Tibetan Terrier Information

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The Tibetan Terrier is a cheerful, curly haired dog. Their dark-colored eyes are hard to see because of the long hair covering most of their face. Even their short muzzle is hidden by a beard which is usually a gray color on black Tibetan Terriers. The breed’s ears are also completely covered by its long soft hair. They have broad bodies and legs, but most of the width comes from the abundance of hair covering them. Their tails should sit on their back and their hair flies off both sides. The hair on their face and tail is long and straight. However, the bulk of the hair covering the body and legs is medium in length and curly.

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All coat colors are permissible except for chocolate as the nose leather is brown and the nose leather of a Tibetan should be black.

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Character

The Tibetan Terrier is loving and gentle. They love to be around their owners all the time and dislike being at home alone. They are often wary with strangers and can be very stubborn but are loyal to their family. Tibetan Terriers prefer older children and do not get along with dominate dogs. The breed will bark a lot and often to guard his property and family. Overall, however, they are perky and intelligent.


Young Tibetan Terriers can suffer anxiety when being left alone and may chew as a result. They grow out of this behavior as they age. They love company and enjoy being part of the family.

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Size

14-17 inches
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Weight

18-30 pounds
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General Health

Some of the major concerns for the Tibetan Terrier are ceroid lipofuscinosis, lens luxation, and PRA (progressive retinal atrophy).  Additionally seen in this breed are CHA (canine hip dysplasia), cataracts, and patellar luxation.  The Tibetan Terrier can live to 12 to 15 years of age.

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History

The Tibetan Terrier has a long history in Tibet.  They were first bred by the country’s monks and were given away as good luck gifts.  The breed actually was used to develop other well-known breeds from the area, including the Tibetan Spaniel and Lhasa Apso.  After the Dalai Lama gave a Tibetan Terrier to Dr. A. R. H. Grieg, the breed was brough to England and was bred.  Eventually, the dog was brought to the United States where it has become a popular companion.

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Maintenance

The Tibetan Terrier requires heavy grooming. They need to be brushed every two days because they are prone to tangles. When they are brushed, their coat needs to be moist. They should also be bathed once a week, plus the hair in their ears and on their paws should be trimmed regularly. The dogs can also be trimmed so they have less hair in summer. This also makes them easier to groom. If groomed properly, they shed no hair. Even though the Tibetan Terrier is not a large dog, it has quite a bit of energy and should be walked regularly. It also needs chances to run.


This breed is high maintenance during the winter months. Snow clings to there fur in the form of giant ice balls. They love to be out in the snow, but work is needed to clear the ice balls off as they start to shiver with the cold.

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Ideal Environment

The Tibetan Terrier is a fun loving family dog that can deal with almost any environment. They can live in a house or in an apartment as long as they get enough exercise. The breed is good with older children but is often dominant around other dogs. They can live with other animals and are a good companion for older people. While they need lots of attention from people, they are not usually good with strangers. Tibetan Terriers should have an owner who can be at home often with them, because they dislike being at home alone.


They need open space to exercise and play. So don't lock it up on a confined area for too long.

Tibetans do not pester to go out for walks, but love the outdoors and being with other dogs. Once exercised, they like to sleep. Tibetans are not good with small animals like hamsters or baby rabbits. They often think they are toys and may accidentally kill.

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Dog Training!

If you're having problems training your dog or getting control, you should read our review of DogProblems.com. Adam will do whatever it takes to help you whip your dog into shape. I've used them to help with my Great Dane as well as help friends train their dogs. It's the first place I go to help answer users Questions. Many training issues are too extensive to answer in this forum, which is why I refer a lot of the load to his site. Update: I've been using and recommending DogProblems for three years now. I, as well as my users, value the techniques we've learned. I get weekly emails from users who have become better owners from the information they received.

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Tibetan Terrier Q&A

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I have seen a puppy with an umbilical hernia. Is this common in this breed?

It appears that an umbilical hernia is an inherited trait. The puppy most likely got it from its parents or grandparents. I don’t think it’s specific to this breed.

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can you clip their tails as with old english sheep dogs?

You can, although this is not very common.

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Where did this dog originate from and how long has it been in the U.S.?

Phoenix, AZ

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HI I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY MY TIBETAN TERRIOR KEEPS BITING AND SCRATCHING HIMSELF. MOSTLY HE SALIVATES ON HIS HIND LEGS. I HAVE WORMED HIM. I HAVE WASHED HIM IN SPECIFIC SHAMPOO SUPPLIED BY THE VET.

Look at your dogs back...is he making his skin bloody? Removing hair? Does it seem to be so itchy that it is driving him mad? Consider Mange (Scabies for Humans). My dog had such an extreme case of it that I too eventually contracted it! The medicine from the doctor helped but not fast enough and it didn't get rid of it all together. I found a home remedy and tried it and it worked. MIXTURE: 2 cups of hydrogyen peroxide 1/4 cup of Borax Laundry Booster (*NOT BORIC ACID!) 4 cupss of water DIRECTIONS: First begin my washing your dog with a mild shampoo. Rinse thoroughly Use a sponge that is highly absorbent and fill the sponge with the mixture and begin at the head of the dog and work your way to the the end of the tail. Scrubbing it into the skin, not the fur is the goal. Pay close attention to fold in the skin such as behind the ears, underarms(all 4), under the tail on the top at teh base of the tail and anywheres you see broken skin or places where the dog has been biting. DO NOT RINSE THE MIXTURE OFF; leave on for an entire week and repeat again. Make a spray bottle of the mixture and for the next 3 days apply to any open sores that exist. If more bumps, red spots or sores appear begin to use the solution on those as well. DO NOT USE FOR MORE THAN ONE TIME A WEEK AND FOR NO MORE THAN 6 WEEKS. *From my own personal use, this solution also works for human beings, if you thing you have mange(scabies) the symptoms can be mosquitoe like bumps that constantly itch and appear and reappear. This same solution was sprayed all over furniture and rugs and I washed all clothing, rugs, curtains, blankets and towels.Indeed a task but it was a relief to get rid of them finally. I hope this helps!!!! Good Luck!

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