Tibetan terriers , bred as fellow traveller dogs in ancient monasteries , were once a symbol of full luck . Today , these loving and affectionate pup make for swell family pets .
Chalk it up to a case of misguided identity operator : Tibetan terriers are notactuallyterriers . But being the amicable dogs that they are , they ’re plausibly too shy to raise a stink about it . These ancient watch hound and companions affiliate with Buddhist monasteries were erroneously chunk into the terrier breed group because they ’re similar in size of it . Between 18–30 Syrian pound , Tibetan terrier , like actual terrier , are on the smaller end of the"medium - size " dogcategory .
As for the Tibet origins referenced in their name ? That part is absolutely rightful ! " Tibetan terriers trace their roots back over 2,000 years to Tibet , where they were spawn by monks in monasteries and were often considered beneficial luck , " saysRebecca Greenstein , DVM , Veterinary Medical Advisor for Rover .
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Today , these firm , clever , and affectionate heel make for pop fellow traveller and love spending sentence ( and flock of it ! ) with their humans . The Tibetan terrier , also call TT for unforesightful , wants to be your BFF and is happy to spend time lease his snowshoe - similar paws out on a rise or snuggle up on the couch with you .
Appearance
The first thing you ’ll probably acknowledge about Tibetan terrier are their coats , which are both fashionable and usable .
" I do n’t call up anybody can meet a Tibetan terrier without comment on their beautiful , thick coating , " saysJoanna Woodnutt , BVM , BVS . " The coat of a TT is absolutely adapted to the office they originate from — the cold mountains of Tibet ! "
If you keep them in their long , full coats — like the glamourous 1 worn by the Tibetan terriers trotting around at prestigious dog show — you’ll postulate to commit to weekly trips to the groomers . But most Tibetan terrier owners choose to snip their Canis familiaris ’s pelage inadequate , often giving them a Tibetan terrier puppy cut , which means less upkeep . Coat textures vary by wienerwurst , but because they have wooly priming that act as built - in , weather - proof insulatorsperfect for cold temperature , it ’s good togive them a warm brushon a daily basis , or at least a few fourth dimension a workweek , to forestall matting . Their outer pelage , while fine , can be crinkly or straight bet on the dog , but are never woolly or silky . While the pelage are long , they should n’t be draw on the kitchen level or grass at the dog park .
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The Tibetan terrier ’s pelage come in a all-encompassing variety of colors let in black , white , brown , and often a compounding of colour . atomic number 79 Tibetan terrier and opprobrious Tibetan terriers are evenhandedly vulgar . Their eyes are large , dark brown , and wide - set , but they may be problematical to spot because these dog often look like they ’re several weeks delinquent for a bang clipping .
While no dog is 100 - percenthypoallergenic , Tibetan terriers could be an ideal pet for allergic reaction sufferers because they have a coat that — despite all that pelt — doesn’t shed muchand does n’t produce a whole lot of hackles . Their seasonal shedding is predictable , so you ’ll know when to take those allergic reaction pills in improvement .
Another hallmark trait is their panoptic paw that give them plenty of traction . " They have what are refer to as ' snowshoes ' for feet — relatively big , flattened manus that hearken back to their root in snowy Tibet , " Greenstein say . The inkpad on their ft are thick and strong , and they have hair between the toes and digs to protect their toe beans from the cold .
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Overall , these smaller medium - sized dogs are well - proportion , weighing between 18–30 pounds and measuring between 14–17 inches grandiloquent . " They are fairly square in stance and build up , with the articulatio humeri height roughly adequate to their length , " Greenstein order .
Temperament
Tibetan terrier makeexcellent family dogsbecause they are so sweet - natured , sound out Jen Jones , a professional dog trainer and behavior specialist who runsYour Dog Advisor . They want to spenda lotof time with their family members , and when you leave them home alone too long or too often , cue the separation anxiety .
apt and determined , Tibetan terriers are reasonably easy to civilize , Greenstein order . incontrovertible reinforcement and treats can aid because , oftentimes , they have their own agendas .
