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Breed Characteristics
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Tibetan Spaniel
| Other Names | Simkhyi |
| Nicknames | Tibbie |
| Country of Origin | Tibet |
| Weight | 9 - 15 lbs. (4.1 - 6.8 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | 10 in. (51cm) |
| Coat | The Tibetan Spaniel has a double coat that is silky in texture, smooth on face and front of legs, and of moderate length on the body. Bitches tend to carry less coat and mane than males. |
| Colour | The Tibetan Spaniel comes in all colours and mixes of colour, although the most common colour is golden. |
| Litter Size | 1 - 3 puppies |
| Life Span | 12 – 15 years. Although many have been known to live much longer. |
| Origin & History | Tibet; Small monastery dogs, thought to be early representatives of the Tibetan Spaniel, loyally trailed behind their Lama masters and came to be regarded as "little Lions" owing to their resemblance to the Chinese guardian lions that gave them great value and prestige. The practice of sending the dogs as gifts to the palaces of China and other Buddhist countries grew significantly, and more "lion dogs" were presented back to Tibet, continuing until as late as 1908. As a result of exchanges of Tibetan Spaniels between palaces and monasteries, the breed is likely to have common ancestors with Oriental breeds such as the Japanese Chin and the Pekingese. Not only was the Tibetan Spaniel prized as a pet and companion, it was a useful member of Tibetan monastic life. The little dogs would sit on the monastery walls, keeping watch over the countryside. Their keen eyesight and ability to see great distances made them excellent watchdogs. They would alarm bark to alert the monks and the Tibetan Mastiffs below. In addition to functioning as lookouts, the Tibetan Spaniels were trained to spin the monk's prayer wheels. They also slept with the monks at night to provide warmth. Village-bred Tibetan Spaniels varied greatly in size and type, and the smaller puppies were usually given as gifts to the monasteries. In turn, these smaller dogs used in the monastery breeding programs were probably combined with the more elegant Tibetan Spaniel-type dogs brought from China. Those bred closer to the Chinese borders were characterized by shorter muzzles. Western World; Tibetan Spaniels were being bred in the United Kingdom by the 1890s. The first authenticated reference we find to Tibetan Spaniels in the United States is a litter born out of two imported dogs from a Tibetan monastery in 1965. In January 1971, the Tibetan Spaniel Club of America was formed with 14 charter members. An open secondary registry was maintained. After a period in the Miscellaneous classes, the Tibetan Spaniel was accepted for AKC registration and became eligible to compete as a Non-Sporting breed, effective January 1, 1984. The breed was recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1987 and placed in Group 9 Companion and Toy Dogs, Section 5 : Tibetan breeds. Genetic History; Professor Ludvic von Schulmuth studied the origins of skeletal remains of dogs in human settlements as old as ten thousand years. The Professor created a genealogical tree of Tibetan dogs. It shows that the Gobi Desert Kitchen Midden Dog, a small scavenger, evolved into the Small Soft-Coated Drop-Eared Hunting Dog which then evolved into the Tibetan Spaniel, Pekingese, and Japanese Chin. Intermixing of the Tibetan Spaniel with the Tibetan breeds Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu resulted in both the latter breeds birthing the occasional "Prapso", a pup with a shedding coat closely resembling the Tibetan Spaniel. |
| Personality | The Tibetan Spaniel is cheerful, happy, charming, very clever and trusting. This breed is a fine family companion, very independent and a good watchdog. It is not yappy, yet will bark at intruders and odd noises. It can move fairly quickly. This breed gets along with dogs and other animals. Tibetan Spaniels can be slightly difficult to train. If you allow this dog to be pack leader over humans, he can become overprotective, may not be trustworthy with children and reserved with strangers. He may become stubborn and sometimes dog aggressive. These are not Tibetan Spaniel traits, but what is known as Small Dog Syndrome, human induced behaviors, where the dog believes it is the boss of the home. As soon as the humans take the control away from the dog, the behaviors will subside. |
Care Requirements
| Health | In general, the Tibetan Spaniel is a very healthy breed and does not contract illness or disease as some breeds tend to do. When properly cared for the breed will remain healthy for years. Of the more common afflictions that all breeds are susceptible to the Tibetan Spaniel may contract: Progressive Retinal Atrophy Juvenile Kidney Disease Patellar luxation Hip dysplasia It is recommended that you have eyes checked regularly. |
| Grooming | Comb and brush the coat regularly. While this breed is an average shedder all year round, the coat comes out in clumps once a year. |
| Exercise | The Tibetan Spaniel requires moderate exercise, which includes a daily, nice long walk. It will also enjoy a romp in the yard. |
| Other Considerations | The Tibetan Spaniel is good for apartment life. It is relatively inactive indoors and will do okay without a yard. |
