Peekapoo: Your Complete Guide
Peekapoos are fascinating dogs that are a cross between the ancient and well-tempered Chinese Pekingese and the poodle, usually of the toy variety. The result of this combination is a beautiful small dog with a massive personality and a coat that barely sheds. Not only are they cute, but their big personalities manifest in cleverness, affectionately loving their human companions, and much more. However, they do have a stubborn side, so make sure you keep that in mind before adopting a Peekapoo.
Peekapoos are also sought-after thanks to their lack of shedding and low amount of health issues. This article takes you through everything you need to know about the Peekapoo dog breed. You’ll find plenty of information about their size and coat type, temperament, health, and much more. Read on to learn more below.
A Quick Look at the Peekapoo
Below is a quick glance at the Peekapoo breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.
| Weight/Height | 6-11 inches, 4-20 pounds |
| Coat Type | Short to medium, hypoallergenic |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding |  |
| Temperament | Calm, clever, loyal, affectionate |
| Good With Kids |  |
| Good With Other Animals | |
| Intelligence |  |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years |
What Is the History of Peekapoos?
Peekapoos are designer dog breeds, which don’t have the longest history due to the fact that many dogs throughout history were bred for a purpose. Well, Peekapoos were one of the first designer dog breeds in the United States, and they were bred specifically with cuteness in mind.
That said, there’s evidence of these dogs existing before then and even before the term designer dog was even coined. If you’re looking for an exact date for when these dogs became popular or well-known, however, that happened in the 1950s and 1960s. During this time, breeders began to seek out the pairing.
Peekapoos became popular for competitions and to have as a house pet due to their calm temperament, high level of intelligence, and low shedding.
What Do Peekapoos Look Like?
When it comes to their appearance, this is where things get a little tricky. Due to them being designer dog breeds that are only made from first-generation parents, it’s hard to know if the litter will look more like the poodle or Chinese Pekingese parent.
For this reason, you’ll end up with Peekapoos that have white, gray, silver, brown, and even black coats. Typically, their coat is curly, but the length can range from medium to long based on the genes of the parents. For example, while some Peekapoos will have more poodle-like hair, others will inherit the long and straight hair from their Pekingese parents. This can impact their grooming and shedding as well.
When it comes to their face, they tend to have small black eyes, floppy ears, and a small black nose; they almost resemble teddy bears.
What Size Is a Peekapoo?
Peekapoos will vary in size based on the traits they inherit from their parents. Peekapoos that are bred using Chinese Pekingeses and miniature poodles, for example, will be smaller than mixes that have larger poodles in the gene pool. For this reason, their size range tends to vary between six to eleven inches in height and weighs four to twenty pounds. Males tend to be larger than females as well. Overall, they’re one of the smaller dog breeds.
What Is a Peekapoo’s Coat Type and Length?
Peekapoos will have a few different coat types and their coat varies based on traits inherited by their parents. On one hand, you’ll find Peekapoos that skew more towards poodles that have short and curly hair. On the other hand, you’ll find Peekapoos who have long and straight hair that they develop from their Pekingese roots. They can also have a mix of these coat types, so some may have medium-length curly hair or medium-length straight hair.
What Is a Peekapoo’s Temperament?
Peekapoos have a calm temperament that makes them a good fit for first-time pet owners, families, and households with other pets. These positive traits can even be amplified with proper socialization from a young age, which means that even if they do exhibit a prey drive from their poodle roots, it can be handled with positive reinforcement training and having them around others.
Peekapoos also tend to be affectionate and loyal, which can show up as defending their owners. That said, sometimes they take this a little too far and may bark at strangers or other animals. Peekapoos are also smart, energetic as puppies, and easy to train, thanks to their poodle heritage.
Are Peekapoos Good With Kids?
Have a family with small kids or even adolescents? No worries at all because Peekapoos are great with kids! Regardless of their age, Peekapoos have no problem getting along with young children and don’t tend to have violent tendencies. Still, due to their small size, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on them while they’re playing to ensure that they don’t get hurt due to their small frames.
