Tibetan Terrier Dog Breed Introduction
Tibetan Terrier is a small-to medium-sized non-sporting dog breed from Tibet. Contrary to its name, these are not Terriers. The name “Tibetan Terrier” is a misnomer. It was given to the breed by European explorers due to their resemblance to known terrier breeds. Tibetan Terriers are also related to and have contributed to the development of other breeds including Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, and Tibetan Spaniel.
A Full grown dog of this breed resembles a miniaturized Bearded Collie. Tibetan Terriers are popular for their distinct snow shoes. These are flat and broad feet with hair between the toes making them ideal for climbing mountains and snowy climates. A Tibetan Terrier makes an excellent watchdog. It possesses a deep bark and is prone to excessive barking. Tibetan Terriers also tend to be reserved around strangers. Although, they should neither be shy nor aggressive with them. A typical Tibetan Terrier is intelligent, active, lively, alert, happy, active, and agile. Some of the Tibetan Terriers may often guard their resources making it hard to live with another pet.
Tibetan Terrier History
A Tibetan Terrier originated in Tibet around 2000 years ago. This is one of the Tibetan dogs associated with the Dalai Lama and Buddhist monasteries. Tibetan Terriers were kept as companions, good luck charms, herding dogs, mascots, and watchdogs. The progenitors of the modern Tibetan terriers were also used for retrieving articles that fell down mountainsides. The first dog of this breed was brought to Europe by Dr. Agnes Greig in 1922.
She was given as a present along with gold following a successful surgery on a patient in Tibet. Shortly after, she acquired a second male Tibetan Terrier, and began a breeding program. The first litter was born in 1924. In the USA, the first Tibetan Terriers were imported in 1956 by Mrs. Alice Murphy and Dr. Henry of Great Falls, Virginia from Dr. Agnes’ kennel. AKC recognized Tibetan Terriers in 1973 classifying the breed as part of the non-sporting group.
Tibetan Terrier Lifespan | Life Span
The Tibetan Terriers are long-lived dogs with a lifespan of 15 to 16 years.
Tibetan Terrier Grooming
A Tibetan Terrier has a double coat that easily grows to the floor length. The longer the coat, the more often you should plan to brush and bath the coat. Tibetan Terriers with full-length haircut have their coats brushed on a daily basis to remove dirt and prevent formation of mats and tangles. However, owners who have no intention of showing their dogs should clip the coat for easy maintenance. Before brushing the coat, spritz it with a water conditioner solution or a detangling spray to avoid hair breakage. Use a slicker brush, metal pin brush, and a pin brush.
The Tibetan Terrier requires a bath every 2 to 4 weeks depending on the coat length and lifestyle of the dog, unless it rolls in something messy. Full-length coat Tibetan Terriers should be bathed every 2 weeks while the dogs that have a clipped coat should have a bath every 4 weeks. Use a canine shampoo and conditioner to bath and moisturize the coat. After a bath, thoroughly rinse off the cleaning products from the coat to prevent skin irritation using lukewarm water. Use a clean damp washcloth or unscented canine wipes to clean the eye corners as deemed necessary.
Trim the nails of t Tibetan Terriers every 3 to 5 weeks to prevent overgrowth, cracking , and splitting. Brush the teeth of Tibetan Terriers at least twice a week if not daily to remove tartar buildup using a dog-formulated toothpaste and toothbrush. Clean the ears once a week using cotton balls and an ear cleanser solution. Always lookout for signs of ear infection such as odor, dark discharge, or redness.
Tibetan Terrier Haircut | Haircut Styles
A Tibetan Terrier that participates in a conformation show should have a full-length coat or a show cut. For this cut, the full-length coat is parted on the middle of the back, draping on each side of the body. The hair on the face is also kept long and draped in the middle to allow the dog to see. The show cut requires daily brushing and a bath every two weeks to keep the coat looking healthy. Although, some owners may opt for other haircut styles such as puppy cut, teddy bear cut, and casual cut. For the casual cut, the hair on the body is clipped to a length of about 4 to 5 inches. It also requires regular brushing to prevent matting.
Tibetan Terrier Puppy Cut | Short Hair
To achieve a puppy cut, the hair on the body is clipped close to the body to about half an inch whereas the fur on the tail and face is left a little bit longer to about an inch. Therefore, the Tibetan Terrier achieves a short hair look.
