The
Tibetan Terrier is a rare, mid-sized (18 - 25 lbs.) shaggy purebred
dog which comes in a wide variety of colours, including black, white,
silver, cream, golden and sable in solid, parti-colour and tri-colour
combinations. He is small enough to live comfortably in an apartment
and share your bed or chair, yet large enough to enjoy a long hike or
romp with kids. He is VERY adaptable. Owners often describe him as a
large dog in a small dog’s body.
In their
native Tibet, where they have always lived close to people, they are
called Little People. Their English-speaking friends usually call them
simply Tibetans or TTs.
The
Tibetan’s most obvious feature is the long, slightly wavy coat which
covers him from his nose to the tip of the tail he carries up over his
back , and even between the pads of his large, flat snowshoe-like
feet. The heavy coat protected him from the harsh winters of his
homeland where temperatures remain far below zero for weeks on end.
Long heavy eyelashes held the hair out of his eyes yet let it protect
him from snow-blindness in the winter and blowing sand in the summer.
The coat has no odor and shedding is minimal. Under all that hair, his
body is quite solid and sturdy, and should look square.
Like
people, Tibetans come in a variety of personalities. Although often
aloof with people they don’t know, TTs normally have a great zest
for life and like to participate fully in family activities. In
general, they are intensely family oriented and often will form an
extremely close bond with one special person in the family. Most are
intensely curious and many will easily jump more than twice their
height, or climb, using their paws like hands, to investigate
something they find interesting. Doubtless they owe their amazing
agility to the canny footwork Himalayan navigation required!
Native
History
According
to legend, Tibetan Terriers originated in the Lost Valley of Tibet
over 2000 years ago. They were raised in the monasteries and were
never sold but might be given to someone who had done the lamas a
favour or to a visiting dignitary. This association with the
monasteries gave them the name Holy dog of Tibet. They also became
known as the the Good Luck Dog or Luck Bringer as they were also given
to those about to embark on dangerous journeys or caravans; the
traveler’s safety was ensured as no one would harm anyone fortunate
enough to have been given a Tibetan Terrier. The present Dalai Lama
took his Tibetan Terrier, "Senge", with him when he was
forced to leave Tibet.
There
is also evidence that TTs were used to herd as well as to retrieve
articles that tumbled down the steep rocky mountains into crevices.
Since the breed is very sure-footed and they are powerful jumpers,
they would be well suited for such tasks.
In The
Western World
Dr. Agnes
R.H. Greig, an English doctor, is the person who established the breed
in both India and England. While in India, she was given a Tibetan
Terrier puppy by a nobleman on whose wife the doctor had performed
surgery. Dr. Greig was charmed by "Bunty" and fortunately
was able to procure a mate for her; she subsequently persuaded the
Indian Kennel Club to recognize the breed in the 1920’s. In the
1930’s Dr. Greig began her Lamleh Kennels, establishing the breed in
England where it was accepted by the Kennel Club of England in 1937.
Dr. Greig continued her tireless efforts breeding and promoting
Tibetan Terriers until her death in 1972. She kept a tight rein on her
breeding stock and it was not until the mid-1950’s that a few other
breeders began to emerge using Dr. Greig’s stock and a few other
imports certified by the English Kennel Club. Among the first were
John and Connie Downey’s Luneville Kennels.
In
1956 Dr. Henry and Mrs. Alice Murphy of Great Falls Virginia imported
Gremlin Cortina ("Girlie") from Dr. Greig. They imported a
mate for her in 1957 and established their Kalai Kennels. Alice Murphy
had been involved with purebred dogs since childhood and devoted the
last 20 years of her life to the establishment of her beloved Tibetans
in the U.S. and Canada.
The
Murphys set up the Tibetan Terrier Club of America in 1957 to act as
the official registry for the breed as well as to encourage ownership,
promote careful breeding and protect the interests of the breed. After
years of hard work by the Murphys and a growing core group of
fanciers, Tibetan Terriers were admitted to regular show
classification in the Non-Sporting group effective Oct. 3, 1973.
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