The Tibetan Terrier, also known as the “Sacred Dog of Tibet”, is an ancient breed of dog traditionally associated with Buddhist monasteries in the Himalaya region.
It is a small or medium-sized dog very easy to recognize by its long and silky hair. Its affectionate, sensitive and intelligent character make this dog an excellent companion and an ideal friend for any type of family.
Index of contents
- 1 Tibetan Terrier History
- 2 Tibet Apso
- 3 Tibetan Terrier Character
- 4 Physical characteristics
- 5 The coat and its care
- 6 How to educate a Tibetan Terrier?
- 7 Recommended health and care
- 8 Exercise and diet
Tibetan Terrier History
Hailing from Tibet, the Tibetan Terrier was bred for centuries not only as a companion dog for monks living far from the world in mountain monasteries, but also as a working dog to assist nomadic herders in the high plains.
Formerly it was thought that this medium-sized furry dog attracted good luck, so it was never sold, but was only given in payment to some kind of favor.
Tibet Apso
The name of the breed is actually inappropriate, since the Tibetan Terrier is not strictly speaking a true terrier. For example, it lacks the instinct to sniff and dig in the ground, so typical of these dogs.
Actually, and although the name of Tibetan Terrier is the one that has become most popular and widespread, it would be more correct to call this dog Tibet Apso or Tsang Apso (the word Apso means “dog” in Tibetan).
Tibetan Terrier Character
The Tibetan Terrier is an intelligent and loving dog, completely devoted to his family. The puppies are unruly and very mobile, although when they reach maturity they become calmer and calmer dogs.
They adapt perfectly to any type of environment and company, especially if there has been a good socialization process at an early age. Tibetan Terrier it is also a good watchdog Always attentive to everything that happens around him and ready to bark at the slightest sign of danger.
Sometimes his character given to the family can become a total dependency, coming to suffer anxiety if left alone and without human contact for long periods of time.
Physical characteristics
The Tibetan Terrier is a small-medium sized dog with a height at the withers of about 40 cm and a weight that ranges from 9 to 13 kg.
He has a compact and muscular body, completely covered in abundant hair, with a broad chest and a crescent-shaped tail. Its limbs are strong and its legs are round.
His ears are “V” shaped and covered in fringes. Although they are high insertion, due to their size they hang on both sides of the head. The eyes are large and round, always brown in color and often hide behind the hair on the face.
The coat and its care
The body of the Tibetan Terrier is protected by a double coat of fur: an internal one, soft and woolly, and an external one with very long and fine hair. The variety of colors is very wide: white, black, gold, gray, tricolor, tabby …
That hearty coat requires daily brushing to keep it tangle-free. It has to be a firm brushing that reaches the skin, since only by brushing the top of the coat we will not eliminate knots or dead hair.
We can also use the comb to remove hair from the face and small scissors to trim the strands of the eyebrows which often make it difficult for the dog to see.
How to educate a Tibetan Terrier?
Proper training of the Tibetan Terrier takes a lot of time and patience, but great progress is made simply by establishing daily routines and outdoor training sessions.
Despite his friendly nature, can be a bit stubborn dog, very prone to distraction when bored. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly stimulate him, be consistent and use positive reinforcement techniques such as praise, games and rewards in the form of food.
Recommended health and care
Generally, the Tibetan Terrier is a dog that does not present major health problems, except for a certain genetic predisposition to suffer from eye ailments.
For this reason it is important to regularly check the good condition of your eyes and go to the vet at the slightest suspicion that there is a problem.
In any case it is important to monitor your dental hygiene and nail care. It is advisable brush your teeth at least two to three times a week to avoid tartar buildup and accompanying bacteria.
Exercise and diet
Tibetan Terrier you need your good dose of exercise to maintain your good health and balance. If you can enjoy a daily walk (always well restrained on a leash), it will be no problem for the dog to live in a house without a garden or a small apartment.
It is also a very long-lived breed of dog. With proper care and a correct protein-rich diet, you can live up to 17 years or more.