Tibetan Terrier Teddy Bear Cut
To give your Tibetan Terrier a teddy bear cut, the fur on the face is trimmed in a circular manner to achieve the teddy bear look while the hair on the body is trimmed to about a length of 2 inches or more.
Tibetan Terrier Shedding
The Tibetan Terriers shed at minimal levels throughout the year. This breed has a long hair growth cycle. Therefore, they do not shed much like dogs with short hair growth cycles. Tibetan Terriers slough hair similar to the rate of most humans.
Tibetan Terrier Coat
The Tibetan Terriers have double-layered coats. The top coat is fine and profuse but never wooly or silky. It may be wavy or straight. The undercoat is woolly and soft acting as a natural insulator against extreme weather and moisture.
Tibetan Terrier Hypoallergenic
The Tibetan Terriers are considered hypoallergenic dogs. They shed at minimum levels all-year round and produce less dander. However, canine experts argue there is no truly 100% hypoallergenic dog breed. Therefore, owners should spend lots of time with a particular Tibetan Terrier before adopting to ensure it does not trigger their allergies.
Tibetan Terrier Training
The Tibetan Terriers are intelligent and sensitive to their owners. They are also determined and steadfast which can cause a stubborn streak. Fortunately, Tibetan Terriers are fast learners. The training will be counter productive if harsh methods are used or obsessive repetition. Some of the harsh correction methods include beating, kicking, shoving, yelling, and use of choke or prong collars. Owners and trainers should use positive reinforcements methods such as clicker training, treats, playtime, verbal praise, toys, and petting to encourage positive behaviors.
Pet parents should start early puppy training immediately the pet joins them home normally from the age of 8 weeks. Early training helps the parent to instill the desired canine behaviors before the pet gets inclined towards bad habits. The training sessions should be short, fun, and upbeat for a period of 5 minutes to avoid boredom.
Raise a well-mannered and well-adjusted Tibetan terrier through socialization training. This training usually commences at the age of 3 weeks while the dog is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after the pet has already settled in its new home. To socialize Tibetan Terriers expose them to a wide variety of people, surfaces, animals, places, smell, situations, sight, and sounds such as sirens, doorbells, whistles, lawn mowers, baby crying sounds, vacuum cleaners, and washing machine.
Enrolling Tibetan Terriers in puppy classes also serve as a form of socialization. It enables the dogs to interact in a controlled environment. A puppy class also allows the owner to not only identify and correct bad habits but also have access to training information and assistance. Start teaching basic commands such as come, sit, stay, wait, heel, and drop it immediately the pup comes home. Teach each command at a time to avoid overwhelming the pet. Effectively housebreak Tibetan Terriers by crate training, potty training, and creating a feeding guide.
Tibetan Terrier Temperament | Personality | Traits
- Intelligent.
- Affectionate.
- Loyal.
- Alert.
- Reserved with strangers.
- Amiable.
- Vocal.
- Energetic.
- Lively.
- Agile.
- Playful.
- Determined.
- Active.
- Happy.
- Sensitive.
Tibetan Terrier Exercise
The Tibetan Terriers have varying energy levels. Although, these dogs love to go for walks and spend time outdoors with their people. Their are Tibetan Terriers suitable for hikes while others are just contented with a walk around the block. Breeders should be able to match each dog with a compatible owner.
Tibetan Terrier Barking
The Tibetan Terriers are alert and vocal breeds that bark at any sound. This breed may easily develop a habit of excessive barking. However, owners should teach the quiet command to discourage excessive barking.
Tibetan Terrier Height
Mature Tibetan Terriers have a height of 14 to 17 inches ( approx. 36 to 43 cm ).
Tibetan Terrier Weight | Weight Chart
The Tibetan Terrier may have a weight range of 18 to 30 pounds ( approx. 8 to 14 kg ). However, the preferred weight for either sex is 20 to 24 pounds ( approx. 9.5 to 11 kg ).
Tibetan Terrier Size | Size Comparison
A Tibetan Terrier is a small to medium-sized dog that has a height of 14 to 17 inches ( approx. 36 to 43 cm ) and a weight of 18 to 30 pounds ( approx. 8 to 14 kg ).
Tibetan Terrier Aggression
Although Tibetan Terriers are wary or cautious with strangers, they are neither aggressive nor shy with them.
