Tibetan Spaniel C. MIller Size: about 10" tall (shoulder) Weight: 9-15 pounds Color: Mostly sables and fawns, some blacks, blacks and tans, and creams with or without white Origin: Tibet Purpose:companion dog Photo: This is C. Miller's Tibetan Spaniel, "RaKi" Formal Name: Ch. Tashi Ra Ki

The Tibetan Spaniel is not really a spaniel at all, but a small active companion dog. He is closely related to many of the popular breeds, whom he resembles. He is much like the Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, and Japanese Chin. He is just a shade larger than a toy, roughly 9-15 pounds and about 10 inches at the shoulder. He has a medium length straight coat that practically takes care of itself, medium-short slightly bowed legs, and a proud tail carried over the back. He has a pretty face with a small, blunt muzzle about a third of the length of his rounded skull.

It is really strange that the Tibbie, as he is known, is not more popular in the United States. He has been AKC registered for over ten years now, and has been popular in the UK. He has many features to make him desirable: his attractive, easy care coat, his small size, his healthy hardiness, and his lively personality.

The Tibetan Spaniel is an ancient breed. He comes from the high mountain country of Tibet, a stark land of little excess. He was kept as a companion. The smallest were usually kept by the monks and were highly prized pets. They served as sentinels and bed warmers. The Tibbie today still prefers to sleep on the bed with his master. He still loves to serve as watch dog by perching in a high place and barking at all "intruders". (Contrary to popular belief, Tibbies have never served as prayer wheel dogs.)

The breed was not well known in the western part of the world until the early part of this century. They were given as gifts from Tibet to other eastern countries for hundreds of years and contributed some of their qualities to the other oriental breeds. Since small dogs resembling the Bhuddistic ideal of the lion were often given to ranking officials in Tibet, it would seem that other eastern breeds contributed to the Tibetan Spaniel as well. Most eastern breeds seem to have been inter-bred, and thus have a similar family tree.

Tibbies can be very aloof with those people they do not know. A look from a Tibbie can be quite withering. They are independent and cat-like, even with their owners. A Tibbie truly believes that it is his duty to make sure you are warm and looked after. He wants to make sure that the car is safe for you to ride in and that your food is acceptable to eat, but he always does it with the flair that it is his idea, not yours. He is more of a companion than a slave, and no true Tibbie will ever be owned. He will own you. He is not good about obeying commands that he hasn't thought of first.

He is the ideal housepet. He is a remarkably clean dog, with no odor. Tibbies wash their faces with a wet paw, just like a cat. He likes to watch for strangers to come to the door, so he is a great watch dog. Tibbies are small enough to hold comfortably in your lap. They are very hardy and rarely ever sick. While they don't require alot of exercise, they enjoy walking in all sorts of weather. Tibbies can have large vocabularies and will astonish you with what they know.

Their attractive coats come in all colors, including white with patches of color. Their most common colors are sables and fawns, with or without black masks. They usually carry a "shawl" of longer hair on the withers. They usually have interesting shaded areas on their faces, making them appear to be scowling at something. They have beautiful faces with intelligent medium sized eyes. When their small, dropped ears are lifted in a listening pose, they can look most wise and thoughtful. Tibbies have an apelike look about their muzzles.

One of their most distinctive features is their gait. It is light, springy, and active. One or several Tibbies running in a large yard is a gorgeous sight; they are so free and light when moving it almost looks like they are skimming the earth.

Thankfully, no Tibbies can be found in pet stores, and most breeders are serious ones. If you decide you want to buy a Tibetan Spaniel, it would be best for you to contact the Tibetan Spaniel Club of America for a list of breeders near your home, as they are still quite rare in the US. Females come in season only once a year, and free whelp about 4-5 pups, mostly males; females are rare. It is extremely hard to buy a bitch; most are valued as brood prospects for this reason. Males do make delightful pets, however, so even if you have your heart set on a bitch, it may not be amiss to look at a male, should you find one available. All Tibbies are quite adorable when young; you must rely on a breeder who knows their lines to sell you one with show potential, should you want a show dog. While they are very healthy, it may be a good idea to ask for eye certificates because there have been some isolated incidences of PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy).

Recommended Reading:
"The Tibetan Spaniel Handbook," by Wynyard & Holsapple

C. Miller
cjmiller@micron.net
Copyright 1996. All rights reserved.