Tibetan Terriers

The Tibetan Terrier is a rare, mid-sized (20-25 lbs.) shaggy dog which comes in a wide variety of colors including black, white, silver, cream, golden and sable in solid, parti-color, and tri-color combinations. He is small enough to live comfortably in an apartment and share your bed or chair, yet large enough to enjoy a long hike or romp with kids. Owners often describe them as a large dog in a small dog's body. The Tibetan Terrier is not a member of the terrier group, the name being given to it by European travelers to Tibet who were reminded of terriers from back home when they first encountered the breed. Its origins are uncertain: Some sources claim them to be lucky temple dogs, whereas others place them as farm dogs.

In their native Tibet, where they have always lived close to people, they are called Little People. Their English-speaking friends usually call them Tibetans or TT's. The Tibetan's most obvious feature is the long, slightly wavy coat which covers him from his nose to the tip of the tail he carries up over his back and even between the pads of his large, flat snowshoe-like feet. The heavy coat protected him from the harsh winters of his homeland where temperatures remain far below zero for weeks on end; long heavy eyelashes hold the hair out of his eyes yet lets it protect them from the snow-blindness in the winter and blowing sand in the summer. The coat has no odor and shedding is minimal. Under all that hair, his body is quite solid and should look square. Like people, Tibetans come in a variety of personalities. Although often aloof with people he does not know, TT's normally have a great zest for life and like to participate fully in family activities. In general, they are intensely family oriented and often will form an extremely close bond with one special person in the family. Most are intensely curious and many will easily jump more than twice their height or climb, using their paws like hands, to investigate something they find interesting.

General Description

The Tibetan Terrier is a cheerful, curly haired dog. Their dark-colored eyes are hard to see because of the long hair covering most of their face. Even their short muzzle is hidden by a beard which is usually a gray color on black Tibetan Terriers. The breed's ears are also completely covered by its long soft hair. They have broad bodies and legs, but most of the width comes from the abundance of hair covering them. Their tails should sit on their back and their hair flies off both sides. The hair on their face and tail is long and straight. However, the bulk of the hair covering the body and legs is medium in length and curly.

Character

The Tibetan Terrier is loving and gentle. They love to be around their owners all the time and dislike being at home alone. They are often wary with strangers and can be very stubborn but are loyal to their family. Tibetan Terriers prefer older children and do not get along with dominate dogs. The breed will bark a lot and often to guard his property and family. Overall, however, they are perky and intelligent.

Size

14-17 inches

Weight

18-30 pounds

General Health

Some of the major concerns for the Tibetan Terrier are ceroid lipofuscinosis, lens luxation, and PRA (progressive retinal atrophy). Additionally seen in this breed are CHA (canine hip dysplasia), cataracts, and patellar luxation. The Tibetan Terrier can live to 12 to 15 years of age.

History

The Tibetan Terrier has a long history in Tibet. They were first bred by the country's monks and were given away as good luck gifts. The breed actually was used to develop other well-known breeds from the area, including the Tibetan Spaniel and Lhasa Apso. After the Dalai Lama gave a Tibetan Terrier to Dr. A. R. H. Grieg, the breed was brough to England and was bred. Eventually, the dog was brought to the United States where it has become a popular companion.

Maintenance

The Tibetan Terrier requires heavy grooming. They need to be brushed every two days because they are prone to tangles. When they are brushed, their coat needs to be moist. They should also be bathed once a week, plus the hair in their ears and on their paws should be trimmed regularly. The dogs can also be trimmed so they have less hair in summer. This also makes them easier to groom. If groomed properly, they shed no hair. Even though the Tibetan Terrier is not a large dog, it has quite a bit of energy and should be walked regularly. It also needs chances to run.

Ideal Environment

The Tibetan Terrier is a fun loving family dog that can deal with almost any environment. They can live in a house or in an apartment as long as they get enough exercise. The breed is good with older children but is often dominant around other dogs. They can live with other animals and are a good companion for older people. While they need lots of attention from people, they are not usually good with strangers. Tibetan Terriers should have an owner who can be at home often with them, because they dislike being at home alone.
They need open space to excercise and play. So don't lock it up on a confined area for too long.