Excerpts From Alice Murphy's 1964 Book
"How to Raise and Train a Tibetan Terrier"

Published by:
1964 - T.F.H. Publications Inc.

History and Description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

In appearance the Tibetan Terrier ,has often been likened to the Old English Sheepdog in miniature. Tibetan Terriers, however, have a tail that is carried gaily or curled up over the back. Either tail carriage is correct. They have profuse double coats That is to say, there is an undercoat of fine wool, and the outer coat is long, with the texture of human hair. The outer coat is either straight or wavy, but never silky or woolly. The hair covers the entire face, often falling down well over the nose, making many people wonder how the dogs can see. In reality, they see very well, because they have exceptionally long eyelashes that tend to hold the long hair away from the eyes.

The body is the same distance from the withers to the root of the tail as it is from the withers to the ground. This "even" scale is repeated in the placement of the Tibetan Terrier's eyes; that is, the eyes should be set exactly in the center of the face. The distance from the nose to the eyes should be the same as the distance from the eyes to the top of the head. The legs, tail, and ears are well feathered, and there should be plenty of hair between the toes.

The Tibetan Terrier stands well down on his pads, not up on his toes. He is absolutely free of all odor. He is an alert, jolly, game dog, neither fierce nor pugnacious, but quite able to hold his own when the occasion demands; he is a delightful companion, possessing the full fidelity and hardiness of the other Tibetan breeds. Tibetan Terriers are long-lived, many living to the age of fifteen years and older.

DISPOSITION

Actually the Tibetan Terrier is not a true terrier at all, or at least not as we have come to know terriers today. Many, many years ago, long before purebred dogs were separated into breeds, there were only three kinds of dogs, classified as follows: all large dogs were called guard dogs, dogs of the next smaller group were all classed as hunting dogs, and all small dogs were called terriers. So it was that when early travelers into Tibet saw these small dogs, they said they must be "terriers." Thus the name became attached and has never been changed.

It therefore follows that the temperament of these little dogs is not necessarily comparable to the terriers as we know them. They do not have the peppery disposition and are quieter and more relaxed than the true terriers.

Tibetan Terriers are extremely loyal to their owners and are wonderful little sentinels. They will bark if strangers approach, but they do not keep up a senseless constant barking. They accept strangers into the home with reservation, preferring to sit back at a distance and study the visitor. Some friends will be accepted and others will not, but a Tibetan Terrier is never mean or snappy. They will never pretend affection and will be much obliged if visitors ignore them, if that is what they have indicated they would prefer to do toward visitors. If someone who is up to no good should approach the owner of a Tibetan Terrier, the dog can be very protective.

There is an authentic report regarding a group of people making a journey from one city to another in India during which the travelers were required to stop to make a camp for the night. The party consisted of several adults, a little girl, and a Tibetan Terrier. While the adults were engaged in setting up camp they heard a great barking by the Tibetan Terrier. Upon investigating they found that the little girl had wandered away a distance from the camp and that the Tibetan Terrier was actually keeping at bay a tiger that was trying to attack the child.

A Tibetan Terrier tries hard to please his owner, so the last thing anyone should think of doing is to slap a Tibetan Terrier for anything. All that is needed is that they be "asked" to do what is required and the request will be met at once. They do have ideas of their own at times, such as not coming immediately upon being called, as puppies, but as they grow older they will come when called. They do not roam, either males or females, and will not run away. This does not mean, however, that Tibetan Terriers should not be under control at all times. They should be exercised either in a fenced yard or on a lead in the street. They like to be near their owners, to the point of sometimes wanting to be able to sit in their owner's lap, but for the most part they are completely happy to lie on the floor at their owner's feet.

They are wonderful little travelers and sit quietly in a car or curl up and go to sleep on the seat. An eight-hour journey or longer will not faze them in the least. One owner found it necessary to make a trip from Washington, D.C., to the state of Nevada, taking along a Tibetan Terrier who had a litter of puppies only five days old. The trip took six days, and the little mother and her puppies did splendidly, all arriving in fine condition none the worse for wear from their long journey.

The colors of these little dogs are greatly varied. They come in all color from white, cream, gold, reddish brown, brindle, smoke, and black, to parti color and tri-color. There are also some chocolates, but these are not accept able to the Standard for the breed, as the Standard calls for a black nose, and it is next to impossible to find a chocolate-colored dog with anything but a liver-colored nose.

These "little people," as they are called by the Tibetan people, are exceptionally hardy. This is due mainly to the fact that there has never been any attempt to change the breed, aside from getting an even or almost even bite. There has been no breeding for any more of one thing or another in this breed. Such practice has in a number of instances weakened many breeds of purebred dogs. They are free of many of the diseases and ailments common to many other breeds of dogs. And, in spite of their heavy and profuse coat, skin trouble is practically unknown.

HISTORY

The history of these "little people" is both fascinating and romantic. Much has been written about them in various publications devoted to different breeds of dogs, but much of what has been written has either been in error, far from the truth, or in some cases completely ridiculous.

In order to make the history of the Tibetan Terrier perfectly clear it will be necessary to mention the other breeds of dogs native to Tibet. There are four pure breeds of dogs native to Tibet. They are the Tibetan Mastiff, a large dog, used as a guard dog and usually chained outside homes or places where a guard dog would be used. Then there is the Tibetan Spaniel, a small dog, about 10 inches in height and weighing from 5 to 10 pounds. They have feathering on the tail, some on the forelegs and chest. The face is free of long hair. They have been described at times as looking somewhat like a "poor Pekinese."

