Pekingese grooming
Pekingese grooming in Gloucester, MA
A Pekingese carries a heavy double coat on a dog under 14 pounds with a flat face. The coat needs real work; the face sets limits on how that work is done. This page covers the mane and the skirt, why a Peke is groomed with its breathing in mind, and how to keep the fold over the nose clean and dry.
The coat
A lion's mane, a skirt and a thick undercoat, on a dog that stands six to nine inches tall
The AKC describes a compact, stocky toy dog weighing up to 14 pounds, with a coat longest at the neck and shoulders, the famous lion's mane. The breed standard adds the details: a long, coarse, straight outer coat that stands off the body over a thick, soft undercoat, with long feathering on the toes, the backs of the forelegs and the backs of the thighs, and longer fringing on the ears and tail.
That feathering at the back of the thighs is what many owners call the skirt, and with the mane it is where a Peke's coat works hardest. The AKC says the thick double coat requires a good bit of maintenance and that the breed sheds seasonally. Its advice is brushing at least one hour per week, with mats or tangles worked out gently with a slicker brush or a metal comb.
- Mane: longest at the neck and shoulders, dense to the skin
- Skirt: long feathering at the backs of the thighs, close to the rear
- Feet and ears: feathered and fringed, catching sand and seed heads
- Undercoat: thick and soft, shed in seasonal waves
Heat and breathing
A flat face sets the pace, so a Pekingese is groomed with its breathing in mind
VCA's veterinarians list the Pekingese among the short-faced breeds that can have brachycephalic airway syndrome, and note that affected dogs are more prone to overheating because their ability to pant and cool themselves is compromised. Signs are often worse in hot or humid weather, and VCA's management advice includes avoiding heat and stress. A grooming visit means warm water, drying and handling, so plan it with the groomer around those limits rather than rushing it.
How the coat is dried, at what temperature and with which dryer, is confirmed with you at check-in, along with breaks for a dog that needs them; the $20 behavior or handling surcharge covers the extra time. Tell us when you book if your Peke snores loudly, breathes noisily on walks or has had airway surgery. The AKC notes that the breed appreciates cold temperatures, so in summer a morning drop-off, weekdays from 6:30 to 9:30 AM, keeps the trip cooler.
- 01
When you book, mention any noisy breathing, snoring or past airway surgery
- 02
In summer, choose a morning drop-off, when the car and the parking lot are cooler
- 03
Walk your Peke in on a harness rather than a collar, as VCA advises for dogs with airway trouble
- 04
At check-in, agree with the groomer how the coat will be dried and when breaks happen
- 05
At pick-up, keep the car cool and the walk out short
Face and eyes
The fold over the nose has to stay clean and dry, and the eyes need protecting
The breed standard describes the wrinkle as a hair-covered fold of skin running from one cheek over the bridge of the nose to the other. Skin pressed against skin stays warm and damp, and VCA lists the Pekingese among breeds prone to facial fold pyoderma, an infection in those wrinkles. VCA's first advice is to keep the area dry and practice good hygiene. Ask the groomer at check-in how the fold will be cleaned and dried during the bath.
The eyes are the other priority. The AKC points out that without a long muzzle, a Pekingese's eyes have no natural barrier, so its surroundings need to be kept free of anything that could jab or irritate them. Hair growing toward the eyes can be kept short with the $10 face trim. A squint, a red or cloudy eye, or a smelly, sore fold is a reason to call your vet before the groom, not after it.
- Wipe the fold daily with a soft, damp cloth and dry it fully
- Keep hair trimmed away from the eyes; the face trim is $10
- Squinting, redness or cloudiness: call your vet first
- A sore or smelly fold: your vet, then the groomer
How often and price
Full service is $75, Shed Release $10 in a shed, and the skirt stays clean with a $10 sanitary trim
The full service, $75 for a dog of this size, is a bath plus a breed-specific or custom haircut. On a pet Peke that usually means keeping the natural outline, with the mane left full, the feet neatened and the skirt tidied, though a shorter all-over trim is possible if long-coat brushing does not fit your week. The breed standard penalizes obvious trimming in the show ring, so a show dog's owner should say so at booking.
Between full grooms, a $55 bath with a brush-out refreshes the coat, and Shed Release at $10 helps lift the undercoat when the seasonal shed starts. The sanitary trim, $10, keeps the long hair near the rear clean. If brushing has fallen behind and the mane or skirt has knotted, dematting is $15 per 20 minutes on top, and the groomer gives you the estimate before starting. Rebooking at pick-up saves $5 on the next one.
| Pekingese service | Price | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Full service, natural outline or shorter trim | $75 | When the feet, skirt and edges need shaping |
| Bath only | $55 | A refresh between full grooms |
| Shed Release | $10 | At the start of a seasonal shed |
| Sanitary trim | $10 | Keeps the skirt clean near the rear |
| Behavior or handling surcharge | $20 | A dog that needs breaks and a slower pace |
At home
An hour of brushing a week, split into short sessions, with the dog lying down
The AKC's hour a week is easier as several short sessions than one long one, and you can let your Peke lie on its side on your lap instead of standing. Work the mane and the skirt in layers, from the skin outward, and use a slicker brush or a metal comb on any tangle, as the AKC suggests. Finish with the feet, where the feathering between the toes collects grit, and wipe and dry the face fold.
A Cape Ann winter is Peke weather; the AKC says the breed appreciates the cold. The trouble is underfoot. Salt from treated sidewalks collects in the feathered feet and snow balls up there, so rinse and dry the paws after a winter walk; our page on salt, ice and granite paw care covers the rest. In July and August, keep outings short and in the cool of the morning, and watch for the heavy, noisy breathing VCA describes.
At Dogtown
A Peke's groom, at a pace that suits it
Book the full service on its own any week, or add it to a daycare day after the free evaluation; either way, tell us about your dog's breathing.
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
Is grooming safe for a flat-faced dog like a Pekingese?
Should I have my Pekingese shaved for the summer?
How do I clean my Pekingese's face fold?
How much does a Pekingese groom cost in Gloucester?
More questions? Read the full FAQ
Sources
- AKC: Pekingese
- AKC: Pekingese breed standard
- VCA Animal Hospitals: brachycephalic airway syndrome in dogs
- VCA Animal Hospitals: pyoderma in dogs
Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.
Keep reading
Next step
A full coat, groomed gently.
Book the full service online or in the Dogtown app, choose a morning drop-off in summer, and tell us about your Peke's breathing.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
