Dog Breed Guide
Tibetan Spaniel
Profile
- Size
- Extra Small
- Country of origin
- China (Tibet)
- Origin
- Ancient
- Bred for
- Monastery lookout, Companion
- Height
- about 25cm (10in)
- Weight
- 4 - 7kg (9 - 15lb)
- Life span
- 12 - 15 years
A small dog with a silky coat, a mane-like ruff around the neck and a plumed tail curled over its back. It comes in many colors, including gold, cream, red and black.
Smart and self-assured, the Tibbie shows deep affection for its family. It is very curious and likes to climb to high places to survey its surroundings, and its free-spirited ways are often compared to those of a cat. It is a little cautious with strangers.
It does not need a great deal of exercise and is easy to keep indoors. The coat is surprisingly easy to care for, and brushing a few times a week is enough. Despite the word "spaniel" in its name, it has no blood relationship to the hunting spaniels.
Good to know
This dog lived with the monks in Tibetan monasteries. Perched atop the high monastery walls, it watched over the surrounding hills, and when it spotted a stranger in the distance, it barked to alert the monks and the Tibetan Mastiffs below the wall. It is said to have had excellent eyesight and could see a long way.
Because the lion is sacred in Buddhism, the monks revered these dogs as "little lions." At night they slept with the monks and served as hot-water bottles in the cold highlands. They are even said to have been taught to turn the monks' prayer wheels, cylinders holding sacred texts.
These dogs were never sold and changed hands only as gifts. Some were given to the Chinese emperors, and they are thought to have played a part in the creation of the Pekingese and the Shih Tzu.