After years of working closely with owners and their dogs, I can tell you the Pekingese is one of the most rewarding breeds to groom and one of the easiest to neglect by accident. That glorious lion-like coat looks effortless, but underneath it sits a dense undercoat that mats fast and deep facial folds that need regular attention.
The good news is that a manageable routine keeps a Pekingese comfortable and looking its best without turning grooming into a chore. In this guide I will walk you through the coat, the face, the nails, the ears, and bathing, in the order I recommend tackling them.
What You Will Need
Having the right tools within reach makes grooming faster and far less stressful for both of you. You do not need a salon’s worth of equipment, just a few quality basics.
- A pin brush and a slicker brush for the long double coat.
- A metal comb to check for tangles brushes can miss.
- Dog nail clippers or a nail grinder, plus styptic powder for accidents.
- Soft cloths or dog-safe wipes for the facial folds.
- A gentle dog shampoo and a non-slip mat for the tub or sink.
- A dog-safe ear cleaner and cotton pads (never cotton swabs in the canal).
Keep everything in one caddy so a quick brush or fold wipe is easy to do on a busy day. The more accessible your tools are, the more consistent you will be.
Step by Step: How to Groom a Pekingese
Work through these steps in order. Brushing before bathing is important, and handling the face, nails, and ears as part of the same session helps your dog accept the whole routine over time.
Brush the coat thoroughly
Work in sections down to the skin, using the pin brush then the slicker. Pay special attention to mat-prone areas: behind the ears, the chest, the legs, and around the rear.
Clean the face folds
Gently wipe the wrinkles around the nose and eyes with a damp cloth, then dry them completely. Trapped moisture is the main cause of fold odor and infection.
Trim the nails
Clip just the tips, avoiding the quick, and round any sharp edges. If your dog walks on hard surfaces, you may also hear when nails get too long.
Check and clean the ears
Look for redness, odor, or discharge. Wipe the visible ear with cleaner on a cotton pad, and never push anything into the canal.
Bathe and dry fully
About every three to four weeks, bathe with a gentle dog shampoo, rinse completely, and dry the dense coat all the way down, since trapped dampness causes skin problems.
Short, frequent sessions beat occasional marathons. A few minutes most days keeps the coat mat-free and lets you do a proper bath and nail trim without a struggle.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Most grooming problems I see come down to a few avoidable habits. Watch for these so small issues do not turn into uncomfortable ones.
Brushing only the top coat while mats form against the skin, bathing without brushing first (which tightens tangles), leaving the face folds damp, and cutting nails too short into the quick are the four most common errors. Also avoid using cotton swabs inside the ear canal, since they can push debris deeper or cause injury.
If you ever find a tight mat you cannot work out gently, do not yank at it. Cut it out carefully with blunt-tipped scissors or have a groomer or your vet handle it, since pulling mats is painful and can tear the skin.
Tips for Success
A little strategy goes a long way toward making grooming something your Pekingese tolerates and even enjoys. These are the habits that make the biggest difference.
Start grooming routines early and keep sessions short and positive with plenty of praise and a few treats. Groom in the same spot each time so it becomes predictable, brush a little most days rather than all at once, and reward calm behavior. A dog that associates the brush with good things is far easier to maintain for life.
Patience pays off. The Pekingese can be a touch dignified about being handled, so building trust with gentle, consistent sessions makes every future groom easier.
When to Get Professional Help
Home grooming covers most of what a Pekingese needs, but there are times when a professional groomer or your veterinarian is the right call. There is no shame in handing off the tricky parts.
Seek help if your dog has severe, tight matting that cannot be brushed out, if the face folds become red, smelly, or sore despite cleaning, if the ears show signs of infection such as odor or head shaking, or if you are nervous about trimming nails and risk cutting the quick. A groomer can also handle a full coat tidy and a thorough bath, while your vet should address any skin, ear, or eye issue that looks irritated. When grooming reveals a medical concern, treat it as a health matter rather than a cosmetic one.
Safety note: Never use scissors near matted skin without seeing clearly where the skin is, since the loose, folded skin of a Pekingese is easy to nick by accident.