How long does a Pekingese live?

The listed lifespan for a Pekingese is 12–14 years.

How tall is a Pekingese?

The listed height for a Pekingese is 6–9 in.

Is a Pekingese good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Pekingese is 3 out of 5.

When is a Pekingese full grown?

The growth size band for a Pekingese is 8–12 months.

Toy Group

Pekingese

Pekingese is a small dog in the Toy Group. Adult weight is up to 14 lb, height is 6–9 in, and the listed lifespan is 12–14 years. AKC describes the temperament as Loyal, Affectionate, Regal in manner.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Pekingese dog — Photo: SheltieBoy · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–14 years

Weightup to 14 lb

SizeSmall GroupToy Group

Height

6–9 in

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

3 / 5

Trainability

3 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13 years is about 0.6 years shorter than the 13.6-year average.

The listed origin is China. The coat is described as double, long. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.3 points below the group average of 3.3 for the Toy Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 3 out of 5. Trainability scores 3 out of 5. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 90 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: No recommended health tests. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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