Tibetan Terrier

All colours are admissible (white, golden, grey, black, etc.) barring chocolate and liver. Parti and tri-coloured dogs exist. 

The coat is long.

The Tibetan Terrier sports a doublecoat: an abundant topcoat, of fine texture that is neither silky nor wooly, which can be straight or wavy, but never curly. The undercoat is thin and wooly.

The eyes are a dark brown.

The Tibetan Terrier is slightly smaller than what would traditionally be considered a medium-sized dog, and has an abundant coat. His head is not massive but is certainly robust, with a short muzzle and a strongly built lower jaw. The eyes are big and round. The ears are ‘v-shaped’ and pendant, with a fringe. The frame is stocky and compact. The limbs are straight and muscular. The tail, of medium size, is cheerfully carried in a curl over the back.

This dog vows undying love to his master and demonstrates his affection in many ways on a daily basis. Very cheerful and chirpy, he infects his surroundings with his ‘joie de vivre’.

Particularly agile, this dog is very playful and enjoys spending time and having fun with members of his social group, especially children.

The Dhoki Apso, as you may also call him, can be calm if all his needs have been met and his owners are at home. Otherwise, it is a rather animated and active dog who often seeks a lot of attention.

This little companion dog is particularly intelligent, he doesn’t follow orders blindly and needs to fully grasp what is at stake before carrying anything out. In this sense, he is a lively dog that needs coherent training. Without the latter, being as sharp as he is, he will quickly gain the upper hand.

In direct contradiction to his name, this dog is not a terrier and does not actually possess a predatory instinct to the extent that his fellow ‘Terriers’ do. He could, similarly to certain dogs, be prone to chase after small prey, but will rarely go beyond that.

Even if he rarely demonstrates any aggressivity, the Tibetan Terrier is relatively withdrawn and wary towards strangers. However, once he starts trusting the prospective guests, he welcomes them with open arms.

The Tibetan Terrier does not deviate from the norm that applies to most companion dogs: he is very dependant on his master.

Very close to his master, this Tibetan dog cannot stand being alone. He tolerates his owners’ absences very poorly and can quickly become miserable (and destructive) if they are prolonged and recurrent.

Even though he is quite calm by nature and possesses very little of the trademark Terrier characteristics, the Tibetan Terrier remains quite stubborn and demanding when it comes to commands, which he absolutely must perceive as coherent. 

In short, he must feel like he understands the use of an order before deciding to cooperate. In this sense, a strict yet gentle handling is necessary, and must be initiated ahead of time to prevent the Tibetan Terrier pup from developing any bad habits. 

Of course, the only viable way of working with him is through positive reinforcement, rather than submission and coercion.

Being the good watchdog that he is, this dog does bark, but within moderation. He rarely goes over the top, especially if he has been trained and taught constraint.

Very attached to his social group, this dog rarely strays from his home. And even if he were to follow an intriguing trail, he will always return to his family’s side.

Not at all comfortable with the notion of solitude, and despite his size, this companion dog can prove to be a real whirlwind around the house whenever he wants to kill time or make his frustrations be known.

Without being overly voracious, the Tibetan Terrier does indeed appreciate food and reward snacks in particular, which he may receive as encouragement during training sessions.

Back in the day, this dog was mainly used for his watchdog capacities, not least because his sacred status in Tibet also inspired fear. This has hardened the little, robust dog, who still today is an excellent watchdog, even if he is mainly considered a companion dog.

Also called the Tsang Apso, this dog can be a very good first companion. However, for the cohabitation to run smoothly, this Tibetan does need an owner capable of authority, who will be able to overcome the dog’s somewhat stubborn side, without ever resorting to violence. 

The Tibetan Terrier is much more than a simple lap dog that lounges around on the couch all day- that is why you must scrupulously study all of the breed’s traits before making a choice.

This little dog is all in all quite primitive, he enjoys walks in nature and is well adapted to harsh climates due to his origins. He prefers to live in the country, in a house with a garden. 

Having said this, he can also adapt very well to city life, and it is usually in this environment that he can be encountered. 

Living in a flat is not a problem for this dog but be careful not to leave him locked up alone for too long, or you may run the risk of finding some damage upon your return- instigated by boredom, frustration or anxiety.

This dog is athletic, enduring and active, but within moderation. He can be satisfied by two or three walks a day without them necessarily having to be very physically stimulating. 

It is sooner intellectually challenging activities that this dog craves in order to express his full potential.

Unlike many dogs belonging to group 9 (companion dogs), this one does not easily slip into a transport bag, given his size. His good nature and cheerfulness does, however, tend to make him a welcome guest everywhere.

He can live with a cat but it is preferable to have had him grow up with one.

Very sociable and never one to fight, encounters with his fellow canines usually run smoothly if the Tibetan Terrier has been properly socialised as a pup.

The Tibetan Terrier is jovial, docile, lively, very resourceful and gentle- in short, a great match for children. 

Do be careful, however, not to have the children treat him like a doll that needs its long smooth hair brushed and tugged at!

He is also a very good companion to the elderly because his need for exercise can be satisfied by relatively undemanding outings to the local, neighbourhood park. Having said this, sedentary life is not compatible with this dog!

In contrast to many of his fellow canines, the Tibetan Terrier is generally only subject to one moulting season a year, during which brushes will need to be daily. Other than that, shedding is quite moderate.

Life expectancy is 13 years on average.

Extremely robust, the Tibetan Terrier tolerates difficult weather without a problem.

This dog is not fearful of heat, but he does need to be prevented from performing too intensely on hot days, and to be taken out for walks early in the morning and late at night.

His double coat contains a wooly undercoat which protects him from the cold, and from bad weather in general.

Very energetic, this little dog rarely gains excess weight. His intended weight must be maintained through a balanced diet. Physical exercise should not be overlooked simply because this dog is part of the companion and non-sporting group!

• Vascularisation of the retina
• Hip dysplasia 
• Ear infections

His origins can be traced back to Tibet, where he gets his name from. The breed has since further developed in the United Kingdom. It is throughout the course of the 20th century that Dr. Agnes Greig imported the first specimens in Europe. The FCI officially recognised the breed in 1957.