Pekalier

helloBARK!
By helloBARK!
Updated on 16 August 2021

A Pekalier is a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Pekingese.

This cross is usually small in size given Cavaliers and Pekingese are companion-sized breeds.

The designer dog breed should have moderate exercise needs given the parent breeds are quite laidback.

They can make great apartment dogs due to their petite stature and low energy drive.

If you’ve got your heart set on a Pekalier dog, you should check your local rescue shelter given this is a cross breed that can often need to find a permanent home.

In this article, we’ll take a look at Pekalier appearance, Pekalier temperament, as well as whether the Pekalier is a hypoallergenic hybrid dog breed.

We’ll hear from Gina (@krolowa.gina), Jack (@pekalier) and Rocky (@5_cute_poops).

What is a Pekalier?

Krolowa the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

Gina the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

Pekalier is a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Pekalier.

They’re likely to be a companion-sized dogs that can thrive in apartments in big cities thanks to their low energy needs.

Cavaliers and Pekingnese are popular family pets, especially with dog lovers who have limited time to exercise their pooches.

If you’ve got your heart set on a Pekalier, you should check out your local rescue shelter to see if a member of this cross breed needs to be rehomed.

While Cavaliers and Pekaliers are recognised by the American Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club, the Pekalier hasn’t been granted status.

Pekaliers are recognised by the American Canine Hybrid Club.

Pekalier size

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

Pekaliers are a relatively small cross breed given both parents are petite in size. They can grow to be between 6 and 10 inches tall and 8 and 18 pounds in weight.

Here’s Jack to give us an idea about his size.

Jack the Pekalier (Photo: @pekalier / Instagram)

Jack the Pekalier (Photo: @pekalier / Instagram)

Our Pekalier Jack is a short legged long body dog weighing approximately 10 lbs. He has a strong core body like a Spaniel and short but hardy legs like a Pekingese.

Pekalier appearance

Krolowa the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

Gina the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

Pekaliers can vary in appearance depending on whether they inherit more physical traits from their Cavalier or Pekingese parent. It’s important to remember that there’s no guarantee that your Pekalier will inherit desired characteristics from either breed. Having said that, we can say with some degree of certainty that they’ll be relatively small in size. Pekaliers will usually be compact and sturdy in build. They’ll have feathering around their ears, reflecting of the Cavalier breed. Pekaliers can have coat colors that range from black, brown, cream and red. They’ll usually have a medium-length coat that is moderately dense and quite wavy.

Chloie gave us an insight into the appearance of her Pekalier, Rocky.

Rocky has the longer body and face and tail of a Cavalier King Charles, and has shorter legs like a Pekingese. His hair is more of a Pekingese, it is thicker and a double coat.

Pekalier temperament

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

It’s a similar story where Pekalier temperament is concerned. It’s impossible to predict which personality traits Pekaliers will inherit from their Cavalier and Pekingese parent.

Having said that, the parent breeds are both known as companion dogs. So we can say with some degree of certainty that Pekaliers will enjoy being around their pet parents. Pekaliers are usually a sociable breed that like to meet new people and new dogs.

Karolina provided us with a description of her Pekalier’s temperament.

They are a perfect mix of Pekingese and Cavalier. From their Pekingese side they are very intelligent, temperamental, a bit territorial and pretty stubborn. While Cavalier in them makes them follow their owners everywhere (trying to jump into their lap for snuggles) on every occasion, they are very extroverted and love company, their scent drive is very strong (try their best with hunting on insects and even small animals when we go to the woods). They need a lot of love and attention from their owner.

Do Pekaliers suffer from separation anxiety?

Krolowa the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

Gina the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

Separation anxiety is a chronic canine disorder that can affect any dog irrespective of breed or mix. It’s a condition that usually occurs when a canine is left at home alone. In some cases, it can occur even before the pet parents depart. The symptoms include incessant barking, howling and whining, destructive chewing and digging as well as defecating and urinating. Pekaliers, like any other cross breed, could be susceptible to this issue.

We asked Chloie whether she’s encountered this chronic canine condition with her Pekalier, Rocky. Here’s her response:

Rocky does suffer from separation anxiety but only from one of my other dogs who we call his “buddy”. If Rocky sees us take out a leash for his buddy he cries and waits for him by the door or window. If he is outside he waits on the stoop for us to return.

Do Pekaliers make good guard dogs?