Are Peekapoos Good With Other Animals?
Peekapoos tend to be good with other animals, but there are some caveats. For example, if the animal is smaller and they inherit a lot of their personality from their poodle parents, they may have a prey drive and chase them. The good news is that they can easily be trained to avoid this, especially if you start at a young age. If your other animals are bigger, like your average cat, you shouldn’t have to worry too much.
Are Peekapoos Aggressive?
Peekapoos are not aggressive dogs. They’re not prone to snapping, growling, or even barking to intimidate. The only time these little balls of fluff will get aggressive is if they feel threatened or are defending their owners. After all, they do have a fierce sense of loyalty.
Do Peekapoos Bark?
Peekapoos will do some barking, so make sure you’re prepared for that. They may bark at other dogs, people, or even you if they want something. Barking is a natural thing for this breed, so it’s something you have to be ready for and work through if you want to limit this behavior. While they don’t have the loudest bark around, you may want to keep an eye on them in apartments with noise restrictions.
The good news is that you can always use positive reinforcement training to work on barking and other types of bad behavior.
Are Peekapoos Affectionate?
Yes, Peekapoos are affectionate dogs. Once they get to know you, Peekapoos become affectionate dogs that love to snuggle up with you. In fact, you’ll often find them sitting in your lap or lying in bed with you when it’s time to turn in for the night. If you want to continue to develop that bond you can always brush them, play with them, or train them; all of these activities will develop their loyalty and affection, especially if you start from a young age.
That said, it may take a little while before you get to the good stuff. In other words, Peekapoos don’t always open up to people right away, so you need to prepare for an adjustment period. Thankfully, they tend to come around quickly because they love people!
Are Peekapoos Intelligent?
Peekapoos are very intelligent dogs. Since you’re getting a dog that’s roughly half poodle, and poodles are some of the smartest dogs around, it’s no surprise that Peekapoos are intelligent dogs. Their poodle roots also make them easy to train, and they can learn a lot of commands. In fact, you can even start to train them during their puppy years to really set that foundation.
However, it’s important to note that with intelligence comes curiosity, so if you’re adopting a Peekapoo puppy, you may want to puppy-proof your home to keep them out of trouble. If you have a backyard, the same applies to your outdoor space.
Are Peekapoos Energetic?
Peekapoos are energetic dogs, but their level of energy depends on their parents, especially when it comes to their need for mental stimulation. This is why training and playing are important because you don’t want them keeping you up at night if they’re not tired from a fun-filled day of playing.
The good news is that you only have to walk them or play with them for around an hour or so to meet their energy needs because they’re small dogs. That said, it doesn’t hurt to go even further and tire them out! Overall, they’re medium-energy dogs that need a little bit of stimulation each day to live a happy and healthy lifestyle.
Are Peekapoos Easy to Train?
Peekapoos are easy dogs to train, especially if they inherit a lot of their traits from their poodle parents. You can teach them a wide range of commands, and they’re even smart enough for more complex training programs like agility training. Plus, you can start them young and begin with something like a basic obedience course that sets the foundation for the rest of their training. Then, you can move on to more advanced things like dog tricks.
Regardless of the training method you choose, make sure you go the positive reinforcement route. You want to make sure you’re rewarding good behavior with treats or praise, and you should avoid yelling, hitting, or being otherwise mean to your dog because it’s not helpful.
Are Peekapoos Good Watchdogs?
Peekapoos can be good watchdogs, but that depends on what you have them watching. If you want to be alerted whenever someone is outside or if there is another animal around, they’ll bark and draw attention to it, so they’re good at alerting you to problems.
They’re also quite brave and loyal, so they may even try and protect you if something is wrong. That said, Peekapoos aren’t exactly the most intimidating dogs, so they won’t scare anyone away if that’s what you’re looking for.
Are Peekapoos Good Service Dogs?
