Original Article: https://www.dogster.com/dog-breeds/boston-terrier-pekingese

The Boston Terrier Pekingese mix is a mixed breed dog that combines the pampered Pekingese and the distinguished Boston Terrier to create a loyal and smart small canine companion breed.

Although the cross can lean towards one parent breed or the other, you are most likely to find that your Boston Terrier Pekingese Mix falls somewhere between these two popular pups, ideally taking the best of both breeds and combining them in one compact package. The mix is sometimes referred to as a Bostinese or Boston Peke, or simply called a Boston Terrier Pekingese Mix.

Breed Overview

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Although the Boston Terrier Pekingese mix is a relatively new combination, you can expect a pup that is loyal and loving, smart, and generally happy to be trained, as long as it gets love and some treats out of the arrangement.

The Bostonese will enjoy spending time with its humans, will generally get along with other dogs, and is considered easy to care for—this combination of traits makes it a good choice for first-time and novice dog owners. Its size and adaptability mean that it can live in most accommodations, too, so it is a good choice for owners who live in apartments as well as those who live in houses with more land.

Boston Terrier Pekingese Mix Characteristics

Boston Terrier Pekingese Mix Puppies

The Boston Terrier Pekingese Mix is a small dog, which means that puppies are especially small. Although the breed itself is not overly delicate, the tiny size of the puppies means that extra care does need to be taken when they are very young.

The mixed breed is not that well-known or popular, yet, which means it can prove very difficult to find breeders that are intentionally breeding the cross. However, it is worth investigating. Check breeder registries, look on social media, and ask any owners of the mixed breed where they got their puppies from.

When choosing a breeder, ensure you don’t use a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass breed dogs and not only do the parents and puppies live in inhumane conditions, but the puppies can grow up to develop physical and emotional problems that they will have all of their lives. Studies suggest that puppy mill dogs are more likely to develop certain health conditions and are more likely to have fleas and other problems as soon as you receive the puppy.

When choosing a breeder, visit their site. Ask to meet the mother and ensure that she and her puppies look healthy and alert. Ask any questions you have about the breed. Not only does this help ensure your suitability as an owner but it can also give a good indication of how caring a breeder is.

Although the mixed breed is rare, you might find them in rescue centers, and it is always worth checking shelters to see if there is a dog you can adopt. Ask the adopter for as much history as they have on the dog, whether it gets on with other animals in the shelter, and how it acts when meeting visitors. Dogs do act differently when they are in shelters, but this can give a good idea of how well-socialized the dog is, at least.

Whenever you get a new dog, you should start socializing and training it as soon as you get it home. This will help ensure it grows up to be a well-adjusted dog that can cope with new situations, and that it will get along with other animals as well as new people.

Boston Terrier Pekingese Mix Breed Origin & History

Due to the similar size of the two parent breeds, the Boston Terrier Pekingese mix may have occurred naturally in the past, but intentional breeding of this pairing is a relatively new phenomenon.

Intentional breeding likely started at the beginning of the 21^st Century to add some of the robust, playful tendencies of the Boston Terrier to the doting lapdog qualities of the Pekingese. The breed remains fairly uncommon, for now, at least.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Boston Terrier Pekingese Mix

The Boston Terrier is known for being a playful, even hyperactive, little dog. It loves to play, enjoys walking and running, and is also at its happiest and most content when spending time with its human owners.

The Boston can be protective of its owners, making early socialization especially important for the breed, but it isn’t known for being overly vocal and, when combined with its diminutive stature, this makes the Boston Terrier a good choice for living in an apartment. It is a smart dog, but its playful nature means it can be difficult to keep the Boston Terrier’s attention for a long-winded training session. Training is certainly possible, but it means that the owner must keep training sessions short and ensure they’re fun.

The Pekingese breed was bred as lapdogs and they were valued so highly by Chinese royalty that owned them, that they had their own servants. Modern Pekingese owners will tell you that they haven’t forgotten this, and they expect their humans to still act as their servants.

