppy’s price, you might want to consider other initial costs that come with dog ownership – deworming, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, microchipping, grooming, food and basic supplies, medical costs, etc.
Assess whether you can afford these costs and only then make the decision to buy or adopt a Peekapoo. On average, be prepared to spend anywhere between $20,000 to $35,000 over your Peekapoo’s lifetime on dog ownership.
What to Feed a Peekapoo?
As a pet parent, it is your responsibility to not overfeed or underfeed your Peekapoo. Many dogs have free access to food and end up obese. This can be detrimental to their health. Younger Peekapoos can easily burn off calories as they are energetic. But as your pet grows, you’ll need to monitor its portions carefully. Your vet will be able to tell you exactly how much to feed based on your pet’s body conditioning score, activity levels, age, etc.
These days, you can choose from dry food, raw dog food BARF, or wet/canned dog food. For small dogs like Pekapoos, kibble or dry food with a crunchy texture might be a better choice since they are prone to plaque and tartar.
Always choose food that is free from GMOs, preservatives, fillers, by-products, corn, wheat, and soy. Some Peekapoos are sensitive to certain ingredients in commercial dog food and may need special diets, novel proteins, or even prescription diets.
What Health Problems Do Peekapoos Have? How Long Do Peeakpoo Dogs Live?
Peekapoos are generally healthy dogs. If you purchase your puppy from an ethical breeder who has conducted health checks on the parent dogs, then chances are that your puppy will be free from genetic issues like patellar luxation and hip/elbow dysplasia seen in the Poodle and Pekingese breeds.
Here are some common disorders that are known to crop up in these pets from time to time:
- Skin infections and allergies – Peekapoos are known to be sensitive to certain foods and also flea and tick bites. Some Peekapoos also develop hot spots on their skin which can cause severe itching, blistering, and pus. Knowing the cause of the allergies can help you take steps to prevent them.
- Skeletal issues – Many older Peekapoos are known to develop osteoarthritis in their senior years. These problems are degenerative and worsen as the dog ages. You can take steps to reduce inflammation by feeding your pet supplements with chondroitin and glucosamine.
- Eye issues – PRA or progressive retinal atrophy is commonly seen in the breed. Symptoms include night blindness, dilated pupils, bumping into objects, etc. The disease could progress to total blindness. Unfortunately, there is no known treatment for PRA but the best breeders DNA test their breeding dogs so it is preventable.
How long does a Peekapoo live?
Most Peekapoos have an average lifespan of 10-15 years. However buying a Pekapoo puppy from a puppy farm, mill, commercial breeding facility or pet shop can increase the likelihood that your puppy will develop health and behaviour problems and live a much shorter life.
FAQ about the Peekapoo
Is the Peakapoo a separate species from poodle and Pekingese?
The Peakapoo is a poodle mix dog breed that involves the crossing of a purebred Pekingese and a purebred Toy or Miniature Poodle. Both the Poodle and the Pekingese are members of the same species, like all dogs, Canis familiaris.
Peekapoo Puppy Availability in Australia
The Peekapoo is a rare designer dog breed in Australia. If you’re having trouble finding Peekapoo breeders or puppies for sale near you, consider looking for a rescue or other similar poodle mix breeds such as the ShihPoo or Bichoodle.
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