Tibetan Terrier

The Tibetan Terrier is a medium-sized, shaggy dog from Tibet. It is not a terrier: European travelers gave it the name because it reminded them of terriers they knew. Its Tibetan name, Tsang Apso, means roughly the shaggy or bearded dog from the province of Tsang. Some old accounts call it the Dokhi Apso, or outdoor Apso, a shaggy working dog that lives outside.

History

Tibetan Terriers are said to have been bred and raised in the monasteries of Tibet for 2,000 years. They were kept as good luck charms, mascots, watchdogs, herding dogs and companions, and were also used to fetch things that had fallen down the mountainside.

Dr. Agnes Greig of England brought the first one to Europe in 1922. She had been given a gold and white female puppy, Bunti, after operating successfully on a patient in Tibet. She later acquired a male, Rajah, and set up a kennel. The first litter was born in 1924 and registered as Lhasa Terriers, and in 1930 the Kennel Club of India renamed the breed Tibetan Terrier. The first dogs reached the United States in 1956, and the American Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1973.

Appearance

The Tibetan Terrier is a powerful, compact dog of square outline, its back as long as it is tall at the withers. It stands 35 to 41 cm (14 to 16 in) and weighs 8 to 14 kg (18 to 30 lb), with 9.5 to 11 kg (20 to 24 lb) preferred. The eyes are large, dark and set well apart, the V-shaped ears hang and are well feathered, and the feathered tail curls over the back. The feet are broad and flat with hair between the toes, and work like snowshoes.

The double coat is profuse, with a warm undercoat and a topcoat that feels like human hair. It may be straight or wavy but not silky or curled, and it should not reach the floor. Every color is allowed except liver and chocolate.

Temperament

Tibetan Terriers are amiable, affectionate family dogs, sensitive to their owners and gentle with older children when properly introduced. True to their watchdog past, they are reserved with strangers but should be neither aggressive nor shy. They have a deep bark and can bark too much. They are lively, intelligent and agile, steadfast and clever to the point of stubbornness, and some guard their belongings, which can make sharing a home with another pet difficult. They can live in an apartment but need regular exercise.

Care and health

The hair has a long growth cycle, so the coat grows long and a pet dog needs trimming now and then.

A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 13.8 years. The breed can carry canine neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, which starts with night blindness and may lead years later to blindness, epilepsy, dementia and other neurological signs; the gene was identified in 2009 and a DNA test exists. It is also among the breeds more often affected by primary lens luxation.

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