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About Tibetan Terrier Dogs
The Tibetan terrier is a breed of medium-sized
dog. Though its name suggests otherwise, the Tibetan
terrier does not belong to the terrier group.
Rather, it was named as such by early travelers
who observed that the dog was similar in appearance
to terriers. In Tibetan, the breed is called tsang
apso, which roughly means "bearded dog from Tsang,"
with Tsang being a province of Tibet.
As their name indicates, the Tibetan terrier
originated in the region of Tibet. The Tibetan
terrier remained largely isolated from other breeds
for much of its long history, and therefore remained
purebred for about 2,000 years. The Tibetan terrier
has remained separate from the Western world until
relatively recently; it was first introduced to
Europe in the 1920s, where two Tibetan terriers
were bred. The breed was later brought to the
United States in the 1950s. Only in 1973 was the
breed recognized by the AKC.
As a medium-sized breed, the Tibetan terrier
on average measures between 14 and 16 inches in
height. A Tibetan terrier may weigh anywhere between
18 and 30 pounds, but kennel club standards prefer
Tibetan terriers weighing between 20 and 24 pounds.
In appearance, the Tibetan terrier often resembles
the Old English Sheepdog. It has a long, shaggy
double-layered coat that can be any of a variety
of colors. The Tibetan terrier's coat does not
behave like most dogs' coats, instead shedding
at the same rate as human hair, excepting puppies
around the age of nine months, who lose their
whole coat. The top layer of the coat has the
same texture as human hair, generally lying flat,
but it may be wavy.
Because of its special coat, the Tibetan terrier
has a relatively high grooming requirement. Its
coat should be brushed once every two to three
days in order to avoid tangles and to remove any
loose hairs. This is a process made much easier
by a light misting of the dog's coat with water,
or a mixture of water and conditioner. Additionally,
the Tibetan terrier should be bathed at least
once every two weeks.
The Tibetan terrier is a friendly, affectionate,
loyal, sweet, and sensitive dog. Despite these
qualities, most Tibetan terriers act reserved
around strangers, but typically are not aggressive
or timid towards them. The Tibetan terrier is
an intelligent, quick-thinking dog. It is also
inclined to be very determined, a trait that sometimes
manifests itself as stubbornness.
Despite its relatively small size, the Tibetan
terrier encompasses a significant amount of energy
and strength. It requires a substantial amount
of exercise, meaning the owner of a Tibetan terrier
should walk their dog daily and play with it regularly.
As Tibetan terriers tend not to be fairly active
indoors, they can fare well in an apartment or
small house as long as care is taken that the
dog receives adequate exercise.
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