The Tibetan terrier - in general
A Tibetan Terrier is addictive! Many, who just wanted a single dog, ends up with two or even more within a few years and all of a sudden see themselves hooked on the breed for life. A Tibetan Terrier breed is simply so charming from appearance and from character. They crawl under your skin - right into your heart.
It is a fresh, happy, funny and curious small to medium-sized intelligent dog with a lot of built-in humor. Always a twinkle in the dark brown eyes and full of quirks. Always happy to participate in family chores - a real all-round dog.
A Tibetan Terrier is NOT a terrier at all. Actually, they should have been
named Dkoki apso, meaning a bearded working dog.
Originally it was a small herding, alert and companion dog, living with the nomads and in the monasteries in Tibet.
Despite the breed appreciate being close to its family it is not a lapdog. You might also say a Tibetan Terrier it is a large dog in a small dog's body, but with a softer mind than most large adult breeds.
The breed is lively without being stressful and generally adapts very well to its family. If you are active, your Tibetan Terrier is active, if you take a quiet day on the sofa it lays next to you. Give them a short walk, and they will happily relax next to you. And if you feel sick, be sure your Tibetan Terrier will be close to you.
A Tibetan Terrier is devoted to its family. It does not mean it can't be left alone. But if you have a full-time job, more small children who demand theirs, and you maybe even are busy with other non-dog-friendly activities outside the house, you should wait to purchase a Tibetan Terrier until your life becomes more calm.
A Tibetan Terrier does not appreciate living in a house, where everybody comes and goes several times a day. When you come home, they expect you to be at home, not to leave again within short. Or they expect to join if you leave again.
Like all breeds, a Tibetan Terrier loves daily walks, free runs and to nose at the world. But it is neither a dog with a need for a lot of exercise, neither a dog which is not capable of joining you for a long walk. And it does not become stressed if you for a reason do not find time for a long walk. Then a short will do that day.
Tibetan
terriers in general hate rain. If a rainy day, just give the dog a
short walk to do its needs, return home and eventually
activate otherwise.
Playing in the snow and cold freezing day is more
their favorite weather. The Tibetan heritage does not deny itself.
A Tibetan Terrier is not a breed suitable to be relegated in a fenced kennel and only taken out when you have time to do so. If being left alone this way, they will feel sorry or bark to get attention.
The size is perfect! With a height at the withers of normally between 38 and 41 cm, the breed is so large it does not tip when you pat it, but not larger than it is easy to travel with and certainly not larger than it finds space in the best chair or sofa or at the foot of the bed. Such places are highly appreciated!
It is in no way a difficult breed, but it is "its own" in a good way and has an opinion about what it likes and doesn't like. They easily form habits meaning if you always feed at 8 am and 6 pm or always go for a walk at 4 pm, you can be sure they will remind you, what time it is, so change the times if you don't want to become their slave.
In general a tibetan terrier has to be able to see a purpose in what you're asking it to do, otherwise you'll get the typical sideways glance, or it shrugs.
You will quickly discover that a Tibetan Terrier is "trying to figure it out", to find a way how to get what it wants. So the expression "the wise deceive the less wise" is quite true in handling and raising a Tibetan Terrier. Swearing at them, forget it! It will not get angry, but it gets hurt and sad. Take it with the good, find the humor and see the fun in the situation, and you will be rewarded.
It is often said a Tibetan Terrier is 1/3 dog, 1/3 cat and 1/3 human. That is true.
It is definately also true it is a very proud dog and a dog that enjoys cuddling with you.
As a breeder, you often get the question if the breed is good with children. My answer is usually: It is perfect with children, if the children are good with dogs and if you as the adult teach your child how to interact and "read' the dog."
The breed is very tolerant of other dogs and animals if it is presented to them in a good way. I recommend going to at least one puppy class and in general let your puppy become presented to friendly dogs and eventually play with other friendly dogs of its own size. This introduction should take place at least until the dog is 12 months. Doing this you will get a dog familiar with other dogs.
The Tibetan Terrier was originally a dog which attached himself to his people, but which, given the harsh environment, also had to be able to think and act on his own. 100 years of breeding hasn't changed much on this.
It is
definitely not an aggressive breed and it is not barking a lot. It might be reserved to strangers, but never
afraid nor aggressive. But it tells you, when somebody is at the door.
In order for it not to become too much of a loner and too reserved towards people other than the family, it is important that it gets out and greets other people. And it has to experience different environments, i.e. taken to the city and into nature.
Giving a Tibetan Terrier the chance to interact in different environments gives you a very self-confident dog. But of course everything in moderation and at the dog's pace.
Sometimes you can read a tibetan terrier is not intelligent and that it is difficult to train. It is NOT correct.
The breed is incredibly intelligent and is good at practically any form of sport.
A tibetan terrier, however, thinks for itself, and it must see a purpose in the exercise.
A tibetan terrier learns quickly, but like the smart kid at school, it also gets bored quickly, so it's an excellent idea to alternate the exercises.
Throw a fetch - the first time the tibetan takes it, the second time probably too, the third time it refuses and look at you as to tell you to pick up that fetch yourself if you are silly enough to lose it over and over.
If you're not good enough to stimulate your Tibetan Terrier, it's excellent at getting bright ideas on its own. Often trying to figure out how it could make its owner happy, but maybe not always in the way you wanted the job done.
Last but not least, a Tibetan Terrier is sensitive and does not like harsh commands or being corrected from time to time. It does not get angry; it just shuts down! But if you train and motivate with a bright voice, positivity, treats and lots of praise, THEN it will like it.
The challenge for many new owners is the coat care. And yes, it is a lot of work to keep a Tibetan Terrier in full and lovely coat, especially on young dogs between 7 and 18 months. In any case, you have to count on devoting a few hours a week to coat care, but find a breeder who is willing to teach you how to do and see the time you spend on coat care as a relaxing time, maybe even as a bit of meditation.
The breed doesn't shed like short-haired dogs, so you won't have hair all over the house. On the other hand, the long coats get more dirt in.
You can of course decide to cut the dog, but it's pretty expensive, so if you can't do it yourself and in advance know you won't be able to cope with the long coat, it might be an idea to look for a breed with less coat. Letting the dog's coat get completely tangled is in any case a 'no go'.
The Tibetan terrier is incredibly agile already as a puppy and durable as an adult. It is strong and well-built without any exaggerations. Fortunately, breeders have not changed the breed much since it came to Europe from Tibet in the late 1920s.
It is generally healthy and vet visits are rare. Like all purebred dogs and for that matter today's popular mixed ´'breeds', it is prone to certain hereditary diseases. But in contrast to many other breeds and in particular to those breeding mixes the breeders of tibetan terriers have for decades decided breeding should take place under quite restrictive rules giving the result, that hereditary diseases are rarely seen.
A Tibetan Terrier lives long time, often until they are 15–16 years old.