TIBETAN TERRIER

The name that receives the tibetano Terrier must to an error or historical paradox. The ignorance of the members of the Kennel Club of England that considered that the dogs of small stature were Terriers, made that the Terrier as much tibetano as the Lhasa Apso was classified like the same race the Lhasa Terrier. In 1931 the Kennel Club of England I consider the Tibetan Terrier like a race aside from the Lhasa Terrier, this step soon to be called Lhasa Apso.

Terrier comes from the Latin terra (earth, ground) and makes reference to the dogs that hunt in the Earth. Terriers of Spanish origin is called mousy since rats and mice hunt. This function never was realised by the Terrier tibetanos or Lhasa Apso. Apso however makes reference in tibetano to dog of long hair. The tibetano Terrier is also known with the name Tibetan Terrier, Lhasa Terrier, Tibet Apso, Tsang Apso.

The tibetano Terrier is a race of more than 2,000 years of antiquity, original of high mountains of Tibet. The tibetanos began to separate the dogs that they had in great and small. This I entail to the existence of two types of dogs. “The Great Tibetano Dog” whose direct descendant is the Bulldog of Tibet or Do-Khyi, thinks that the Phoenicians exported to the West these dogs and had a great importance in the European formation of the Mastiff. The other tibetano dog was smaller and gave rise to Tibet Apso or tibetano Terrier, to the Lhasa Apso, and contributed to the formation of the Tibetan Spaniel, Pequines, etc.

The Terrier tibetanos extended soon like company dogs, being known like “small people”. By its good quality of sentry and its amiable character with the family quickly they were welcomed by the nomads. The sentry function the Do-Khyi shared with their “cousins majors”, the Terrier tibetanos woke up of their dream a little deeper. The Terrier tibetanos and the Do-Khyi also at present are understood well and shared their life in many families. Another utility that occurred to the Terrier tibetanos was the use of its abundant hair to make clothes, for that reason it was sheared to them partially in the months of summer.

The Terrier tibetanos was accustomed immediately to the nomadic life. The Climatic conditions of Tibet are very extreme, this located to about 3,500 to 5,000 meters of height, invier to us are very hard and long, whereas the short summers are very warm. All this has made of the tibetano Terrier a robust dog, that supports the extreme temperatures, steep lands, etc. Becoming thus ideal dogs for the pasturing and the familiar life.

By all means also they were bred in the monasteries, receiving a respectful treatment on the part of the monks, since according to the Buddhist-tibetana culture one thinks that all the dogs of long hair (Apso) are carrying of the reincarnated souls. For that reason one prohibited the sale and sacrifice of these dogs. Frequently they were given like gift or to be thankful for served.

The tibetanos monasteries interchanged Terrier with the nomads, being the larger dogs those that went to the nomads, whereas the nomads gave their smaller dogs to the monasteries. As the interchange were constant did not separate the race in two types and for that reason the size was stable. The monasteries also realised interchanges of dogs with other monasteries. This had one double function, like offering of respect and friendship like they refreshed the blood of his units. The Terrier tibetanos that was given was normally male. I know thought that they brought luck if one treated to them well.