Pekingese are a very ancient Chinese breed they were court dogs in the Imperial palace as long ago as the Tang Dynasty of the eighth century the theft of one was punishable by death which is ironic as the first ones to reach England were stolen from the Imperial palace.
In 1860, when Allied troops occupied Peking, five dogs were found in the Summer Palace, Admiral Lord John Hay and another naval officer each took two. The fifth was taken by General Dunne, who later presented her to Queen Victoria, who christened her "Looty."
Looty's portrait still hangs in Windsor Castle to this day
The two little Pekes who found their home with the Duchess of Richmond were given the prefix "Goodwood" and were the foundation of the breed in England.
In 1896 Mrs. Douglas Murray made an appearance with two fine dogs her husband, who had business interests in China, had succeeded, with much patience and palm crossing to obtaining them.
These two were later famous throughout the Pekingese world as "Ah Cum" and "Mimosa."
Knowing nothing of any other kennels, Mrs. Murray was surprised one day to be chased down the street by Lady Algernon Gordon-Lennox who, in passing, had seen her with her two Pekes. These two ladies later joined forces, and to them jointly goes the honour of producing the first English Champion, "Ch. Goodwood Lo." The next Champion was "Ch. Goodwood Chum," and these two, were a great influence on the breed we have today
In 1898 a standard of points was drawn up, and in 1904 the Pekingese Club of England was founded.
About this time the Alderbourne Kennel was started by Mrs Ashton-Cross with a combination of Goodwood-Murray-Manchu and the Broadoak-Goodwin-Pekin-Prince blood lines.
It was destined to be one of the greatest English kennels and put the stamp of the Alderbourne name in all the best pedigrees, the first time I ever bred a peke I used an Alderbourne dog and was informed by the formidable Mrs Aston-Cross that she was the Rolls Royce of Pekingese she was right she was.
I have lived with Pekes around me all my life they are a fearless and very loyal dogs there are so many stories about pekes and loads of things that live on from there past they love to carry material around and will always pick up cloth if one has it they all join in carrying it around never a mark is made on it this comes down from there royal beginning I am sure as they were the constant companions of the Emperor, and as he made his way round the palace many of the pekes led the way announcing his arrival usually four dogs two too announce his arrival holding their heads high and two carrying in their mouths the Emperor's train.
I could never imagine living without them they are not a breed for the novice but they are not the lap dogs that All Creatures Great and Small made them out to be, mine go out with the beardies love nothing better than getting on the beach and into the sea they are great mini agility dogs and will fight to the death for their owner they never see themselves as a small dog they are very big dogs in small bodies.