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

Given their small size, Pekaliers won’t make effective guard dogs. However, they can make good watch dogs given they can be quite alert to sounds outside the home.

Do Pekaliers get along with other dogs?

Jack the Pekalier (Photo: @pekalier / Instagram)

Jack the Pekalier (Photo: @pekalier / Instagram)

Cavaliers and Pekingese are usually quite low maintenance dogs that are fairly easy going. So Pekaliers should get along with other dogs but socialization from a young age is advisable.

Jack, for instance, is relaxed around other dogs.

Pekaliers enjoy the company of other dogs their size to play with. Larger dogs may intimidate a Pekalier, causing shyness.

Do Pekaliers make great family pets?

Krolowa the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

Gina the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

One thing to consider is the petite Pekalier frame. They can be quite delicate dogs, which means they may not be suitable for families with small children. If you do have young children in your home and you’ve set your heart on this cross breed, you’ll need to educate your kids on how to appropriately handle the designer dog breed. Furthermore, you should never leave a child unsupervised with a dog.

Karolina explains why she’d recommend Pekaliers for families based upon her experience with Gina.

They are so friendly and literally in love with their owners that I would absolutely recommend them for a family pet. They are energetic so they can run around with kids, easy enough to train even for not experienced dog owners. They make great companions whether you live active life or are more of a domestic type – they will adjust to their owners lifestyle.

Jack offered his perspective on this question.

Overall Pekaliers are very smart and make great members of the family. They love to be with their owners and are very easy to train with continuous positive reinforcement. Be careful not to over punish a Pekalier they may want to withdrawal due to hurt feelings.

Do Pekaliers like to cuddle?

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

Cavaliers are often described as the quintessential lap dogs. They’ve been acting as companion dogs for a number of centuries, finding their way onto the laps of British royalty. Similarly, Pekingese are also a dog breed that have been bred for companionship. By combining these two affectionate breeds, they’re likely to enjoy some cuddle time with their pet parents.

For instance, Rocky loves to cuddle with his dog owner Chloie.

Rocky loves to cuddle!! He loves to lay between or behind our legs. He especially loves to cuddle when we are laying with a blanket. He keeps us very warm when he curls up with us.

Are Pekaliers easy to train?

Krolowa the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

Gina the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

Out of the 138 dog breeds listed in Stanley Coren’s famous book, The Intelligence of Dogs, you’ve got to go all the way down to number 132 to find the Pekingese. Coren ranked the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel at number 73. Using Coren’s system, you’d expect Pekaliers to be difficult to train. However, they’re eager to please their owners which can help with the process.

We asked Karolina whether she found Gina easy to train:

Fortunately yes – their Cavalier traits make them quite easy to train, as they would do everything for their owner. However, as love- and food-motivated as they are, the Pekingese’s independence in them sometimes prevails and they tend to go their own way, so patience is the key. They also tend to not like being on a leash too much, as their scent drive is pretty strong – so they would rather explore all the scents freely.

Do Pekaliers bark a lot?

Pekaliers aren’t usually excessive barkers, although they may alert their pet parents if there’s a stranger at the door.

Pekaliers only bark when excited or at unusual noises. They are easy to train by positive reinforcement  not to bark excessively when excited.

How much exercise do Pekaliers need?

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

As we touched upon earlier, Pekaliers are a mixed breed with low to moderate exercise needs. As a result, they’re a good choice for dog lovers who don’t have the ability or time to walk their canine companion. Wag Walking suggest 30 minutes of exercise a day. The dog walking company recommend one or two short walks a day or a trip to a dog park.

For example, Gina requires around 20 to 30 minutes of exercise a day.

They are ok with 20-30 min walks most of the time if they are allowed to run around and attempt to “hunt” for an hour or so at least twice a week. They need to tire themselves out with nose work, so this can be achieved on the long walks or through nose work games in the house.

Do Pekaliers get along with cats?

Jack the Pekalier (Photo: @pekalier / Instagram)

Jack the Pekalier (Photo: @pekalier / Instagram)

Pekaliers are social dogs but it’s impossible to predict whether they’ll get along with cats. Here’s what Jack has to say about this topic.

Pekaliers get along with cats, but they can get excited to want to play. So some redirecting may be needed to calm them so not to scare.

Are Pekaliers hypoallergenic?

