Tibetan Terrier
A shaggy, sure-footed Tibetan companion, not a true terrier, with a merry and adaptable nature.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 36–41 cm · Females 35–40 cm
- Weight
- Males 9–14 kg · Females 8–13 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Exercise
- 45–90 min a day
- Grooming
- A few times a week
- Coat
- Double coat, long
- Colours
- Most colours
- Bred for
- Companionship, Herding
- Country of origin
- China
- FCI
- Group 9, no. 209 · Companion & toy dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 2/5 – Low |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 2/5 – Low |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 2/5 – Low |
| Grooming effort | 4/5 – High |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 4/5 – High |
| Suits apartment living | 4/5 – High |
| Adaptability | 4/5 – High |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with cold | 5/5 – Very high |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a medium-sized, low-shedding family dog
- enjoy outdoor walks in all weathers
- don't mind regular coat care
Think twice if you …
- want a dog that loves every stranger
- dislike grooming
- live in a very hot climate
Care
Temperament
Affectionate, lively and sensitive, devoted to its family and cautious with strangers. Can be independent.
Exercise
About an hour a day; enjoys hiking, agility and games in snow.
Grooming
Brush the long double coat thoroughly a few times a week; many owners choose a shorter trim. It sheds little.
Training
Intelligent but with a mind of its own; patient, reward-based training and variety work well.
Health
Primary lens luxation, progressive retinal atrophy, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, hip dysplasia and patellar luxation are known in the breed. Ask the breeder for hip, eye and DNA results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Eye examination
- Kneecaps (patella)
DNA tests
- PLL
- NCL
- PRA3
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
Despite its name, the Tibetan Terrier is not a terrier at all. It was kept in Tibetan villages and monasteries as a companion and general farm dog, and reached Europe in the 1920s through Dr Agnes Greig, an English doctor working in India.
TTs are agile, playful and loving with their families, often a little reserved with strangers. Their large, flat feet and thick coat suit them to rough ground and cold weather. They are adaptable and enjoy both walks and family life at home. The long coat needs regular brushing, so be ready to commit time or to keep it trimmed.
Did you know?
The Tibetan Terrier's wide, flat feet act a little like snowshoes on snow and rough mountain ground.