Then there is the Lhasa Apso; this breed has enjoyed popularity in the United States since the 1930's. The body is covered with a long, profuse coat, falling over the foreface, but they have short legs and the body is long in relation to the legs. Then there is the Tibetan Terrier. This breed is over two thousand years old and has always bred true to type.

Visitors to Tibet were not usually permitted to see a Tibetan Terrier. This practice is still the rule, or was until 1959, when the Red Chinese overran Tibet. That is why visitors to Tibet very rarely saw a genuine Tibetan Terrier, and many do not know the breed even exists.

They have been raised in the interior of Tibet since there were civil riots around Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, about 300 years ago. At that time all Tibetan Terriers were taken by the lamas out and away from Lhasa; they have not been raised in that area since.

The Tibetan Terrier is the true Holy Dog of Tibet. This does not mean that the Tibetans worshipped these dogs, but it means that they were raised in the monasteries by the lamas and were never sold in Tibet. Only a few were permitted to leave that country. They were presented to someone who was about to undertake a hazardous journey, or presented as a gift to a visiting dignitary, or given in return for what was considered a great favor or act of kindness. They are considered good luck in their native country. This is because originally the Tibetan Terriers came from "The Lost Valley of Tibet." They are the only breed in the world that can claim this romantic origin.

Heads of the monasteries visiting the Valley, previous to the great earthquake which took place about 600 years ago, and which closed the road to the Valley, were given a Tibetan Terrier as they left, to bring "Peace and Prosperity" to their monastery. In the course of years the name "Peace Bringer" became changed to "Luck Bringer," for in the Far East peace usually connotes good luck and prosperity. The custom set down by the lamas of the "Lost Valley of Tibet" hundreds of years ago has continued from one generation to another, down through the ages.

There is a similarity between the Tibetan Terrier and the Puli, in certain respects. It is believed that when the ravishing hordes overran Europe and the Far Eastern countries, Tibetan Terriers were stolen from Tibet, and taken back to Hungary where they were mated with native dogs. The Puli was thus evolved. The Tibetan Terriers were never used as working dogs in Tibet; they were always pets and companions. An older breed will always take dominance over a newer breed, so therefore many of the characteristics of the Tibetan Terrier are evident in the Puli, which has in its own right become a distinct breed. Pulik are larger than Tibetan Terriers and they differ in coat. Probably one of the most marked differences is in the gait of the two breeds. A Tibetan Terrier's gait is gay and bouncy . . . they lift their feet as though they are stepping over obstacles. A Puli does not have this characteristic. The colors of the Tibetan Terrier are also more varied than those of the Puli.

THE TIBETAN TERRIER IN ENGLAND AND AMERICA

Nothing should be written in connection with Tibetan Terriers without august and devoted comment regarding Dr. A. R. H. Greig, of Roydon, Essex, England. It was due to the untiring efforts of this wonderful lady that the Tibetan Terrier has been made available to people of the Western World. It was while Dr. Greig was practicing medicine in India during the 1920's that she was presented with her first Tibetan Terrier, by a Tibetan on whose wife Dr. Greig had operated and cured. This Tibetan's gratitude was so deep that he presented Dr. Greig with a gift considered to be above anything else he could give, a Tibetan Terrier.

About two years later Dr. Greig was able to obtain a mate for her first Tibetan Terrier and proceeded to breed them in India. It was through her efforts that the breed was recognized by the Kennel Club of India in the 1920's. Dr. Greig returned to England in the early 1930's and (again because of her breeding and devotion to the Tibetan Terriers) the breed was recognized by The Kennel Club in England, later in the 1930's; it has had championship status in England ever since. (The English Kennel Club requires 150 registrations be made every three years for any breed having championship status. Any breed failing to meet this requirement is automatically dropped from the stud book.) Dr. Greig's kennels are the famous Lamleh Kennels. Years ago she became known to the Tibetan people, who trusted her, and because of their trust she has been able to send some of her dogs into Tibet and to receive dogs directly from Tibet.

In 1956 my husband and I imported the first Tibetan Terrier into the United States. This was a bitch from the kennels of Dr. Greig. In 1957 we imported a male, and in March of 1957 the first "official" litter of Tibetan Terriers ever to be born in the United States was born at our home. Since that time we have made a total of ten imports, all from the kennels of Dr. Greig.

Tibetan Terriers are now represented in 25 states, and there are four in Canada. Interest is most marked, and although it is hoped that these little dogs will never be overbred it also is hoped that they will find their proper and rightful place in the sun of American dogdom.

Permission was granted by the American Kennel Club, in November of 1963, to show Tibetan Terriers in the Miscellaneous Class at all dog shows held under the rules of the A.K.C. This is the first step toward full recognition of the breed by The American Kennel Club.

Tibetan Terriers were first shown in the United States at The Seattle Kennel Club Dog Show, February 22-23, 1964. This was a most fitting and appropriate debut for the "little people." There are some refugee Tibetans in Seattle, all of high rank and noble birth. Among them two lamas, one of whom is considered to be one of the most learned lamas of Tibet and is now on the staff of The University of Washington. These lamas were so interested in the two Tibetan Terriers to be shown that they painted a picture to be placed around the back of the bench where the "little people" were benched.

This is indicative of the high regard in which the Tibetans hold these little dogs. Tibetans arc very devout and sincere people and would not pretend about even minor matters, much less about anything they considered holy or to do with their religion.

Although the Tibetan Terrier is only a medium-size dog, he is a big subject, and what has been said here is truly only a token of his long and fascinating history. Once you own a Tibetan Terrier you will want to learn more about him, and you will find means to turn up more information. If you own a Tibetan Terrier you do not really own a dog at all . . . you really have a "little person".