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In 1860 European troops captured Peking from which the Court had fled, sacked the nearby Summer Palace. French and British officers burst into one of its rooms, found a self-slain Princess surrounded by five of her faithful little Lion Dogs. These were sent back to England, where one, "Lootie," became the pet of Queen Victoria. An occasional animal smuggled from the Peking Palace kept the English stock from degeneration through inbreeding. The year 1912 in China saw the end of divine sovereignty for Emperors and dogs. Thereafter fresh specimens of the dog were imported more freely to add to the growing stock in England and the U. S.
Still largely a pet of the rich, the Pekingese is regarded by most nonowners as a snobbish, fragile toy. But its fanciers claim for it intelligence, warmheartedness, loyalty and all the courage of that far-off, amorous lion.