My mom’s good friend, Nancy, has been walking little Honey while my mom recovers from knee replacement surgery. Nancy has little Sadie, from yesterday’s post (if you haven’t commented on yesterday’s post for a chance at a yummy treat, what are you waiting for?!?), a Papillon/King Charles mix. But her OTHER dog – well. I’d never heard of or seen one of these before.
Summit is a handsome Tibetan Terrier. Here’s what the AKC Breed page has to say about the Tibetan Terrier:
[quote align=”center” color=”#999999″]Despite its name, the Tibetan Terrier is not a true terrier, only terrier in size. They were bred and raised in monasteries by lamas almost 2,000 years ago. As the “Holy Dogs of Tibet,” the breed was treasured by the lamas, who kept them as companions, good luck charms, mascots and watchdogs. They were also used for some herding and to retrieve articles that fell down the mountains.[/quote]
That last part of the last sentence, “used … to retrieve articles that fell down the mountains.” Seriously hilarious.
Summit isn’t directly from Tibet. I think. He was a rescue dog, used as a stud the first four years of his life. Nancy and her husband have been mom and dad to Summit for the last six years. In fact, Summit attracted Sadie one day in the park, which is how they came to home their second dog, a stray.
I love the black and white theme going on with these two dogs.
Let’s learn about the Tibetan Terrier. They are very intelligent, good companion dogs. Ooo! They have round, flat feet, like snow shoes! And a double coat which keeps them warm. And requires weekly maintenance. We already know that the Tibetan Terrier is beautiful.
What are the pros and cons of keeping a Tibetan Terrier?
Pros:
- Medium size dog – I happen to love large dogs, like Danes and Mastiffs, but for practicality’s sake, you just can’t beat a medium size dog
- The Dog Breed Info page describes this breed as sweet, loving and gentle – Summit certainly fits that description
- If this dog knows that all it’s humans are the bosses, it will do GREAT with kids
- Fairly healthy, with known problems listed as flea allergies, hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy
- Will do well in an apartment or house with a small yard if it gets regular exercise (i.e. take the dog on daily walks)
Fun Tibetan Terrier facts:
- The breed has been around for a couple thousand years
- The Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso and Tibetan Spaniel all derive from the Tibetan Terrier
Cons:
- Even though the Tibetan Terrier is relatively inactive indoors, it does need long daily walks, rain or shine
- This breed can easily be The Boss in the home, but shouldn’t be – know your breed, do obedience training, be firm and consistent
- All the long, gorgeous hair mean regular grooming – easily matted in certain areas
And that’s all the cons I could find. Nancy’s Summit is a sweet, well-behaved dog. He didn’t rough house with Honey or take any of her toys. We hit it off right from the start. Treats helped. 🙂
Your challenge, should you decide you want a Tibetan Terrier, will be finding one. But I’d say that it’s worth the hunt if you are truly a dog person and have your heart set on this breed.
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
Until I write again …
Flea