Krolowa the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

Gina the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

Pekaliers aren’t a hypoallergenic mixed breed. Although the American Kennel Club states that there’s no such thing as a 100 per cent hypoallergenic dog breed, they do recommend some breeds as being more hypoallergenic. Neither the Cavalier nor Pekingese are listed.

Do Pekaliers shed?

These designer dogs will usually have a medium-length coat that is quite dense and wavy. They’ll shed a little throughout most of the year but especially at the changing of the seasons.

This is a constant battle for Karolina with her Pekalier.

Very much so during spring, when they get rid of their winter fur. It’s crucial to brush them at least once a day. Other than that they shed moderately, so brushing once or twice a week does the job.

Do Pekaliers need regular grooming?

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

Although Karolina recommends brushing your Pekalier once or twice a week when they’re not blowing out their summer or winter coat, you may prefer to have an even more regular grooming schedule. By brushing your Pekalier’s coat, you can remove dirt, debris and dead hair to maintain the health and overall quality of their coat.

Chloie gave us an insight into her grooming routine for Rocky.

Rocky does not require much grooming. A bath or two from us, when he gets stinky, in between going to the groomers every few months is all he needs. We will trim his nails and brush his teeth at home when needed but usually dropping him off at the groomers every couple months is all he needs!

Do Pekaliers have any health problems?

Krolowa the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

Gina the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

Although Pekaliers are a cross breed, they can still be prone to some health issues. As a mixed dog, it’s still unclear exactly what conditions they’re susceptible to. However, there are some health problems that you should research so you can spot the early signs of another potential issues that might appear.

These can include:

• Patellar Luxation
• Distichiasis
• Intervertebral Disc Disease
• Cataracts
• Hip Dysplasia
• Mitral Valve Disease
• Brachycephalic Syndrome
• Syringomyelia
• Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca

We asked Jack to disclose any potential health issues that he’s encountered.

Jack the Pekalier (Photo: @pekalier / Instagram)

Jack the Pekalier (Photo: @pekalier / Instagram)

Pekaliers are small but hardy dogs. Due to the Cavalier heart issues, yearly exams are needed. May have slight underbite issues also from the Pekingese breed.

Are Pekaliers fussy eaters?

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

Having experienced life with picky eaters, I know how stressful it can be when your dog won’t eat their food. It can lead to digestive and stomach issues. I’ve found that dog food delivery companies can provide a solution for dog owners with their home-cooked meals. I’ve reviewed the best dog food delivery companies in the USA and the best dog food delivery companies in the UK.

Alternatively, if you prefer feeding your Pekalier dry food such as kibble, you can still find some great options here.

Pekalier price

Krolowa the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

Gina the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

Pekaliers can often be found at rescue shelters so we recommend checking out your local organization to see if you can give one of these beautiful hybrid dogs a forever home. If you can’t find a Pekalier to rescue, you can see if there are any Pekalier breeders. We recommend asking to see a puppy’s parents, requesting to see proof of health checks and other necessary documentation. Pekaliers appear to cost between $650 and $1,500.

Are Pekaliers expensive?

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

Aside from the initial cost of adopting your Pekalier, you’ll need to prepare for monthly costs associated with owning a dog. These include vaccinations, neutering or spaying, dog food, pet insurance and much more. You can check out the best pet insurance options in the USA and the UK

Do you recommend Pekaliers to first-time dog owners?

Here’s Chloie to give her advice to first-time dog owners:

I would definitely recommend a Pekalier for first time dog owners. Rocky is very sweet, always wanting to please us, quick to train, both house training and basic commands and he loves giving kisses! Bonus points if you have a beard because Rocky loves nibbling on facial hair!!!!

Pekaliers to follow on Instagram

Krolowa the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

Gina the Pekalier (Photo: @krolowa.gina / Instagram)

If you want to learn more about Pekaliers, you can also reach out to some owners of the hybrid dogs to learn more about these beautiful crosses. Here are some Pekalier accounts to check out on Instagram.

• Gina (@krolowa.gina)

• Jack (@pekalier)

• Rocky (@5_cute_poops)

In conclusion

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

Rocky the Pekalier (Photo: @5_cute_poops / Instagram)

So we’ve reached the end of our feature on the Pekalier cross breed.

They’re mixed dogs that incorporate both physical features and temperament traits from Cavaliers and Pekingese.

These dogs can make excellent companion dogs given their affectionate nature, while their small size makes them ideal for apartment living.

Pekalier’s have wavy coats that will need regular grooming to maintain the health and quality of their luscious hair.

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