Tibetan Spaniel
Not a spaniel at all: a small Tibetan monastery dog that sat up on the walls and barked at what was coming. It still looks for the highest point in the room.
Overview
The Tibetan Spaniel is not a spaniel at all. It was kept in Tibetan monasteries as a watchdog, sitting on the walls where its height gave it a view, and barking to alert the larger Tibetan Mastiffs below. The lion like appearance had religious significance.
It is a small, sturdy, silky coated dog with a slightly undershot jaw and a distinctive habit of finding the highest available surface.
Temperament
Independent, alert and affectionate on its own terms. Tibbies are devoted to their families and reserved with strangers, and they are more catlike than most small breeds.
They are watchful and they bark, which is the monastery job. They are intelligent and stubborn and they train on their own schedule. They are also famous for climbing onto the backs of sofas and window sills to survey the room.
Care and grooming
A silky double coat that needs brushing twice a week. It is far less work than it looks and does not mat easily.
Progressive retinal atrophy has a DNA test, and patellar luxation and portosystemic shunt occur. The muzzle is short but not extreme, so airway problems are mild compared with genuinely brachycephalic breeds. Twelve to fifteen years.
Living and exercise
Forty five minutes a day plus play. They suit flats well.
They are one of the more independent small breeds and they suit someone who likes a dog with opinions rather than one that follows instructions.
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