Tibetan Terrier breed guide

The Tibetan Terrier is an independent-minded breed that is quick to learn and will wither under obsessive repetition or harsh methods. AKC recommends training practices that let the dog choose the right behavior and clicker training suits it.

Westerners hung the name terrier on this usually Asian dog, which has also worked as a herder and flock guardian.

Tibetan Terriers live 15 to 16 years. AKC calls them a hardy breed that ages gracefully, though diet and lifestyle changes from its country of origin may be linked to shifts in its health issues. Early spay and neuter may predispose dogs to joint issues and many breeders ask that the dog reach maturity before altering.

Geriatric heart murmurs and cataracts are not uncommon.

Prospective owners who see the manicured coats on televised dog shows may think this is not the dog for them, AKC says, but under the flowing coat is an agile, versatile dog with a multi-purpose coat suited to everyday life. The double coat has a wool undercoat that resists moisture and insulates naturally.

TTs love walks and being outdoors with their people and individuals vary in their drive for exercise, so if you want to hike up a mountain there is a Tibetan Terrier for that and if you are more of a homebody there is one for that too.

The Tibetan Terrier is an ancient breed developed in the splendid isolation of the Lost Valley, among several Tibetan dogs tied to Buddhist monasteries and the Dalai Lama.

TTs are best known as companions and watchdogs. Their large, flat snowshoe feet adapted over centuries to the snowy, mountainous terrain of their homeland.