Utility group · Tibet
Tibetan Terrier
Also called TT, Tsang Apso, Holy Dog of Tibet.
What makes them remarkable
The name is misleading: this Tibetan companion and working dog is not a terrier by ancestry.
- Affectionate
- Sensitive
- Clever
- Reserved
- Gentle
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 9 to 11 kg20 to 24 lb
- Lives
- 15 to 16 years
- Energy
- Moderate
- Trains
- Moderate
- Barks
- Moderate
Training
Training a Tibetan Terrier
Utility breeds. Many of these think before they obey. Earn compliance with reward and consistency; they do not do it for free.
Build Trust First
Start here
Sensitive breed that needs to bond with handler before formal training begins.
Gentle Methods Essential
Harsh corrections damage the relationship permanently: reward generously, correct calmly and rarely.
Patience with Strangers
Reserved by nature. Allow them to approach new people at their own pace.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Tibetan Terrier and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, one step at a time.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Breeds developed for a job that no longer exists or never fitted a group. Includes the spitz and primitive breeds.
Gets on with
- ChildrenHigh
- Other dogsHigh
- StrangersModerate
- CatsHigh
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 1 hour daily. Moderate walks and play. Enjoys hiking and outdoor activities.
- Grooming
- High maintenance. Daily brushing to prevent matting. Professional grooming helpful.
- Drool
- Very Low
- Coat
- Double coat, Long, Wavy or straightWhite, Golden, Cream, Grey, Black, Tricolour, Brindle
- In a flat
- Can work, with enough exercise outside it.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Moderate
Inherited eye disease causing gradual blindness; DNA test available
Hip Dysplasia
Moderate
Joint malformation; screen breeding dogs
Lens Luxation
Moderate
Displacement of lens in eye; can lead to glaucoma if untreated
Where they come from
History
Sacred "Holy Dogs of Tibet" raised by Tibetan monks for over 2,000 years. Never sold, only given as gifts. Believed to bring good luck. Not actually a terrier despite the name.
- Dr. Agnes Greig's Bunti · Given to British doctor in 1922 as thanks for saving a life; became foundation of Western breeding
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