Pekingese vs Yorkshire Terrier

Compare the Pekingese to the Yorkshire Terrier. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Pekingese and Yorkshire Terriers.

Quick Summary

Below are a few quick comparisons between the two breeds.

Owner Experience - Both the Pekingese and Yorkshire Terrier are excellent choices for new or inexperienced owners.
Children - Both the Pekingese and Yorkshire Terrier are okay with children.
Grooming - Both breeds require very high amounts of grooming.
Barking - Both breeds will bark frequently, but the Pekingese has the highest tendency to bark between the two.

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Pekingese vs Yorkshire Terrier

Breed Name	Pekingese	Yorkshire Terrier
General Details
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred
Is Hypoallergenic	No	Yes
Lifespan	12-15 yrs.	12-15 yrs.
Height	6-9 in.	8-9 in.
Weight	7-14 lb	4-7 lb
Intelligence	Average	Average
History
Origin Country	China	United Kingdom
Origin Year	20 BC	1865 AD
Temperament
Overall Friendliness	Good	Good
Family Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Kid Friendly	Below Average	Below Average
Pet Friendly	Below Average	Good
Stranger Friendly	Below Average	Below Average
Personality
	Affectionate Enjoys Attention Jealous Does Not Like Being Alone Stubborn	Affectionate Aggressive Enjoys Attention Jealous Loving Does Not Like Being Alone Likes To Snuggle Stubborn Willing To Please
Living Environment
Apartment	Yes	Yes
Indoor	Yes	Yes
Small Yard	No	No
Medium Yard	No	No
Large Yard	No	No
Temperature Tolerance ¹	55°F to 75°F	55°F to 80°F
Barks/Howls	Very Often	Often
Exercise Needs
Energy Level	Low-Medium	Medium
Exercise Required	Low	Low
Top Running Speed	12 mph	11 mph
Strength	Low	Low
Grooming Needs
Coat Maintenance	Medium	High
Shedding	High	Low
Dander	Medium	Low
Drool Amount	None	None

¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.

Instincts & Behavior Comparison
Breed Name	Pekingese	Yorkshire Terrier
Breed Mentality
Dominant/Alpha	Yes	Yes
Family/Pack	No	No
Independent	No	Yes
Breed Focus
Distracted Easily	No	No
Average	Yes	Yes
Focused & Patient	No	No
Breed Instincts
Aggression	Below Average	Very Low
Burrow/Digging	Below Average	Very Low
Chasing	Below Average	Very Low
Follow Commands	Below Average	Below Average
Fighting	Very Low	Very Low
Guarding	Below Average	Very Low
Herding	Below Average	Very Low
Hunting	Below Average	Average
Protection	Below Average	Very Low
Remove Vermin	Below Average	High
Sledding	Below Average	Very Low
Watch	Average	Average

Health Comparison
Breed Name	Pekingese	Yorkshire Terrier
Lifespan
Lifespan	12-15 yrs.	12-15 yrs.
Common Health Issues
Brachycephalic Syndrome	Yes	No
Cataracts	Yes	No
Cleft Palate	Yes	No
Collapsed Trachea	No	Yes
Cryptorchidism	Yes	No
Distichiasis	Yes	No
Ectopic Cilia	Yes	No
Ectopic Cilia	Yes	No
Entropion	Yes	No
Exposure Keratopathy Syndrome	Yes	No
Hydrocephalus	Yes	No
Hypoglycemia	No	Yes
Intervertebral Disk Disease	Yes	No
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca	Yes	No
Mitral Valve Disease	Yes	No
Patellar Luxation	Yes	Yes
Portosystemic Liver Shunt	No	Yes
Progressive Retinal Atrophy	Yes	Yes
Reverse Sneezing	No	Yes

Appearance Comparison
Breed Name	Pekingese	Yorkshire Terrier
Coat
Fur	Yes	No
Hair	No	Yes
Coat Type
Double Coat	Yes	No
Single Coat	No	Yes
Coat Texture
Wavy	Yes	No
Straight	Yes	No
Silky	No	Yes
Coat Length(s)
Long	Yes	Yes
Coat Color(s)
Biscuit	Yes	No
Black	Yes	No
Black & Tan	Yes	Yes
Cream	Yes	No
Fawn	Yes	No
Fawn Brindle	Yes	No
Fawn Sable	Yes	No
Gray	Yes	No
Gray Sable	Yes	No
Light Red	Yes	No
Red Brindle	Yes	No
Red Sable	Yes	No
White	Yes	No
Black & Gold	No	Yes
Blue & Gold	No	Yes
Blue & Tan	No	Yes