History

In 1922 Dr. Agnes R.H. Greig, an English surgeon practicing medicine in northern India, was given a female Tibetan Terrier puppy in gratitude for saving a Tibetan woman's life. Dr. Greig was intrigued with the puppy and eventually requested to show her at the Delhi Show in India.
The judges had never seen a dog like this before and suggested that Dr. Greig try to obtain a mate for her from Tibet, and to continue the breeding, to see if the dog bred true.
This Dr. Greig did and in 1924 on Christmas Day, the first litter of her golden Tibetan Terrier, "Bunti", and the male from Tibet, "Rajah" was born. Eventually, Dr. Greig showed three generations to the judges and the India Kennel Club. It was decided that this was a pure breed and should be called the Tibetan Terrier although the dogs were not true terriers. On one of her trips back to England, Dr. Greig showed her Thoombay of Ladkok, born in a Tibetan monastery, at the famous Crufts Dog Show in London. He became the first Tibetan Terrier Champion in England. A handsome white dog, he was ten years old at the time.
Eventually Dr. Greig left India and returned to England permanently to raise her Tibetan Terriers there. She founded the famous Lamleh Kennels and protected the breed with enormous zeal, even through the difficult days of World War II.
After the war several other breeders became interested in the Tibetan Terrier, among them Connie and John Downey who raised and showed the breed under the famous Luneville Kennels prefix. The first "official" Tibetan Terrier in the United States was "Gremlin Cortina," a black with white female imported by Dr. and Mrs. Henry Murphy of Great Falls, Virginia, from the Lamleh Kennels of Dr. Greig.
Mrs. Murphy later imported a mate for "Girlie" (as Gremlin Cortina was called.) He was a tri-color named Kalai of Lamleh. The first litter was born at the Murphy's home in 1957, and "Lamleh of Kalai" became the suffix of Alice Murphy's Tibetans Terriers.
This began a life-long devotion to the breed on the part of Alice Murphy. In addition to her own dogs, she founded Tibetan Terrier Club of America and served as its president from 1957 to 1974. She was a member of the club's Board of Directors until her death in 1976.

Appearance

The appearance of the Tibetan Terrier is that of a powerful, medium sized dog of square proportions, with a shaggy coat. Overall, there should be a feel of balance.The head is moderate, with a strong muzzle of medium length, and a skull neither rounded nor flat. The eyes are large, dark, and set fairly far apart. The V-shaped drop ears are well feathered, and should be set high on the sides of the skull. The nose is always black, regardless of coat colour.

The body is well muscled and compact. The length of the back should be equal to the height at the withers, giving the breed its typical square look. Height for either sex is 14-16 in (35-41 cm) and weight is 18-30 lb (8-14 kg), with 20-24 lb (9.5-11 kg) preferred, but all weights acceptable if in proportion to the size.The tail is set high, well feathered, and carried in a curl over the back.One of the more unusual features of the Tibetan Terrier is the broad, flat feet, not found in any other dog breed. They are ideal for climbing mountains and act as natural snow shoes.

Temperament

The temperament of the Tibetan Terrier can be compared to that of an intelligent, loving, slightly mischievous child. Completely devoted to his or her people ( or person ), the Tibetan becomes a member of the family very quickly. The breed loves to travel and experience new places ( so long as you are nearby ). Perhaps the chief characteristics of the breed is it sensitivity to the moods of its owner and family. This factor, combined with its innate intelligence and devotion, makes the Tibetan Terrier a remarkable companion for life. Even in old age, there is a delightful childlike quality about the breed that most find endearing. They are merry companions.

Health

Although the breed is basically a very healthy one, hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) do exist in Tibetan Terrier. A dog's hips can be X-rayed after he is two years old and he can be assigned a registration number from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. A breeder should know about any health issue in their lines. If your Tibetan Terrier develops a problem, the breeder can contact your Vet to help direct him to others that may have encountered a similar problem. The Tibetan Terrier is long lived so be prepared. The average lifespan of the Tibetan Terrier can range anywhere from 15 to 17 years. Enjoy them.