Tibetan spaniels are small , affectionate , and well-informed wienerwurst who love spending time with their human families . Learn more about live with the Tibetan spaniel .
Tibetan spaniels have long been a favorite pet of the monastic , lamas , and other spiritual leader who hold up in the predominate Himalayan Mountains of Tibet — and now , they ’re starting to gain more traction as mob pets in the United States , too . These cuddly , spunky niggling dogs with signature draw in tailsare still relatively rarified , but make no misunderstanding : The strain is winning over more and more pet parent with its easy - going personality , upbeat disposition , and truehearted , unwavering companionship .
" The Tibetan spaniel is an uncommon stock of thoroughbred dog with a lot to proffer , " says Linda Simon , MVB , MRCVS , consulting veterinarian atFiveBarks . " While they hail from the same part of the earthly concern as theshih tzuandLhasa apso , thesesmall dogsare not as pop as their near congenator . "
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Appearance
Tibetan spaniel are , in a word , cute . These petite dogs weigh between nine and 15 pound and typically stand 10 inches grandiloquent . Their silky , medium - length coat come in a chain of color and shades , admit dim , black and tan , cream , gold , flushed , sable , blanched , and silver sable . Some Tibetan spaniels also have white or parti - color markings . Though tan is one of the most popular coat colors for this breed , it ’s not rare to see gorgeous black Tibetan spaniels andwhite Tibetan spanielsstrutting their material , too .
One of the breed ’s most classifiable feature is the plume fundament , which curves down toward the dog ’s back in a whimsical curlicue . Their triangular ears are average in sizing and tend to steer downwardly , border their faces with wispy , fledge hair .
Tibetan spaniels have light noses , though they ’re not quite as compressed asother brachycranial breedslikepugsorbulldogs , and they have expressive dark brown , oval - shaped eyes .
Dogs / Adobe Stock
Temperament
There ’s a cause Tibetan monks and lamas have long kept Tibetan spaniel as pets . These dear " Tibbies " are extremely lovesome , playful , adaptable , and happy dog , which make water them a great fit for growing kinsfolk , retirees , exclusive professionals , andfirst - time dog owners .
earlier educate to help guard monastery in ancient Tibet , these pup have crisp senses and are always determine and listening , ready to alarm their humans to someone walking by on the pavement or approach the front door .
" They are fast and sociable , traits that make them anexcellent family pet , " Simon says .
T.Den_Team / Adobe Stock
Living Needs
Tibetan spaniel dogs can thrive just about anywhere , fromhigh - upgrade apartmentsin the urban center center to sprawling acreages out in the ' burbs . They ’re idealistic for remote workers , stay - at - domicile parent , or people with flexible schedules , as Tibetan spaniels really prefer to be around their people whenever potential .
" They can exist in apartments and house but do best with someone who is home quite a bit , " saysNicole Ellis , CPDT - KA , pet lifestyle expert with Rover . " This is a strain that does n’t enjoy being alone or spending a lot of time alone . "
This felicitous - go - favourable , affectionate breedgets along well with kids . But because of their little height , Tibetan spaniels may be a well fit for household with older nestling or super - vigilant parents who can supervise interactions between little ones and dogs , Ellis tell .
" Due to their small-scale size of it — under 15 pounds — they may need to be measured with young tyke so that they do n’t get tread on , " she says .
Eager to please andvery level-headed , Tibetan spaniels are a with child choice for first - time favored parent , but they alsothrive with more experient owner . They profit fromdaily walksand playtimein a fence - in backyard , but theirexercise needsaren’t quite as demanding as other , higher - vim weenie . They ’re always happy to accompany their human parent on trot , and some Tibetan spaniel may enjoy enter inevents like agility , rally , or aroma piece of work .
It ’s important tosocialize Tibetan spaniel puppiesfrom a young age as their watchful and patriotic tendencies can make them a spot standoff - ish with strangers at first . They also benefit frompuppy preparation classesand will quicklylearn new cuesand conduct with plenty of praise , treats , pets , and otherpositive reinforcement technique .
" They are a saucy breed and are broadly speaking easy to train , especially if training is started at a young age , " Ellis says . " They require to please their category and generally take young things quickly . "
Care
One of the earmark of a Tibetan spaniel is his shiny , silky coat . as luck would have it , these luscious lock are n’t too hard for proprietor to maintain .
Tibetan spaniels incline to be relatively low - maintenance ; they do not need even haircut or grooming appointment , but owner should periodically trim the hair on the bottom of their manus andregularly brush their coatto forestall matting . It ’s a in force idea to pay exceptional tending to disentangle the hair’s-breadth behind his ears and around his neck , as these areas are more likely to become matted and sweep up .
Regular bathscan help keep Tibetan spaniels front and smelling their good . They also needregular nail trims , whetherwith a clipper ship or a grinder . It ’s ideal to startle snip a Tibetan spaniel ’s nails — or at least getting them used to having their paws and toe touched — when they are puppies so the outgrowth feels wholly normal ( and perchance even soothing ! ) when they become adult .
Be sure tobrush his teeth regularlyto prevent plaque buildup and other dental problems from uprise . Also , periodicallyclean your Tibetan spaniel ’s earsto keep them gratis from redundant dirt and debris .
Tibetan spaniels doshed a moderate amountall year long , so arm yourself with alint rollerand avacuum . But they ’re not very probable to drool all over your pillow , which makes these heel comparatively white and easy to have around the family .
Health
Owners can count on their beloved Tibetan spaniels to stick with them through deep and thin — and for many age to fall . Like other small breeds , Tibetan spaniels typicallylead long , happy lives , with life-time rate from 12–15 geezerhood .
These spunky pups may suffer from certain genetic conditions , however , which is why reputable Tibetan spaniel breeders always block out foreye conditions(like progressive retinal atrophy , a behind - moving disease that can eventuallylead to blindness ) andpatellar luxation , a stipulation that causes the weenie ’s kneecaps to shift out of place .
Because of their diminutive human body , Tibetan spanielscan become overweightfairly easy . To keep your whelp at a sustainable , goodish weight so he can experience his best life , seek out ahigh - quality cad foodwith the correct nutrient and ingredient for each life-time stage ( puppy , adult , or senior ) .
A veterinarian can also offer insights intohow much foodis appropriate for a Tibetan spaniel , based on the private frankfurter ’s soma , exercise and activity level , and other factors . retrieve that even small treats can add up over prison term , so be certain to account for those surplus calorie when consider the practiced diet for your dog .
History
Tibetan spaniel date back more than 2,000 years to the Himalayas of Tibet , where Buddhistic monks developed and protect this native breed , accord to theTibetan Spaniel Club of America(TSCA ) . Tibetan spaniels hung around with the much - largerTibetan mastiffs , serving out a joint mission to protect the monastery and alarm the monks when anything suspicious border on . With their sharp sense , the smaller Tibetan spaniels kept their eyes and ears open , then bark to alert their human and Tibetan mastiff companions .
After a foresightful day ’s workplace guarding the monastery , Tibetan spaniel snuggled down with the monks in their beds , helping to keep them tender on the cold Himalayan nights .
The monks never sell their beloved " Tibbies , " according to the TSCA , but instead gave them as natural endowment to dear friends . finally , the Tibetan spaniel made his way to England in 1898 , but the first and 2d World Wars slowed their popularity . After World War II , though , breeding rebound and the dogs made their path to the U.S. in 1966 .
