Pekalier Dog Breed Pictures, Characteristics, and Facts

The Pekalier is a mixed breed, so they don’t have history as their own breed. Both parent breeds, however, are well known and loved.

Cavaliers are descended from the toy spaniels depicted in many 16th, 17th, and 18th century paintings by famous artists such as Van Dyck and Gainsborough. Used as a hunting dog, the athletic Cavalier was bred for both work and the ability to curl up on a lap at the end of the day. However, the breed itself is fairly new. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was recognized by the UKC in 1945, after much pushing from devoted breeders and fans. However, American Cavalier fans still had to wait longer before the breed became popular or recognized in the US. In 1954, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club was created, the official breed club and only registering body for Cavaliers in the United States for more than fifty years.  The AKC officially recognized the breed in March 1995 — meaning that the breed has been able to be registered in the US for less than thirty years.

The Pekingese has been loved for longer than most dog breeds have existed, with DNA evidence confirming it as one of the oldest of dog breeds. The Peke is believed to have existed in China for as long as 2,000 years.  Named for the capital city of Peking (now Beijing), the breed was almost solely companions to nobles, princes, and members of the imperial family. Pekingese were taken as spoils of war from their home country during the Opium War to Britain, where the English took an interest in the breed. A dog called “Pekin Peter” was reportedly the first Pekingese to be exhibited at a British dog show in 1894. The breed was known variously as a Chinese Pug and a Pekingese Spaniel. A Pekingese club was established in 1904. From there, their popularity spread much more rapidly. 

The first Pekingese registered by the American Kennel Club was named Rascal, in 1906, and the Pekingese Club of America was formed in 1909. Today the breed ranks 49th among the 155 breeds and varieties registered by the AKC.