Breed Profile at Small Dog Place

Having
been developed from antiquity in the mountainous area of Tibetan, these
dogs served as companions and watch dogs in the Buddhist monasteries 
Their appearance of thick hair around their
neck and thick plumbed tail made them look like tiny lions. 

The
Buddhist monks revered the lion as a
symbol of their triumph over violence and aggression.  They called them
their little lion dogs.  Other Asian breeds that were similar in
appearance to the Tibbie was also awarded
the name of lion dog. 

They were not only developed for
companionship but also to sound the alarm if someone approached the monastery,
which was often set high up in the mountains. 

They did their job well, perched by windows watching the frozen landscape.  Another purported function that these dogs
served was to turn the prayer wheel by walking
on a small treadmill.

Cream-colored Tibetan Spaniel

They were also used as gifts to
nobility from nearby countries that visited which means that these dogs
eventually made their way to China and Japan. 

There is little doubt that they were crossed with other small breeds
originating in other Asian countries.  It
is likely that the Japanese Chin, Pekingese, and Tibetan Spaniel all share
similar DNA. 

It wasn’t until the late 19th
century that the first Tibetain Spaniels were introduced into England.  More arrived by 1920 and gained some
popularity.  But as is the case with many
dog breeds, World War II had an extremely detrimental affect on dog breeding
and this breed was almost entirely lost.

After the war, the breed began to
recover and then in 1960, the Kennel Club in England recognized the breed. 

They began arriving in the United
States.  Mrs. Jay Child was one of the
most enthusiastic owners and helped establish the breed in the U.S.  The breed club (The Tibetan Spaniel Club of
America was found in 1971.

The breed was recognized by the AKC in 1983 and is now ranked at 116 in popularity out of in the year 2014.

Personality

Black and Tan Tibetan Spaniel

This little
guy is independent, bold and stubborn, but has a sensitive side. 

They are happy, and love to play or be with
their special people. 

While generous
with their affection and friendliness to their owners, they are more reserved
with strangers. 

They are
intelligent and with a gentle approach to discipline, their owners can get
their Tibbies to obey and learn basic commands. 

They are not considered to be a yappy breed, but will sound the alarm
when someone approaches. 

They need only a moderate amount of exercise,
and so they make excellent companions for apartment dwellers. 

They do equally well in a home in the suburbs
or in a rural setting.

If the
Tibbie is one of those breeds you are considering, remember that intelligence
comes with a price. 

Usually, dogs that are smarter than others will
always find something to do, whether it is on your agenda or not.

Dogs that
have that independent streak are likely to want to think for themselves and so
training is usually more difficult. 

The
good thing about the Tibetan Spaniel is that he adores his owner and if you use
positive, gentle approaches to training, you will get your Tibbie to
cooperate. 

They have an uncanny ability
to sense your moods, so training sessions should be short, positive, and
fun. 

They are relatively
quiet indoors and only need moderate exercise making them ideal as an an
apartment dog. 

Since they usually bond to one person, these
dogs are ideal for singles. 

Grooming

Tibetan Spaniel (Photo Courtesy Flickr Creative Commons)

The Tibetan
Spaniel has a thick double coat that is silky on the outside and warm
inside.  The hair grows to a medium
length with more abundant hair on areas around the neck.  They need regular
brushing to keep them looking good. 

The coat
does not shed much but seasonally, you might notice more shedding and this is
the time when brushing is most important. 
A pin brush, slicker brush, or even a
rake works well to remove mats. 

Brushing every day during shedding periods will
prevent mats from forming and then during the rest of the year you will be able to brush every other day or three
times a week. 

Since the
Tibbie does not have the characteristic “doggie smell”  infrequent bathing is fine.  A regular
bath may be all they need. 

The nails
will also need to be clipped and filed if you don’t want the rough edge that
results with the typical nail clipper. 
An alternative is to use a grinder and is safer especially if you aren’t
sure where the blood vessels (or quick) end. 
Dogs that have had their vein cut
into one or more times are much more hesitant to have you clip their nails.

Their teeth need
to be brushed periodically with a doggie toothpaste and brush or wiped with
dental wipes. 

The pads of
their feet also need attention.  Hair
continues to grow around and between the toe pads.  This hair should be clipped using a clipper
or alternatively, with blunt ended scissors. 

Dogs with too much hair covering the paw pads look like they are skating
on slick surfaces. Clean, hair-free pads
give the dog the traction they need on all surfaces.

Health Concerns

This breed is generally healthy, but
can suffer from some genetic diseases just like all dog breeds. 

While the chances that your Tibbie will be
plagued with any of these conditions is rare, it is still important to know
what diseases have been identified in the breed.  These conditions are very common in most
small breed dogs.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a degenerative eye disorder that eventually causes blindness.  Blindness is a slow process resulting from the loss of photoreceptors at the back of the eye and begins first as night blindness and then progresses. 

Breeders can test their dogs annually through an examination by a veterinary ophthalmologist annual CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation).  Affected dogs should not be bred.

Patellar Luxation, also known as “slipped kneecap cap,” this is a common problem in small dogs. It is caused when the patella, which has three parts — the femur (thigh bone), patella (knee cap), and tibia (calf) — is not properly lined up.

Cherry Eye is sometimes seen in this breed which is a swelling or inflammation of the third eyelid. 

Allergies and Hernias are two
other common issues facing some small breed dogs including the Tibbie.

Breed Club

Tibetan Spaniel Club of
America

Reference
and Further Reading

Tibetan Spaniel (Comprehensive Owner’s Guide)

Tibetan Spaniel: A Complete and Reliable Handbook (Complete and Reliable Handbooks)

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