Peek-A-Pom Basics
Funny, sweet, and energetic: that’s Peek-A-Pom for you! This fairly rare designer dog breed was created when the ancient Pekingese breed was mixed with the popular Pomeranian. Also known as Peekapom and Pominese, these hybrid toy dog will charm you from the get-go. From its purebred parents, this small pooch inherits a big personality. Peek-A-Pom is affectionate and curious, devoted to its family and always in the mood for cuddles. While primarily bred to be a companion dog, same as its parents, Peek-A-Pom inherits a wary, watchful nature that make it distrustful of strangers and very alert. Unless socialized on time, this designer dog might be prone to barking at everything that makes them suspicious or even nip at visitors who are too pushy and try to handle them.
Due to their size and unique character, these mixed breed dogs are a great choice for seniors in search of a furry companion, singles who live in an apartment building or families with older children (or no kids). If you are curious to find out more about this unusual Pomeranian and Pekingese mix, read on!
Peek-A-Pom is affectionate and curious, devoted to its family and always in the mood for cuddles.
Origin
Peek-A-Pom is a relatively rare designer dog breed, and there is not much known about these hybrid pooches. It’s highly probable that the origin story of these pooches is not much different than that of most of their designer breed fellows. This means that the intentional cross-breeding of the Pekingese and Pomeranian started sometime in the last decade, and likely somewhere in the United States. However, while we don’t know a lot about the origin of the Peek-A-Pom, there’s nothing mysterious about its parental breeds. Their rich history can tell us a lot about their mixed breed offspring, to boot.
Not unlike most toy breeds that have been around for centuries, both the Pekingese and the Pomeranian have been bred to grace the laps of aristocrats. The Pomeranian originated in Germany but became very popular across Europe- figures such as Queen Victoria and Mary Antoinette had pet Poms on their court. On the other hand, even before he was brought to Europe, Pekingese had enjoyed perks of being the Empress’ favorite. So don’t be surprised if your new pet’s bossy attitude seems to reflect the high status of its spoiled ancestors- blue blood behavior is inherited, too.
Pedigree
Peek-A-Pom puppies won’t have official pedigree papers. The reason for this is that major canine clubs and organizations don’t recognize any of the designer dog breeds as “real” breeds in their own right. Of course, to be recognized by a club such as the American Kennel Club, a dog has to display a certain set of traits. An impossible feat for a first generation cross breed dog!
On the other hand, all of this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t inquire about your pet’s family history. A reputable breeder will offer this information, as their Pomeranian or Pekingese parent(s) will have a pedigree of their own. Knowing more about your pet’s ancestry and their family tree can help you learn more about them, but it’s no guarantee of character or appearance. Peek-A-Pom doesn’t need a pedigree for you to know they’re the cutest pooch on the block!
Food/Diet
One of the foundations of good health is certainly a well-balanced diet that meets all of your pet’s nutritive needs. Dogs are omnivores and tend to be greedy eaters in general, so it might seem like any kind of food will do, but it’s far from the truth. To be healthy and happy, our four-legged companions need high-quality dry food that is designed to support their well-being. For Peek-A-Pom, this will mean picking out kibble that’s designed to suit their size (small breed) and activity level (moderate). This helps ensure that your pet is getting the perfect amount of nutrients and energetic value from their meals- but it’s important that you pay attention to the serving size, too.
Free feeding often leads to overfeeding or irregular eating patterns, both of which can cause issues with your pet’s weight. As they are a small breed, Peek-A-Pom dogs can quickly gain excess weight and obesity is particularly hard on their petite frames. Make sure you don’t overdo it with delicacies: consult the feeding guide for exact doses.
In addition to dry dog food, you can offer your Peek-A-Pom with wet food from time to time, reward them with yummy treats or make them a home-cooked meal, too. Feeding raw or home-cooked diet is also an option, but both of these diets require consultation and advice from a seasoned veterinary nutritionist.
To be healthy and happy, our four-legged companions need high-quality dry food that is designed to support their well-being.
Training
With both Pomeranian and Pekingese being intelligent dog breeds, you might think that their offspring will be a breeze to train. Well, think again. In addition to being smart, these ancient dog breeds are also renowned for their willfulness and stubbornness. More often than not, Peek-A-Pom will be quite hard to train, especially if you have no previous experience with dog training. Of course, even the most stubborn dogs can be coaxed into doing what you want- with a bit of patience and a handful of their favorite treats. Positive reinforcement methods are not only the most humane way of training but the most efficient one, as well.
Socialization and training are very important for Peek-A-Pom. Unless you pay attention to correcting your dog’s behavior early on, they can grow up to be problematic. Despite their small size, these dogs are convinced that they’re responsible for watching over their family members. This makes for a petite pooch that’s alert and highly suspicious of strangers. As a result, Peek-A-Pom can be a bit of a barker or even aggressive towards new visitors or strangers. Proper socialization can minimize these traits to an acceptable level.