Peekapoos are not the best physical service dogs, but that doesn’t mean they’re useless when it comes to helping those with disabilities. In fact, Peekapoos make great psychiatric service dogs due to their high level of general and emotional intelligence.
With the right training, they shouldn’t have problems learning how to help people who struggle with conditions like anxiety, panic attacks, or even PTSD. Plus, when taught deep pressure therapy (DPT), they can apply pressure and help someone get through panic attacks or other episodes.
It’s also important to note that Peekapoos also make good emotional support animals (ESA) and therapy dogs. Their small size makes them perfect for most living spaces, and they don’t require much care.
How to Care for a Peekapoo?
Caring for a Peekapoo isn’t challenging, especially when compared to some larger dog breeds. It’s all about making sure they’re getting about an hour of exercise daily and eating a healthy diet.
Aside from that, shedding is minimal, they don’t have a ton of health issues, and their grooming needs come down to hair and nail trims. Therefore, caring for a Peekapoo is easy for first-time pet owners and even people who have disabilities and need an ESA or psychiatric service dog.
Do You Need to Groom a Peekapoo?
You need to groom a Peekapoo at home and sometimes with help from a professional. At home, you’ll need to brush their coat often to prevent matting and knots from forming. Not only does this keep them happy and healthy, but it also helps you build your bond with them, so it’s a win-win. You can also bathe them if their coats get too dirty or follow a schedule of around every four to six weeks.
You also need to bring your Peekapoo to a professional for some more advanced grooming. If you can’t trim their nails at home, or if they don’t wear down from walking or playing, professionals can help with that. Professionals can also trim their coats and give them a nice bath, which will keep your Peekapoo happy and healthy. Last but not least, make sure you brush their teeth and feed them treats that preserve their teeth and gums.
Do Peekapoos Shed?
Yes, Peekapoos shed, and you’ll find that pretty much every dog sheds. However, Peekapoos are considered hypoallergenic, so it’s not something you always have to worry about.
What Health Problems Do Peekapoos Have?
Peekapoos tend to be a strong breed that doesn’t have a lot of health issues. Still, that doesn’t mean they’re always going to be healthy, so you should keep an eye out for any problems. You’ll notice your dog is sick when they refuse to eat food, have skin rashes, show signs of fatigue, or yelp often. If you notice these problems, it’s always a good idea to see a vet.
That said, there are some specific health problems you can look for that include:
- Brachycephalic respiratory problems due to their small size and Pekingese heritage
- Frail bones due to their small size
- Hip dysplasia
- Dental problems
- Luxating patella
- Allergies to certain foods and shampoos
Due to their floppy ears, you may also need to keep them clean to prevent ear infections.
How Long Do Peekapoos Live?
Peekapoos have an average lifespan for a small dog. Small dogs tend to outlive their bigger counterparts, so you’ll find that they tend to live for 12 to 15 years. The length of their life depends on any health conditions they have, sure, but also on how you care for them. For example, ensuring that they eat a healthy diet and get around an hour of daily exercise will help them lead a healthier, longer life.
What Should a Peekapoo Eat?
The best diet for a Peekapoo is one that’s balanced based on their life stage. Peekapoo puppies, for example, should eat a diet that supplies them with enough energy to be a fun, loving, and playful puppy. As adults, Peekapoos can eat standard food formulated for small dogs, and as seniors, they should eat dog food appropriate for their age to avoid weight gain.
When it comes to the ingredients of the food, make sure it’s balanced between high-quality protein, some carbohydrates, healthy fats, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants.
Is a Peekapoo the Right Dog for Me?
Peekapoos are some of the best canine companions you can adopt. You’ll find that they’re smart, loving, and easy to care for, even if you’re a first-time dog owner. Plus, their small size makes it easy to care for them in homes of any size.
While these dogs are great for the whole family, that doesn’t mean they’re for everyone, so make sure their traits are something you can mesh with before you get started. If you do plan on purchasing a Peekapoo, make sure you work with the right breeders or consider adopting from a local shelter.