The Tibetan Terrier

The Tibetan Terrier comes from the mountains and the Tibetan plateau, from a country often called the roof of the world. These regions are situated at heights of 3500 to 5000 meters. The climate predominating there is rather extreme. Icy, long winters alternate with short, hot summers and animals as well as the people are shaped by the difficult living conditions.

Due to this all tibetan dogs are tough and robust. Nearly every breed is given a dense, thick coat by birth. It's a perfect protection against effects of the weather.

Few visitors from the West have gone to the country, which is shrouded in mystery and was rather isolated from the outside world in the past. Due to this only very few dogs from Tibet appeared in the western countries. Only since the beginning of the 20th century there have been dogs of different tibetan breeds transported to Europe and to the North of America building the basis for the breeds which exist today.

The Tibetan Terrier is an ancient breed and is said to be bred already 2000 years ago in the Tibetan monasteries. His legendary origin is said to be in the "lost valley", whose rough and dangerous entry was buried in the 14th century by an earthquake. The caravan way to the "lost valley" was so rough and full of danger that the Tibet terrier was given to the travelers as a sheltering lucky charm to make the way back to the outside world easier. But the tibetan terrier was apparently owned as a domestic and a watchdog all over the country.

The name 'Terrier' is misleading and an arbitrary expression. Supposedly it is derived from Christian monks who assigned the medium-sized tibetan dog to the terriers.

The Tibetan Terrier is a social dog of about 34-40 cm height. He is watchful, lively and vivacious. He is a merry comrade and a loving family dog. He is chilly to foreigners and a brave attacker when it matters. He has a peculiarly appealing look because of his double-layered, thick coat with a funny hang of hair over his eyes and his thick, hairy paws. He can have many different colors, but most of the times the black and golden colors dominate.