The breed is fearless, in keeping with its “lion dog” moniker, and this means that it will attempt to fearlessly tackle much larger dogs. Again, this makes early socialization key to successful ownership. The breed likes children, but its tiny size means that it can be fearful of very young children who are prone to grabbing their ear fluff.

The combination of these two breeds typically results in a fearless small dog that loves to play, adores spending time with its humans, and can be a little difficult to train. Despite the training challenge, the breed is considered a good choice for first-time owners, but if you do take on a Boston Terrier Pekingese mix you will need to start training and socializing them as soon as possible to ensure a stress-free time.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🧑‍🧑‍🧒

Both parent breeds make good companion dogs that will get along with children and, as such, the mix will get along with kids, too. The addition of the rugged Boston Terrier breed means that the mix will usually even get along with very young children, whereas the Pekingese can be wary around tiny grabbing hands. With that said, the crossbreed will do better with older children, especially those who are willing to grab a ball or other toy and spend some time playing.

The Boston Terrier Pekingese mix dotes on its owners and can struggle if left alone too long, so if your family is out of the house all day, this might not be the best choice of breed for you. However, despite being quite energetic, those little legs don’t need too much vigorous exercise, so the breed is also ideal for senior owners. Its size, and the fact that it isn’t usually prone to being excessively vocal, means that the mix is a good choice for owners who live in apartments or close to their neighbors.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

Generally, the breed gets along very well with other dogs, and it can also get along well with cats. If you do have other animals at home, you should ensure they are introduced gradually, though, so they have the greatest chance of getting along.

Ensure all pets have their own spaces they can retreat to. In the case of cats, it is a good idea to let them have the high ground, so make sure they have a perch on which they can jump. The small size of the Boston Terrier Pekingese mix means that the perch doesn’t have to be very high, and the cat shouldn’t have an issue getting away.

If you’re introducing the dog to an existing dog or pack of dogs, start by putting them on opposite sides of a stairgate so they can see and smell one another without physically interacting. Once they get used to the smell, use leashes and introduce them gradually. It can take time for existing animals to accept new members of the pack, but with gradual and careful introductions, it should be possible.

Although the breed is small, you should still never leave it alone with small animals like mice, rats, Guinea Pigs, or other caged animals. If the small animal runs, the dog will likely give chase and can seriously injure or even kill the pet.

Things to Know When Owning a Boston Terrier Pekingese Mix:

The Boston Terrier Pekingese Mix combines two very popular small companion dog breeds. It gets along well with people of all ages, although care needs to be taken around very young children, and it can usually be integrated into a house with existing pets. It is considered a good first dog breed, but no breed is perfect for all owners.

Below, we look at some of the features and requirements of the breed to help you determine whether it is the right dog for you.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Diet is very important to dogs. A poor diet can cause physical and health problems, and it can also lead to poor coat condition and skin problems. Feeding too much food can lead to your dog putting on extra weight, so you do need to follow feeding guidelines. If your vet has recommended a specific food, a particular diet, or some kind of supplement, follow these guidelines above all others. Otherwise, you can choose between wet food, dry food, or a combination of the two.

On average, a Boston Terrier Pekingese Mix will consume around one cup a day of dry kibble. You can choose a small breed dog food. Not only does small-breed food meet the nutritional requirements of small breeds, but it typically has smaller kibble pieces that are easier for small mouths to manage. Alternatively, wet food can also help hydrate your dog while also meeting daily nutritional requirements.

Weigh your dog, choose an appropriate food, and then feed according to the guidelines on the packaging to make sure you’re meeting the necessary calorie, protein, and nutritional needs.

Exercise 🐕

The Boston Terrier Pekingese mix is a lively, active breed that enjoys walking, hiking, running, and playing, and it does require daily exercise to stay fit and healthy. However, it is a small breed and only has small legs. As such, it doesn’t require an excessive amount of walking and can struggle with strenuous forms of exercise.