Weight
While the Peek-A-Pom would never think it, these are, in fact, toy breed dogs. They owe their petite stature to their Pomeranian and Pekingese parents, both of whom are small lap dog breeds. Of course, there are both height and weight differences between the two parental breeds that can influence your pet’s appearance in maturity. Depending on which parent they favor more, Peek-A-Pom puppies can weight between 3 to 12 pounds once they grow up.
Temperament/Behavior
Peek-A-Pom is definitely one of those dogs that are convinced that they’re a canine giant trapped in a vessel too small for them. These designer dogs definitely have an attitude more appropriate to a significantly bigger pooch! They will like to think that they’re the protectors of their family and home- territoriality and alertness are a big part of who Peek-A-Pom is. Of course, while they sometimes might think they’re more suited to the role of a watchdog, these designer dogs have been bred to be companions, and it definitely shows.
When socialized on time, Peek-A-Pom will be all puppy love. They won’t have time to watch for strangers when they’re too busy getting all the cuddles and ear scratches they could possibly want! Intelligent and kind, Peek-A-Pom can also be a bit of a goofball. They kind of love to be in the spotlight, and once they figure out their silly antics are bringing a smile to your face, they’ll become quite an entertainer.
Ideally, Peek-A-Pom would be a pet for a family without children or with older kids, who wouldn’t’ play roughly with them or provoke them to nip with their handling. Lack of patience is another common trait for Peek-A-Pom- these pooches don’t tolerate being bothered by anyone.
Common Health Problems
As a rule of thumb, mutts and mixed breed dogs tend to suffer from fewer congenital health issues. However, with designer dogs, it’s not always the case. Sometimes, cross-breeding leads to the elimination of hereditary diseases or illnesses, but sometimes, it only doubles the possibility for problems. How healthy your Peek-A-Pom will largely depend on your choice of a breeder. Getting a pet from a puppy mill is a sure fire way to get a sick dog- not to mention it supports the inhumane practices of backyard breeders.
Due to the fact that both of the parental breeds are toy dogs, this hybrid can be affected by various issues, from those affecting their respiratory system to their joints as they get older. Peek-A-Pom is prone to the brachycephalic syndrome, epilepsy, cleft palate, hip dysplasia, and a myriad of other issues. Make sure to choose a reputable breeder and provide preventive care to prevent any major health problems down the road.
Life Expectancy
As a recent designer dog breed, Peek-A-Pom has been around for the last decade- not nearly enough for its life expectancy to be determined. However, a lot about mixed breed dogs can be accurately guesstimated based on their purebred parents, their lifespan included. Analyzing the average lifespan of both the Pomeranian and the Pekingese, one can expect their offspring to live at least for 12 to 16 years. Of course, that number can go lower or higher, depending on your pet’s lifestyle and genetics.
Exercise Requirements
Peek-A-Pom is not a highly active breed. They fall into the category of moderately active canines and will be happy and healthy with 30 to 45 minutes of exercise each day. As they are very curious and playful, you could provide the much-needed activity through a game of fetch in the backyard or a visit to the dog park where they could burn off their energy with a couple of canine friends! Just make sure that you always have water at hand, especially if your Peek-A-Pom inherited the brachycephalic snout of its Pekingese parent.
Peek-A-Pom is in the category of moderately active canines and will be happy and healthy with 30 to 45 minutes of exercise each day.
Recognized Clubs
While Peek-A-Pom is not recognized by major canine clubs and organizations such as the AKC, there are groups that are enthusiastic about the world of designer dog breeds and strive to get them approved. Those of them that recognize Peek-A-Pom include American Canine Hybrid Club, Designer Breed Registry, Designer Dogs Kennel Club, Dog Registry of America, and International Designer Canine Registry.
Coat
Peek-A-Pom flaunts parents with impressive coats, but of fairly different qualities. The Pomeranian is treasured for its fluffy fur, whereas the Pekingese sports long, flowy coat. The big differences between parents allow for greater variety in puppies. Peek-A-Pom can have dense fur with an undercoat or a long and fuzzy one- as well as all combos in between. However, in most cases, their coat will be of medium length, shed moderately and be fairly easy to groom. Daily brushing will keep their lush hair shiny and soft, and promote a closer bond between the owner and the pet. As for bathing, rely on the ‘nose test’: no need to get them in the shower unless they somehow got particularly dirty or stinky.
Due to the possible color combinations seen in its parents, the fluffy Pom and the short-muzzled Pekingese, Peek-A-Pom will most likely turn out to have a coat in fawn, cream, or other brownish shades.
Puppies
The Pomeranian and Pekingese mix might be unusual, but there is no doubt that Peek-A-Pom puppies are as cute as a button. Their tiny size, velvety hair, and adorable faces make it hard not to go ‘aawww’ once you see these cute furballs! However, the growing popularity of Peek-A-Pom is not caused by their pretty looks alone. When properly socialized, these designer dogs have an admirable character. Loyal and devoted to their family, they will shower their loved ones with affection and care, and brighten their day with their entertaining behavior. They are a great choice for apartment dwellers and seniors, who will surely appreciate their sweet nature and low-maintenance exercise requirements.
Photo credit: wirakorn deelert/Shutterstock
