Breed Priorities – Tibetan Terrier

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294 – October, 2021

By Nikki Riggsbee

The Tibetan Terrier is an ancient breed from Tibet, but it is not a terrier by function or temperament. The breed has been long associated with Buddhist monasteries where they functioned as watch dogs as well as serving other functions. In Tibet, it is called Tsang Apso, “apso” meaning “dog” and from the Tsang province. It has also been called Dokhi Apso, “dokhi” meaning outside. It had been considered a sacred or holy dog that could bring good luck to his owner.

The first Tibetan Terriers were brought to England in 1922. They first came to the United States in 1956. AKC recognized the breed in 1973.

They are characterized by their shaggy double coat and flat snowshoe feet, both of which were useful in the harsh climate of the mountains of Tibet. Unusual among most AKC breeds is their acceptance of several different bites: tight scissors, tight reverse scissors, level, or slightly undershot. The standard calls for the back to be level in motion, though not described standing, perhaps because the hind legs are slightly longer than the forelegs.

Fifty-one Tibetan Terrier experts were invited by email to participate in a survey on their breed’s priorities for this article. Thirty-three accepted and were sent the survey. Twenty-seven of the group returned the surveys. The contributors have been in the breed an average for more than thirty-one years. Those who judge have been doing so for an average of nearly eighteen years.

Tibetan Terrier Virtues

The survey included a list of sixteen characteristics taken from the AKC Tibetan Terrier breed standard. The experts prioritized them from most to least important. Below is the list in order by the average of the experts’ ranks, with one being the most important.

Click here to read the complete article
294 – October, 2021

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