A couple of walks a day, totaling 45 minutes or more, should prove ample, and you can supplement this with some time playing outside. The breed’s playful nature means that the Boston Terrier Pekingese Mix can do well at certain canine sports. With consistent and positive training, you might be able to take part in agility classes, and there are flyball and other sports events that are tailored to smaller dogs.

Training 🎾

Training not only teaches basic commands like sit, stay, and leave, but it also teaches dogs what is considered good behavior and what isn’t. The Boston Terrier Pekingese mix is an intelligent breed but it can be a little stubborn, and the playful nature of the Boston Terrier means you will have to make training sessions fun and exciting if you want to keep the dog’s attention throughout the session.

Keep sessions short, use training treats to encourage good behavior, and consider signing up for puppy classes. Puppy classes let your dog mix with other dogs, and meet new people, and they teach you the basics of dog training.

Puppy classes are also a great way to start your dog’s socialization. Socialization means introducing your dog to new situations. They will meet new people as well as other animals. They will become desensitized to the whole experience and good socialization will set you and your dog up for an easier life.

Socialization and training should continue outside puppy classes. Set aside some time every day to train basic commands and positive behavior and take your dog on different walks at different times, to different places, to offer further socialization.

Grooming ✂️

Whereas Pekingese have long coats, Boston Terriers have short coats, and your mix’s coat is likely to be a little on the longer side. You can expect some shedding, potentially quite a lot, as both parent breeds are prone to moderate shedding.

Brush daily during shedding season to help prevent knots and to ensure your little dog is comfortable. During the rest of the year, you can reduce grooming sessions to three or four times a week, but you must keep on top of this.

Nails need trimming, typically once every 2 or 3 months, or they can start to cause pain when your dog walks, and trimming nails also helps prevent scratching when your dog jumps up.

Teeth need cleaning at least three times a week but ideally every day. The breed doesn’t do well in extreme weather. You may need to provide a jacket in winter and sunscreen in summer.

Health and Conditions 🏥

The Boston Terrier Pekingese mix can struggle in cold and hot conditions, which means you need to offer protection from extreme weather. They also have brachycephalic facial features, which can lead to respiratory and eye problems.

The mix is more prone to the following conditions than most other breeds.

Male vs Female

The male Boston Terrier Pekingese mix will be a little heavier and taller than the female, as is typical with most dog breeds. When it comes to character and temperament, there is some anecdotal evidence that males can be more playful and difficult to manage, whereas females are more prone to mood swings but are usually more level-headed and less likely to wander.

The breed is not known for being aggressive, but males are more likely to be aggressive than females, especially unaltered males.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Boston Terrier Pekingese Mix

1. The Boston Terrier Is Known as “The American Gentleman”

The Boston Terrier hails, unsurprisingly, from Boston, U.S.A. Thanks to its tuxedo markings, the breed has become known as the American Gentleman, although some owners may insist they are more thuglike than gentlemanlike.

2. Pekingese Used to Have Their Own Servants

The Pekingese hails from China, where it was bred as a lapdog to Royalty. They were treated so well and revered so highly that they had their own servants. Owners will tell you that they still have their own human servants, to this day.

3. The Boston Terrier Pekingese Can Suffer Separation Anxiety

The Boston Terrier and the Pekingese are both known for being companion dogs that are very close to their human owners. This makes them great companion pets, but it also means they can be prone to separation anxiety if left alone for too long. If you go to work, you may need a walker or pet sitter to come in and help.

Final Thoughts

The Boston Terrier Pekingese mix is a mixed breed that combines two popular small companion breeds. The resulting mix is a small breed that enjoys spending time with its human family.

Although energetic, the small size of the breed means it doesn’t require too much exercise, and although its playful nature means it might find it difficult to concentrate, the breed is smart and intelligent enough that it can be well-trained. It will get along with other dogs, generally gets on with strangers, and is considered a good breed for novice owners.

However, you will have to take some care of that coat and the breed can suffer separation anxiety so it might not be the best choice for owners that work all day.

Source: Dogster