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Breed Characteristics
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Tibetan Terrier
| Other Names | Tsang Apso, Dokhi Apso |
| Country of Origin | Tibet |
| Weight | 18 - 30 lbs. (8.2 - 13.6 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | 14 - 17 in. (36 - 43 cm) Height at the withers of over 17 in. or under 14 in. is considered a fault. |
| Coat | The hair of Tibetans has a long growth cycle. As a result, their coat grows quite long and pet animals will require occasional trimming. They do not shed like dogs with shorter hair growth cycles, but rather slough hair at a rate similar to that of most humans. The exception is at approximately nine months when puppies slough their entire coat in advance of acquiring their adult coat. The double coat is profuse, with a warm undercoat and a topcoat which has the texture of human hair. It should not be silky or curled, but wavy is acceptable. Long and thick, it is shown natural, but should not be so long as to touch the floor, as is typical in breeds such as the Lhasa Apso or Maltese. A fall of hair covers the face and eyes, but long eyelashes generally prevent hair from getting in the Tibetan Terrier's eyes, and the breed has very good eyesight. The coat of the Tibetan Terrier requires regular and careful grooming to keep tangles from forming. This coat has been verified by canine experts to help the Tibetan Terrier withstand temperatures as low as -50 °C for prolonged periods of time. |
| Colour | All colours are permissible, barring liver and chocolate, and none are preferred. Gold is the rarest. Tibetan Terriers are available in any combination of solid, parti-colour, tricolour, brindle or piebald, as long as the nose leather is black and the eyes and eye rims are dark. |
| Litter Size | 5 - 8 puppies. |
| Life Span | 12 - 16 years |
| Origin & History | Because of the geographically isolated location of Tibet, Tibetan Terriers were kept purebred for over 2000 years. Monks and families referred to the ancient breed as "the little people", for they were highly valued as companions who were eager to assist in protecting properties and flocks. Since the dog was considered a bringer of luck, mistreating or selling a Tibetan Terrier was believed to cause bad luck to both family and village. The first Tibetan Terrier to come to Europe came with Dr. A.R.H. Greig of England in 1922. She was given a gold and white female puppy "Bunti" for successfully performing an operation on a patient. After acquiring a second male "Rajah", Dr. Greig established a kennel and began to breed them. The first litter was born in 1924, registered as Lhasa Terriers. In 1930, the Kennel Club of India changed the breed's name to Tibetan Terrier. The first Tibetan Terriers in the USA were imported in 1956 by Dr. Henry and Mrs. Alice Murphy of Great Falls, Virginia. In 1973, the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club and was classified into the non-sporting group. Tibetan Terriers are related to and have contributed to the development of other Tibetan breeds, including the Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Tibetan Spaniel, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, among others. |
| Personality | A brave, intelligent, dedicated, medium-sized dog. Sweet, loving and gentle, the Tibetan Terrier is lively, mild and fun, with great agility as well as endurance. Be sure you are this dog's pack leader. Dogs that are allowed to run the show, believing they are alpha to humans will become willful and may begin to bark more than you wish them to, as they try and control things, telling you what THEY want YOU to do. This breed's bark is deep like a rising siren. While they do make a good watchdog, Tibetans that bark a lot need to be told enough is enough. After it first alerts you, tell your dog to quiet down. You can handle things from here. If the dog believes he is your leader, rather than the other way around, he will get upset when you leave him. Instinctually, pack leaders are allowed to leave the followers, however followers are not allowed to leave the pack leader. Will do well with children so long as the entire family is pack leader. As soon as the dog begins to question the order, he may not be trustworthy with young kids and may become reserved with strangers as he tries to assess this role among humans. He may also try to dominate other dogs. Tibetans that have firm, confident, consistent pack leaders and that get enough mental and physical exercise will be wonderful, trustworthy family companions. In the United States, Tibetan Terriers' bloodlines vary in terms of height and coat. Check with the breeder about any particular litter's genealogy. |
Care Requirements
| Health | Though an athletic breed that has been bred for a natural look, the Tibetan Terrier is still susceptible to a variety of health problems, especially those related to the eyes and joints. These problems can include canine hip dysplasia, luxating patella, progressive retinal atrophy, lens luxation, cataracts and heart murmurs. Tibetans also have a history of being somewhat allergic to dairy, wheat and grains. Because of these potential health conditions Tibetan Terrier clubs recommend purchasing from breeders who participate in eye and hip testing, such as the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) and Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). In addition, Tibetan Terriers can carry the genetic disease canine neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, called Batten disease in humans. The first symptom of the disease is night blindness. Blindness and neurological signs such as epilepsy, motor abnormalities, dementia and unexpected aggression will follow some years later. The gene responsible for the disease in Tibetan Terriers was identified in 2009 and there is now a DNA test for it. A German study showed that about 1/3 of Tibetan Terriers are carriers, but no affected dogs has been produced since the introduction of the DNA test as the German breed club requirements forbid carriers from being bred together. |
| Grooming | The Tibetan Terrier requires an extensive amount of grooming and should be brushed every 2-3 days to remove loose hair and prevent tangles. Never brush a dry coat; mist it with conditioner and water to ease brushing. Pay extra attention beneath the leg joints, the beard and the hindquarters. The dog should be given regular baths—once every week or two. Remove excess hair from the ear passages. Clip any build-up of hair between pads of the feet. If the dog is not going to be shown, it can be clipped short, especially in the summer. Although they are considered non-shedding they do shed somewhat on a yearly basis but not daily. The Tibetan Terrier is good for allergy sufferers when its coat is kept very well groomed. |
| Exercise | The Tibetan Terrier has lots of energy and the dog should have regular opportunities to run. In addition, it needs to be taken on long daily walks. |
| Other Considerations | The Tibetan Terrier will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. It is relatively inactive indoors and a small yard will be sufficient. |
