Max intensity from little dog you can hear (4)

I believe the answer is:

peak

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'max' is the definition.
(maximum)

'dog you can hear' is the wordplay.
'dog' becomes 'peke' (short for Pekingese).
'you can hear' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'peke' is a homophone of 'PEAK'.

'intensity from little' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for peak that I've seen before include "Mountain top" , "Tip" , "Sharp pointed summit" , "Acme" , "Pointed mountain" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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