Tibetan Terrier Biting
Puppy biting and nipping may be rapid while the puppies are playing, exploring their environment, or when teething due to discomfort. Puppy biting may seem adorable but not for long after the puppies mature to have serious biting issues. Owners should stop puppy biting through redirection and bite inhibition training.
Tibetan Terrier Eye Problems
Some of the eye problems that affect Tibetan Terriers include:
Cataracts – This is an eye condition that makes the eye lens of a Tibetan Terrier to be whitish and cloudy gradually leading to vision loss.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy – This is a group of degenerative diseases that affect the photoreceptor cells leading to loss of vision.
Lens Luxation – This is an eye problem that causes displacement of the crystalline eye lens from its normal position.
Tibetan Terrier Ear Problems
A Tibetan Terrier has V-shaped pendant ears hence may be susceptible to ear infections especially externa otitis. If the infection is not dealt with, it can result to media and interna otitis respectively.
Tibetan Terrier Health Issues | Health Problems
This is a relatively robust and healthy breed. Although, it is susceptible to certain health issues such as hip dysplasia, heart murmurs, luxating patella, allergies, vestibular disease, periodontal disease, thyroid issues, and bladder stones.
Apart from Tibetan Terriers, other dog breeds include:
Pug.
Tibetan Terrier Names
The Tibetan Terrier pet parent may decide to get a name for the pup before it comes home from the age of 8 weeks or a few days later after the pet joins them home to ensure they understand the personality of particular dog. Owners may get name inspirations from the Tibetan heritage of the breed, the coat color, characteristics, celebrity Tibetan Terriers, movies, books, music, food, nature, historical figures, etc.
Regardless of where they get the inspiration, they should ensure the name freely rolls off their tongue and won’t make them embarrassed when uttered out loud in parks or malls. If a pet parent settles with a long name, he or she should find a cute nickname for the adorable pup. Tibetan Terriers and other dog breeds better understand names that have vowels.
Avoid giving your pooch a name that rhymes with the command words to prevent confusion. If a pet shares a name with any of the family member or guest who frequent your home, it may result to confusion. Some of the names that Tibetan Terriers parents give to their pets include:
- Andy.
- Monty.
- Richie.
- Snickers.
- Nano.
- Sioux.
- Zoe.
- Luke.
- Delilah.
- Custard.
- Neptune.
- Bella.
- Mikey, etc.
Tibetan Terrier Food | Dog Food
The amount of food that Tibetan Terriers feed on depends on their activity level, age, metabolism, and body build. Puppies will tend to have a high metabolism rate as compared to adult and senior dogs. Therefore, Tibetan Terriers puppies will feed a total of 3 or 4 times a day from when they start weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Tibetan Terriers will feed twice a day for the rest of their lives.
This breed evolved in a challenging land that experienced fast and feast as a way of life. The traditional Tibetan diet would include staples such as meat broth or cooked barley flour. Usually, Tibetan Terriers received the barley leftovers food. It is not unusual for Tibetan Terriers to chew lean animals that savor their food and leave some in their bowls. Therefore, it is best for owners to feed an honest food with real ingredients. They should also trust the pet on what it needs rather than relying on the instructions on a feed bag.
Check the physique of a Tibetan Terrier to know whether it is overweight or underweight. If you can see the ribs, chances are the dog is underweight. Although, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, the Tibetan Terrier has an ideal weight.
If the ribs can’t be felt, the pooch is overweight and should be exercised. After getting a puppy from a breeder, the owner is likely to switch to another quality food. They should gradually do this over a period of one month by mixing both new food and old food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until the Tibetan Terrier is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.
Tibetan Terrier Black | Black And White | White | Colors
The Tibetan Terriers can have any color or combinations of colors including white, black, white and black, cream, red sable, etc. as long as the eyes and eye rims are dark and the nose leather is black.
Do Tibetan Terriers Shed
Yes. Tibetan Terriers have a double coat that sheds at minimal levels throughout the year due to the long hair growth cycle.
Are Tibetan Terriers Hypoallergenic
Yes. Tibetan Terriers are hypoallergenic dos. They shed at low levels and produce less dander hence considered allergy friendly.
Tibetan Terriers Quick Facts
- They have snowshoe feet making them suitable for snowy climates and climbing mountains.
- Tibetan terriers slough their hair at similar rates to that of most humans.
- This breed resides at the lower end of medium-sized dogs.