Tibetan Spaniel

The Tibetan Spaniel is The "Lion Dog"

The Tibetan Spaniel has a history stretching back centuries, to the monasteries of Tibet, where he was a prized companion and watchdog. Although he is very small, he is very alert and vigilant and used to lie on the walls of the monastery to warn of the approach of any danger. He is not a Toy dog, he is included in the Non Sporting group within The American Kennel Club  This is known as The Utility Group in the UK Kennel Club. 

The Tibetan Spaniel stands about ten inches tall, at the shoulder and weighs between nine and fifteen pounds. Their small size makes them ideal for an apartment. They are quite active indoors and most of their exercise needs can be met with indoor play, but they enjoy daily walks.

This little dog is an ideal companion and makes no undue demands on his owners. He is quite intelligent and eager to please but he can be stubborn. He comes joint 46th, out of 157 breeds, in the intelligence comparison table, compiled after much painstaking research, by Dr Stanley Coren. He is evaluated as having "average working/obedience intelligence and understanding of new commands".

The Tibetan Spaniel is not a very popular breed with American dog owners, as he is not in the top 70 breeds registered with the American Kennel Club during the year of 2010. In fact, the breed was not admitted into the AKC until 1984.

Grooming The Tibetan Spaniel

The Tibetan Spaniel is a medium shedder all through the year, and once a year his coat may come out in clumps. His silky double coat is medium length and only needs brushing about once a week. However, you may wish to trade brushing for vacuuming. If you spend a short time each day, brushing the dog in a place where you can collect the loose hair, then you can dispose of it safely before it gets all over your furnishings and carpets. This is especially relevant in the case of The Tibetan Spaniel, because he is very agile and will climb on furniture (and beds!) to see what's going on around him and especially outside. 

Training The Tibetan Spaniel

While he is quite intelligent, the Tibetan Spaniel can be difficult to train. He can be stubborn and is easily bored, so his training needs to be varied and in short sessions. One of his worst faults is that he will not come when called - unless you get the right expert advice. This FREE email course at  Training Your Tibetan Spaniel  is full of great training ideas. He can excel at obedience and agility competition but he will not respond to harsh training methods. He just wants to be your best friend!

Exercise For The Tibetan Spaniel 

The Tibetan Spaniel is essentially a companion dog and is not particularly energetic but he does appreciate a daily walk, always on a leash in public places - unless you can train him to walk to heel and come when you call him. That will be some achievement! but see above. If regular walks outdoors are not an option, you can probably get away with some happy games indoors, as long as you make sure not to overfeed him.   

The Tibetan Spaniel's Temperament

The Tibetan Spaniel just loves to be close to you and nestle in your lap. He is very affectionate, loyal and protective and he will warn you at the approach of any strangers. He is distant with strangers at first and takes his time to accept them. He is very loving with children, provided they realise how small he is and treat him gently.