Peke-A-Tese Basics

This adorable little family dog is the Peke-A-Tese. He bring the independent, spirited nature of the Pekingese together with the playful, fun personality of the Maltese for a spunky little pooch that gets along well with kids and pets alike.

The spunky little Peke-A-Tese brings the spirited nature of the Pekingese together with the fun personality of the Maltese.

Origin

Considered a Designer Dog, the Peke-A-Tese likely originated in the 1980’s when various mixes of pure-bred dogs were used to create smaller, hypo-allergenic or gentler variations of one of the more popular breeds.

Pedigree

The Peke-A-Tese is not a member of the American Kennel Club (AKC) because he lacks pure-bred status. Both parents however are long-term members; the Maltese joined AKC’s “toy” group back in 1888 while the Pekingese joined the same group in 1906.

Food / Diet

This boy loves his food and can have a tendency to gain weight easily so plan to serve him 2 to 3 small meals throughout the day versus allowing him to free-feed. Joint issues common in the Maltese can come back to plague an older, overweight pooch. Also related to your dog’s Maltese DNA is the potential of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) so care should be taken to keep to a set feeding schedule.

The Peke-A-Tese is the product of two independent little dogs so training will require lots of patience.

Training

The Peke-A-Tese is the product of two independent little dogs so training will require lots of patience and possibly the skills of a professional trainer to get the results you want. Socialization is important for this pooch to avoid small dog syndrome so take a firm, consistent approach from day one. All dogs respond best to a rewards based approach to training which means lots of praise and treats of your choice, when earned.

Weight

Your Peke-A-Tese will weigh between 7 to 12 pounds.

Temperament / Behavior

The fun-loving Peke-A-Tese displays both the feisty, independent nature of the Maltese and the often stubborn personality of a Pekingese. While he can be quite wilful and opinionated, he is playful and affectionate with children and other pets, is highly loyal to his family and a protective nature means he holds great potential as a great watchdog.

Common Health Problems

Designer dogs are lucky to bypass many of the health issues that can present with their pure-bred parents however you should always read up on what your new pup may inherit. Peke-A-Tese tend to lead healthy lives that are considered exceptionally long – even for a small breed dog – however can inherit eye, nose and dental issues that are common in the flatter-faced Pekingese as well as liver shunt, hypoglycemia and patellar luxation from the Maltese.

Life Expectancy

The Peke-A-Tese has a life expectancy of 12 to 16 years – which is considered long, even for a small dog breed.

Exercise Requirements

The Peke-A-Tese is a playful little dog and while he doesn’t need an extensive amount of activity, you will want to keep him fit and mentally stimulated. Because he gets along well with kids and other animals, regular visits to the dog park or a little interactive backyard playtime will be ideal to augment his daily walks.

The Peke-A-Tese is affectionate with children and other pets in spite of a wilful personality.

Recognized Clubs

Also known as the Maltipeke and Pekeatese, the Peke-A-Tese is recognized by the the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA) American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), Designer Breed Registry (DBR), Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC) and the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR).

Coat

In spite of being a low-shedding dog, the Peke-A-Tese is considered high-maintenance given his long, dense coat. Although he’s a great choice for those who hate to vacuum daily and is classed as hypo-allergenic, he will need regular daily brushing to keep his coat mat- and tangle-free. And because small dogs can run into dental issues, daily brushing should be an important part of his maintenance regimen.

Puppies

In spite of their adorable little features, the Peke-A-Tese pup can grow into a feisty, stubborn little pooch that becomes overly protective of his humans, food and toys. Be sure to begin his socialization early on to ensure he is comfortable with new faces. His tendency toward joint issues means that exercise should build gradually so as to not overtax tiny joints and cause problems later in life.

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