Did you know that Pekehunds are incredibly loyal and people-oriented dogs? Well, a Pekehund will want to be by your side with every opportunity they get. This is a character seen in all Pekehunds despite the difference in the character traits of their parents.
Pekehunds are energetic dogs with a mix of cute and curious. They are a breed between a Dachshund and a Pekingese. Their parents’ other strong traits like loyalty, people-orientation, and intelligence balance each other on this dog breed.
However, Pekehunds are still not recognized by the American Kennel Association because they are still scarce despite their adorable combinations.
What You Should Know Before Buying Pekehund Puppies
Buying a pet dog is like bringing in a newborn baby to your home. You will be filled with total excitement at the thought of finding the best one for you. So if you are looking to start with a pup, there are some important factors that you have to consider.
The Pekehund pup will mostly have traits from both of their parents. Sometimes, but rarely, Pekehunds will take after one of their parents. Nevertheless, you will need to check the characteristics of both of the parent dog breeds to understand the traits of the Pekehund fully.
Your pup will most likely have characteristics from both parents. Also, you need to know that apart from the initial price you will pay for the pup, there are other additional costs.
These costs may include but are not limited to a leash, neutering, carrier, different kinds of shots, plus other puppy needs. So it is important to know how much it will cost you to have your puppy.
What’s the Price of Pekehund Puppies?
First is the initial puppy price; then there are other additional costs like their medical costs and their food costs. Generally, Pekehund Puppies cost $400-$800, depending on where you buy the puppy.
Their yearly medical expenses can be approximately $460-$500. The medical expenses may include neutering, blood tests, microchipping, deworming, and medical exams.
Your Pekehund will also need toys, licensing, training, grooming, and food. All of these might cost you $700- $900 yearly. There will be more expenses after you bring the pup home, but these are the general ones you will have to cater for.
Temperament and Intelligence of the Pekehund
Pekehunds are a sweet, loyal, and gentle breed, so they are preferred for a family with children. They have an extremely affectionate character thanks to her breed parents. A Pekehund, like mentioned, will want to be cuddled and attended to by their owners with every chance they get.
This explains why they will be depressed if left alone. You can consider getting them company if you are not going to be by their side for the rest of their day in your apartment.
Pekehunds are very intelligent and protective too. They may not be so warm to strangers but not aggressive to them either. However, they need time to warm up to strangers and be loving to them.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
Pekehunds may have an urge to prey on smaller animals thanks to their parental background. So if you have a smaller pet like a rabbit at home, you may need to stay close and monitor the two.
Train your Pekehund to avoid hunting the other smaller pets at your home. Additionally, Pekehunds are not really friendly to strange dogs. However, after a short time, they may warm up and be nicer to other dogs. Your best bet would be to make sure that they have frequent meetups with other dogs.
Things to Know When Owning a Pekehund
If you are looking forward to keeping a Pekehund as your house pet, then below are some things that you need to know about before you look for one:
Food and Diet Requirements
Dogs love food, and so food is fundamental in keeping them happy and growing. Typically mixed dog breeds will require experimenting on good food until they are comfortable with one type of food.
If you have a puppy Pekehund, try to look for different puppy foods that they will love. You could also try getting advice from your vet on which food is good for your Pekehund.
Dry dog food is good for them but always try to mix it with canned food to avoid gastrointestinal issues, which are common in all dog breeds. One cup each day is a good enough portion for your Pekehund, but you can split the cup into two if you notice tummy problems.
Also, Pekehund pups are prone to dog obesity, so you will need to minimize the treats they get to eat even during training.
Exercise
If your Pekehund takes after their dachshund parent, they will need a lot of exercises. This is because the dachshund breed is very energetic. The Pekingese will, however, downplay the dachshund’s energetic trait.
Whether your Pekehund takes after their Dachshund parent or Pekingese, you should be ready to give it at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. However, you should look at your Pekehunds behavior carefully, and you will be able to tell if they need more than 30 minutes of exercise per day.
Training
Training a Pekehund is moderately easy. When you are training your Pekehund for the first time, you might find training to be a bit demanding. However, with a bit of patience and consistency, you will find that it gets a bit easy.
Pekehunds have a stubborn side which will make training quite difficult. Pekehunds also love the attention that comes with each training session, so in time, you will find that they get excited with each training session.
When training, try to use the reward and punishment method. This means that you can give them a treat or praise them when they do something recommendable. You can also reprimand them when they act wrongly but do not be cruel to them.
Grooming
Generally, Pekehunds are not so hard to maintain. Depending on the type of coat that your pooch inherited, grooming might not be as demanding, especially for the breed with shorter hair.
Weekly brushing of the coat should be enough for the Pooch with short fur. Even with longer fur, brushing the fur twice a week should be enough.
Also, consider asking your vet for vitamin supplements if you notice that your dog is suffering from dry skin. Take a close look at your Pooch’s ears because they tend to wax easily. Regularly consider waxing off their ears to avoid excessive wax build-up.
The feathers around your Pooch’s ears and chest should also be clipped and if you are not a fan of clipping feathers, consider taking them to a dog’s salon. Pekehunds also need a monthly wash which is enough for the whole month. Make sure that you use a shampoo that is not too harsh on their coat.
Health Conditions
The problem with many mixed breeds is that they are highly prone to illnesses from each of their parents. However, we believe that with regular exercises, regular vet checkups, good nutrition, dogs don’t get ill too often.
With that said, you should always be ready and aware of the possible illnesses when you have any dog as your pet. Here are some common health problems with Pekehunds:
Serious Conditions:
- Entropian
- Skinfold dermatitis
- Bloat
- Patellar Luxation
- Intervertebral disc degeneration
Minor Conditions
- Diabetes
- Eye disease
- Hydrocephalus
- Cushing’s disease
- Epilepsy
Final Words
The Pekehund breed is a good breed for families with or without children. They are the easiest dogs to relate with and maintain. Their grooming is not as demanding as with many mixed breed dogs.
They are also adaptable, so you do not have to own a mansion to own one. However, you will need lots of patience when it comes to training Pekehunds because they can be a handful. Also, if you are not always available, do not take in a Pekehund because they can’t handle being alone.