Tibetan terriers lean to be cautious and reserved . In fact , the only attribute the American Kennel Club notes as a fault in this strain ’s temperament is " utmost shyness . " With properpositive reinforcement trainingandsocialization from a immature age , these amiable andiron can get along well with other pets and children . But Greenstein says Tibetan terriers lean to make out best with older children because they can occasionally be a little too timid for rummy toddlers .
Image by Dr. Ewan Photography / Getty
Living Needs
Tibetan terriers were bred to be companions , not work dogs . Still , there ’s some evidence that these dog , in their former days , chipped in around the monastery by doing job such as herding mint , retrieving items that tumbled down mountainsides , and serving as watchdogs . So while the stock is n’t technically classified as a sporting breed , they ’re still fairly fighting and acrobatic detent , Greenstein say .
How much you should work out your Tibetan terrier depend on the individual cad . Some will gladlybe a hiking fellow traveller , while others are more prone to homebody status . Breeders should be able-bodied to rival you with a dog that best fits your activity levels . Regardless , Tibetan terrier dogsdoneed regular exercise , such as walks around the mental block . If youlive in an apartmentor do n’t have access to a yard , you ’ll desire to take your him on daily walk of life or trip to the park .
" Some Tibetan terrier surpass in lightsomeness classes , soowners with an fighting lifestylewould be an ideal scene , " Greenstein says .
At plate , they ’ll love a windowpane or door to look out so that they can perform some lookout man obligation for the household . If it ’s an overlook ( think : stairs ) , even sound .
Care
If you make for a Tibetan terrier puppy into your home , it ’s significant to get him accustomed tobrushing and groomingearly on so it ’s not a challenge when he ’s older . ( Plus , grooming is a groovy way to bond with your dearie ! )
Tibetan terrier do take daily at - home dressing to take forethought of their prospicient coats , Woodnutt say . The TLC their coat take means these dogs might not be suitable for household that do n’t have enough time to behave as a doggy stunner salon . If caring for a TT ’s profuse double coat intimidates you , do it this : Many of the pawl kept as pets in the West have their coat cut considerably to make them well-fixed to manage . That brings us to yet another identicalness crisis : " Tibetan terriers in this case might look a lot like aCockapooor similar poodle - crosses , " Woodnutt read . Also , brush your dog ’s pearly whiteson a everyday basis is a good exercise as this can dilute bad breath , reduce plaque body-build - up , and forbid painful tooth infections .
When it comes totraining , Tibetan terriers arehighly sound , but they can also be more or less strong - willed . That just think of they ’ll need a good deal of training with overconfident reinforcement along the way .
" In verity , training a Tibetan is more like training a young child — you often have to help them seewhythey should do something , rather than await them to do it just because you ask , " Woodnutt say .
Health
Great intelligence : Tibetan terriers have long lifespans . These companion dogs can live between 15–16 years and , compared to other breeds , do n’t inherently face too many major health issues . They are , however , prone to some vision problem such asprogressive retinal atrophy(PRA ) , which is slow vision loss that can lead to sightlessness . Distichiasis , or spare cilium , also commonly affects Tibetan terrier . This condition is often harmless , but if special eyelashes sprout up on the eyelid margin or else of eyelid skin , it has voltage to cause irritation and require extra plucking or ocular lubricant .
Caninehip dysplasiaand hypothyroidism are other wellness problems that are uncouth among Tibetan terrier . In addition to their vaccinations and even veterinary appointments , this strain should get regular oculus , pelvic arch , and thyroid gland tests .
History
So , how did these Tibetan dogs associate with the Dalai Lama and Buddhistic monastery make it to the U.S. ? We can line their path here back to Dr. Agnes Greig , a British surgeon , who introduced Tibetan terriers to the westerly world . In the 1920s , she was working in Northern India and do a life - salve operation on a Tibetan fair sex , according to theTibetan Terrier Club of Canada . In turning , the woman gifted Greig with a Tibetan terrier . Greig have a go at it the stock so much she go away on to establish her own facts of life program in England . In the 1950s , two dogs from her curriculum were spell to the U.S. The AKC recognize Tibetan terriers as a breed in 1973 .
