“IN SPITE OF THE DIGNIFIED AND SOMEWHAT ALOOF ATTITUDE OF THE PEKINGESE,THEY ARE TRULY ANXIOUS TO PLEASE AND BE YOUR FRIEND.”
The teeth and tongue must not show when the mouth is closed. Please do not pry open the mouth of a Pekingese as they are not trained for this type of examination. Next move your hands gently down the short thick neck and continue down to the well laid back shoulders and tight elbows to feel the short heavy boned forelegs that are mod- erately bowed between the pastern and elbow. Then feel for a broad chest with well-sprung ribs slung between the fore- legs. The toes on the forefeet are slightly turned out. Then move around to the side of the table to examine the body and topline and determine that the topline is straight and level. With both hands, gently move down the body to feel the pear shape and the lighter loin with the lighter boned hindquarters with moderate angulation. The tail should be high-set with long profuse fringing. In examining the rear, you may want to move to the end of the table to de- termine that the rear legs are reasonably close and parallel with feet pointing straight ahead. The hind legs are lighter than the front but are firm with moderate angulation. Since the Pekingese has a long, coarse-textured, straight, stand- off outer coat, with thick, soft undercoat, it is necessary to hand examine beneath the coat to determine the correct body shape. The standard is very specific in stating that the Pekingese, when lifted, is surprisingly heavy for its size. It is for this reason only that the judge must lift the dog. Some judges and exhibitors think the dog should be lifted because there is a weight disqualification over 14 pounds. There are sever- al breeds with a weight disqualification and if a judge thinks a particular dog might be over the required weight, the scale should be called. With the Pekingese, all weights are cor- rect within the limit of 14 pounds. Once again, the only rea- son for lifting a Pekingese is to determine that, when lifted it is surprisingly heavy for its size. The Pekingese should be small but surprisingly heavy with the majority of the weight in front. Gently lifting the dog a couple inches off the table will confirm this. Because lifting the dog should be part of the table examina- tion, it is not necessary to ask the exhibitor if you can lift their dog. However, to avoid surprising either the exhibitor OR the Pekingese, it would be polite to ask first so the ex- hibitor and the dog know what to expect. The correct way to lift the dog is to wrap your hand and forearm around the dog behind the shoulders and under the body. The other hand and arm must support the chest between the front legs. Slowly and gently lift the dog two inches above the table.
Since the majority of the weight should be in the chest, it is necessary to have your hand support the chest between the front legs. Remember always that the Pekingese should feel solid and heavy for its size. PLEASE DO NOT... • Lift a Pekingese above your head during the examina- tion!! This frightens the dog and certainly distorts the features and expression. The Pekingese is regal, digni- fied and proud and should always display this attitude. • Ask the exhibitors to hold their dogs so you can exam- ine the heads. Correct expression or features will not be seen on a dog that is being held. Return the dog to the table if further examination is required and re- member that you may have two dogs on the table at one time if a comparison is needed. • Teeter-totter the dog back to front on the table. The Pekingese is not accustomed to being treated this way. • Stand in front of the dog and lift both front feet and legs off the table putting all the weight on the rear. • Bend over the dog while it is on the ground to exam- ine the head or body. Return the dog to the table if you want to examine further. In spite of the dignified and somewhat aloof attitude of the Pekingese, they are truly anxious to please and be your friend. Do enjoy meeting and judging this unique breed. Rose Marie Katz, one of the prominent American breed- exhibitors of Pekingese in the 1950s and 60s said, “The Pekingese dog should be judged as a whole. It must present a picture of balance and type. It must be evaluated for its good points rather than torn apart for its faults. In evaluat- ing a Pekingese, one must keep in mind that it is a toy dog of great substance and character for its small size.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Carol Kniebusch Noe lives in Virginia and has been in- volved with breeding and exhibiting Pekingese since 1972. She judges the Toy Group, most of the Non-Sporting Group, Best in Show and Juniors, and has judged in England, Scot- land, France, and Korea. She has been President and Show Chair for the Shenandoah Valley Kennel Club, has served on the Board of the Pekingese Club of America and Chair of the Education Committee of the Pekingese Association. The au- thor of “The Pekingese Study Guide,” Carol is a professional flutist and conductor, and Professor Emeritus of Music from James Madison University.
44 • T op N otch T oys , N ovember 2022
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