Tibetan Terrier puppies

About the Tibetan Terrier

Despite the name, the Tibetan Terrier never worked as a terrier. They were kept in monasteries and villages on the Tibetan plateau as a companion, watchdog and bringer of luck, and were never sent to ground after vermin. Underneath a long double coat sits a squarely built small dog with unusually large, flat feet that spread like snowshoes on soft ground. The temperament is sensitive and watchful: devoted to their own household, reserved with visitors, and quick to announce anything unusual at the door.

Expect a busy dog rather than a lap dog. They want a proper daily walk plus something to think about, and many enjoy a window post or a stair landing from which to keep watch over the house. The full coat mats without regular sessions, so brush it through to the skin or keep it in a shorter clip. Rated three out of five with children and with other pets, they do well given supervision and steady socialisation. New owners most often underestimate the coat and let mats set in.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Tibetan Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), detectable by DNA test
• Primary lens luxation (PLL), detectable by DNA test
• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA3 and PRA-rcd4), detectable by DNA test
• Hip dysplasia and patellar luxation, screened by hip and patella evaluation
• Congenital deafness, detectable by BAER testing
• Thyroid disease, allergies and bladder stones, found on veterinary examination

Your Tibetan Terrier puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Tibetan Terrier.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 8.2 to 13.6 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 30 inch (30 x 20 x 23 in, 76 x 51 x 58 cm) for an adult of up to 13.6 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the Tibetan Terrier

Previous: Tibetan Spaniel · Next: Tornjak

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Tibetan Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/tibetan-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: PateraIncus, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.