The Pekingese Price: How Much is the Diva in the Window?

So you’ve fallen in love with the squishy-face that is the Pekingese, and you’re wondering what you should expect to pay for one.

The average Pekingese price range runs from $750 to $3,000.

However, the price of a Pekingese really does depend on where you buy her from. Some breeders hover closer to the $1,500 number, but the better the bloodlines, the higher the purebred Pekingese price will be.

Also, as you will see below. The Pekingese price from Adoption/Shelter and Rescue organizations are much lower.

Before you start crunching the numbers to get one of these dogs into your life, though, you should really check out this breed’s temperament.

Among other facets of the Pekingese’s personality, her temperament will definitely tell you whether she’s the right kind of dog for you.

The Pekingese, Up Close

If you’ve ever thought the Pekingese kind of looked like a diva, there’s a good reason for that!

The Pekingese breed hails from Beijing, China, previously Peking (hence the breed’s name). The Chinese bred the Pekingese as a loyal lap dog and watch dog.

Only Chinese royals had permission to own a Pekingese, so it makes sense that they have developed a rather elite sense of being.

This is important to know because you may have to manage a diva’s personality, and if you’re not up for the task, it’s good to know before you buy.

Pekingese Temperament and Personality

Here are some things you should know about the Pekingese temperament before you bring one of these little dogs home.

She is Loyal, But Not Clingy

Many dogs who are loyal to their owners often take it a step further and become clingy.

This can be a problem for you because if your dog develops separation anxiety, then you can never leave her alone without fear of destruction.

Thankfully, the Peke adores you, but she knows when to scale it back, too.

She’s Not Great with Kids

The Peke does not have the tolerance necessary to play with younger children.

She may exhibit food or toy aggression if the child comes close to either.

She also does not tolerate rough play.

In fact, you’re probably better off getting a Peke for a household consisting of adults only to ensure her comfortability.

She’s Unpredictable

It’s hard to tell what kind of energy level the Peke you get is going to have.

Some of them are perfectly content to act as lap dogs and keep you company on the couch.

Others require more active play time each day.

If you don’t think you’ll be able to keep up with a more active dog, then you may want to look into getting a more lapdog-type breed.

She Can Develop Small Dog Syndrome

Small Dog Syndrome is nothing to sneeze at.

If the Peke thinks you’re weak, she will use it to her advantage. This doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it certainly is when you’re trying to train her.

It’s also a big deal if she doesn’t realize (or care) how small she is and challenges a larger dog.

Don’t let her get away with bad behavior, no matter how “cute” or “charming” it may be.

Show her from the very beginning that you are the leader here, not here, and she will learn humility.

She is Stubborn

It is par for the course that the Peke is as stubborn as you may imagine – maybe more so.

She doesn’t have the urge to please you, and she doesn’t really care whether she does or not.

If you can’t train her on your own, you may need to consider paying a trainer to help you.

She Doesn’t Enjoy Making Friends by Nature

If you socialize your Peke early and put the work into her that she needs, then over time she can learn to accept other pets in the home.

She can also learn to coexist with other dogs, like at the dog park.

But if you don’t take the time to mold her, she may act aggressive with other dogs or other pets you may have.

Pekingese Size

An adult Pekingese can grow to a maximum height of between 6 to 9 inches tall, and a maximum weight of between 7 and 14 lbs.

If this is too small for you – or not small enough – then you may want to consider another breed.

Pekingese Price – How Much Do Pekingeses Cost?

As mentioned above, you can expect to pay between $750 and $3,000 for the average Pekingese dog price.

Of course, more than likely the breeders you run into will set their Pekingese puppies’ price closer to the $1,500 to $3,000 range.

If that’s the case, then you should be able to save a few dollars off the sticker price by looking into adopting or rescuing a Peke.

Demand

The Pekingese is a decently popular breed, but not so in demand that you should have difficulty finding one.

This is good to know, as an increased demand can lead to more breeders overpricing their dogs because they know their customers will pay it.

Pekingese Rescue and Adoption

If you’re looking to adopt or rescue a Peke, you can save potentially hundreds (maybe even thousands) of dollars off the sticker price.

The Pekingese Rescue.Org provides more information on their website about how to rescue one of these diva dogs.

On average, though, you should expect to pay around $400 to $500 for a rescue dog to cover the organization’s fees.

As for your local shelter, the price of adoption usually hovers around $150.

The shelter uses this money to cover the costs of neutering your soon-to-be pet, as well as giving her the necessary shots before you bring her home.

Pekingese Cost of Ownership

Of course, when you buy a dog, you should expect to spend money on more than just the purchase price.

And, of course, this extends far beyond the costs of setting up for a dog, like buying a leash, toys, bowls, and food.

Here are some of the more common expenses you can expect to pay when it comes to the overall Pekingese price.

Cost of Food

Thankfully, a dog of this size shouldn’t cost you much each month to feed.

$30 to $35 a month should do it.

However, what you spend on food largely depends on the quantity and brand you buy.

Check with your vet for which brand to buy, and how much of it you should give your new Peke at mealtime, which should be twice a day.

Health Care Expenses

Health expenses are some of the biggest drawbacks to owning a pet, especially if you unfortunately end up with a pet with problems.

For the Peke in particular, you should set some money aside for a rainy day in case one of these common ailments presents itself:

• Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
• Bloat
• Dental disease
• Hair loss
• Heat stroke
• Hernias
• Mitral valve disease (heart disease)

As you can see, while some of these problems are one-shot-deals, others have long-term effects. And the long-term problems may come with vitamin supplements, medications, and increased vet visits.

That’s why it’s a good idea to make sure you have enough money set aside in the event of a medical emergency.

Training Programs

As mentioned earlier, you may need to look into hiring a trainer to help you with your Peke.

While most dog owners can train their dogs on their own, you may have more difficulty with this stubborn little girl.

And given her penchant for developing Small Dog Syndrome, you definitely want to do all you can to help her early on.

Some places offer discounts on their training programs if you sign up for a lesson package.

Other places will let you sign up for just the one lesson you need, like housebreaking, etc.

Do some shopping around before you settle on something. You can also decide between sending her to group lessons or having someone come to the house for some one-on-one time.

In all fairness, with this girl it’s probably a good idea to do a group class to get her used to other dogs as early as possible.

Grooming Costs

You have to figure that with the illustrious coat of the Pekingese, you are required to do more than your fair share of regular grooming. This is the absolute truth.

You should be able to brush her for at least one hour every week to keep her coat and skin healthy.

If you can’t keep up with a regular brushing schedule, then you should probably look into hiring someone to help you.

Further, if you’re interested in giving your Peke a haircut, you absolutely should not do it unless you have prior experience.

Cutting a dog’s hair incorrectly can lead to it growing back wrong permanently.

This is another reason why you may want to hire a groomer for regular maintenance.

This is another instance where shopping around can save you a few dollars, rather than going with the groomer with the closest location.

Kailyn C.

Kailyn has worked as a professional freelance writer since 2012, and during that time she has written about nearly every dog breed imaginable. Her mother loved Collies, and so Kailyn grew up with three of them throughout her childhood – including a blonde one who was half-blind! Now her home belongs to her first official dog, Macho, a Dogo Argentino rescue.