The Tibetan Spaniel is an intelligent and loyal breed. But how do you know whether you are ready to purchase a pet and if this breed is right for you? This information is absolutely necessary in making the decision to purchase a pet.
History
The origin of the Tibetan Spaniel can be traced back to 19th century Tibet. Enthusiasts believe these dogs to have descended from such breeds as the Havanese, Pekingese, Pug, Japanese Chin, and the Tibetan Terrier, though this has never been proven scientifically or otherwise.
Throughout its history, the Tibetan Spaniel has been most commonly used for watching monasteries, killing small vermin such as rats and mice, and as a companion, proving its superior abilities to work and provide friendship.
The Tibetan Spaniel was imported to the United States in the mid 1900’s, and the Tibetan Spaniel Club of America was established in 1971. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1984.
Today, while the Tibetan Spaniel has attained an underground popularity as a watch and companion dog, the breed remains somewhat rare world wide.
Personality Traits
Best known for its spunky and feisty behavior, the Tibetan Spaniel is full of character. These dogs are highly intelligent, yet independent and overly confident, creating difficulty in training. As a pet, the Tibetan Spaniel is loyal, loving, trusting, and affectionate. This breed adapts well to indoor life, enjoys sitting on a high perch, and views spending time outdoors as a treat.
Train-ability
Due to its stubborn and overly confident attitude, the Tibetan Spaniel can prove challenging to train. This breed is known for growing tired an even annoyed with repetitive tasks.
Establishing immediate dominance, trust, and respect is key to successfully training the Tibetan Spaniel. These dogs respond best to a stern yet gentle approach by an experienced, patient, and confident handler.
Benefits and Disadvantages of the Breed
There are many benefits to owning a Tibetan Spaniel. This energetic breed is often quite amusing and entertaining to watch while at play. When properly socialized from a young age, the Tibetan Spaniel gets along well with older children and other pets. These dogs are very alert and aware of their surroundings, making an excellent watch dog, announcing the arrival of guests or unwanted visitors. The Tibetan Spaniel is loyal, loving, trusting, and affectionate, making an amazing family pet and companion alike.
Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages to owning a Tibetan Spaniel. These active dogs require large amounts of daily exercise and room to run and play. Anyone wishing to purchase this breed lacking the adequate amount of time and space to dedicate to the dog is strongly advised against doing so. A Tibetan Spaniel not receiving the proper amount of exercise and space will often act out by destroying property, chewing, digging, barking, whining, and ignoring basic training such as housebreaking.
Proper socialization is absolutely required with the Tibetan Spaniel. This breed is not well suited for small or ill-mannered children and may become aggressive and defensive when handled roughly.
The Tibetan Spaniel has a thick and full coat which requires almost constant attention, brushing, bathing, and grooming to prevent tangling and maintain its attractive appearance.
As previously mentioned, the Tibetan Spaniel remains somewhat rare world wide and can prove difficult to obtain. Individuals seeking to purchase this breed often encounter such challenges as inability to locate a breeder, extremely high prices, and being placed on long waiting lists.
Common Health Concerns
While the Tibetan Spaniel is typically known as a healthy and hearty breed, they do suffer from a few health problems, including: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation – dislocation of the knee, various skin and food allergies, progressive retinal atrophy, and cherry eye.
Now that you know all about the breed, do you think you are ready to own a Tibetan Spaniel? Remember, purchasing a pet is a big decision and should be discussed thoroughly and seriously with your entire family.
Sources:
http://www.akc.org/breeds/tibetan_spaniel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tibetan_spaniel
