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Period: Jan 1, 1368 to
China slows down toy breeding and replaces the dogs with cats.
China slows down breeding their toy breeds between these years, however, toy breeding doesn't completely stop. -
Period: to
Pekingese reached their highest point in breeding.
Between 1821 and 1851, Peke's reach their apex in the breed. The dogs were almostp perfected. This was during the Tao Kuang dynasty. -
Pekingese move to England
The first Pekingese in England were stolen during the French and British storming of the Imperial Summer Palace in Bejing. These 5 dogs were considered "sleeve pekes" (6 pounds and under) and were sacred to the Chinese. If you were caught trying to steal or harm a Pekingese, your crime was punishable by death. -
Mrs. Douglas Murray appears with the perfect breed standard Pekes.
A lady chases Mrs. Murray down and they start to breed Pekingese together. They produced two beautiful sires, who went on to produce many, many near perfect puppies. -
Standard appears
A standard of points for the Pekingese was drawn up. A breed standard is a common goal all breeders breed for to produce only the best dogs. -
Pekingese Club of England Established
A club specializing in the breeding of Pekingese was founded in England. -
Pekingese is registered with the AKC
The AKC (American Kennel Club) recognizes the Pekingese as a purebred breed and sets up a standard for them. -
End of the reign of the Pekingese
With the Empress Dowager's death in 1911, the long reign of the Pekingese in China came to an end. Rather than let the little dogs fall into unworthy hands, the court officials killed the great majority of them; the few that escaped disappeared into private homes, leaving no trace. -
Pekingese return to China?
In 1921 there began the curious paradox of returning breeding stock to China. But again these were lost during the Communist Revolution. Thus, to the original looting of the Palace and carrying away a few of these little dogs we owe the survival of our wonderful Pekingese breed. -
Toy breeding increased in China
Although historians can trade short muzzled dogs back to 200 B.C, 800 A.D is when breeding for small, toy breeds became popular in China. The Pekingese was among the most popular toy breeds in China at the time.