Despite being cataloged within the group of terriers, the Tibetan terrier differs greatly from its congeners, not presenting the character and typical characteristics of other terrier breeds. Formerly they accompanied Buddhist monks, luckily today they accompany many families around the world, which is understandable given their affectionate and playful personality, as well as their intelligence and docility. In this tab of our site we will see all the history and evolution of the dog Tibetan terrier, as well as all the details about his care and education.
History of the Tibetan terrier
As their name indicates, Tibetan terriers come from the region of Tibet (China). There these dogs served in the monasteries as guardian animals, while accompanying the monks and guiding their flocks. Due to its remote origins and the isolation of the area of origin, the breed has remained practically unchanged over the years, being one of the best preserved today.
The origins of the Tibetan Terrier go back more than 2,000 years ago, and it is said that they arose when the Tibetans decided to separate the large dogs, from which the current Tibetan Mastiffs descended, and the small ones, that is, the Tibetan Terrier, which are precursors of breeds such as the Tibetan Spaniel, or the Polish Lowland Sheepdog.
The breed arrived in Europe in the 1920s, after a doctor named Agnes Grey, treated some locals who took him as a pet, which after receiving his medical attention they gave him one of the puppies that his dog had given birth to. That puppy became part of a breeding program, and later traveled with her owner to England in 1922. In 1930 the breed was officially recognized by the Kennel Club of England (KCE), and its expansion throughout Europe was especially noticeable in 40. Finally, it arrived in the USA in 1956, where the American Kennel Club recognized it in 1973.
Formerly known as Tsang Apso " Tsang Province woolly dog", it took the name of terrier because foreign travelers They saw it very similar to the terriers known in Europe, which is why they baptized it as a Tibetan terrier. Other names are Tibet Apso or Dokhi Apso.
Tibetan Terrier Characteristics
Tibetan Terriers are medium-sized dogs, weighing between 8 and 12 kilograms, and with a height at the withers ranging from 35 to 45 centimeters, with females being slightly smaller than their male counterparts. Their life expectancy normally ranges between 12 and 14 years, some specimens being able to reach 17.
Some characteristics of the Tibetan terrier dog breed are:
- Your body is solid and compact: square in shape.
- Its head is also square: lining up on the snout, and presenting a stop.
- A noteworthy feature in the breed standards is that the distance from the nose to the eyes must be the same as that between the eyes and the base of the head: these eyes are round, large and expressive, dark brown, slightly lighter shades being accepted if the coat is also very light.
- Tibetan terriers' ears are fringed: V-shaped and hang down to the sides of the skull.
- Its coat is dense, as it has a double layer: the outer mantle being long and straight and the interior more fine and wooly, which makes it an insulator against the inclement weather typical of its region. source.
Tibetan Terrier dog breed colors
The colors of the coat of the Tibetan terrier dog breed can cover the entire color spectrum, except for chocolate and liver.
Now that you know the characteristics of the Tibetan terrier, let's focus on its character.
Tibet terrier character
Despite being in the category of terriers, the Tibet terrier differs from its congeners in that it has a much more sweet and docile character He loves to play and spend time with his family, although he is wary of strangers. If he is going to live with children, we must get them both used to living together and interacting respectfully. That is why we have to educate our terrier from a young age and ensure that socialization is full and satisfactory.
They are tenacious and very brave, if the situation requires it, they will show themselves as indisputable heroes. Many of the Tibetan terrier dogs work as therapy dogs, collaborating in sessions for the benefit of various groups, such as children, the elderly or people who need attention.
They are sociable animals, which do not tolerate loneliness well, since they need constant affection and attention, if they have that there will be no problem in who live in a flat or apartment, as long as they can release their energy with long walks, we will have a playful, happy and balanced animal with which to enjoy great moments.
Tibetan terrier care
- Food: we must choose a balanced diet and adapted to the needs of both the breed in general, that is, a medium-sized, long-haired dog, and our animal in particular, adapting the diet to its specific nutritional needs, if, for example, our pet suffers from kidney or liver failure, or if it has problems heart patients, we can find feed and products on the market that address these vitamin deficiencies and the most convenient levels of minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates to improve or maintain your he alth.
- Exercise: as we have commented in the section on the character of the Tibetan terrier, it is a playful and active dog, so he will need at least one hour of daily exercise Don't hesitate to teach him tricks and play with him when you go for a walk, as he will always be receptive.
- Grooming: Due to its long and dense hair, our Tibetan terrier will need our attention, so we mustbrush his coat frequently to keep it soft and shiny, thus avoiding tangles and knots. It is also recommended to give him at least one monthly bath , to keep him clean and tidy. Due to the fact that they present a significant amount of hair on the inside of the ears, we will have to be attentive and, if necessary, peel that area, as complications may arise due to knots or the accumulation of dust or humidity.
Except for this brushing, the Tibetan terrier will need the attention of any other breed, such as brushing its teeth several times a week, giving it enough time for physical activity, cutting its nails regularly or cleaning its ears with ear products suitable for use in dogs.
Tibetan Terrier Education
In general, Tibetan terriers are dogs easy to train, but we have to be constant and dedicated when it comes to their training, since they are stubborn and sometimes we will need a lot of energy and patience to make their training effective and satisfactory.
One of the most relevant aspects in the training of this breed is socialization, this has to be carried out from the earliest ages possible, since otherwise difficulties may arise when living with both people and other animals. This happens due to its distrustful character and its skills as a watchdog, but if we follow the guidelines and are patient and constant, we will undoubtedly achieve our goal, since we are dealing with a friendly breed with surprising adaptation capabilities.
It will also be essential to teach him the basic Commands of obedience.
Tibetan Terrier Dog He alth
In general, we can say that the Tibetan terrier is a breed with enviable he alth, however, they can present some hereditary pathologies such as hip dysplasia, which will require constant veterinary supervision, perform the appropriate radiological tests and provide them with supplements such as chondroprotectors, which help keep the joints in good condition.
In turn, the breed is considered to be somewhat prone to developing progressive retinal atrophy and retinal dysplasia, both of which can lead to problems as significant as blindness. Likewise, we also highlight cataracts and ocular dislocation as common pathologies.
That is why we have to carry out regular veterinary checkups, every six or twelve monthsIt will also be essential to identify the Tibetan terrier with a microchip and tag, as well as to follow the vaccination schedule and the deworming routine. In this way we can prevent and detect various diseases promptly.
Where to adopt a Tibetan terrier dog?
Despite the fact that the Tibetan terrier dog breed was not well known in Spain until the 1960s, the reality of the 21st century is very different. Its distribution is already much wider and dog lovers do know this breed originally from Tibet. It should be noted that, although getting a Tibetan terrier dog is easy if we talk about buying, from our site we always encourage the adoption of dogs. For this reason, you can go to the animal shelters or protectors closest to your home or visit a breed clubyou think you can count on a Tibetan terrier dog.
Even so, we would like to emphasize that the important thing when adopting a dog is not the physical traits it presents, but the possibility of offering it a better life based on love and optimal care.
