Tibetan Spaniel Dog Breed

Tibet

In the ancient Tibet there were some varieties of luxury dogs – apparently there still are- that had various roles in religious ceremonies. Since there were no canine clubs and there were not dog exhibitions, the division of "breeds" literally, even relatively, had to wait until the small Tibetan dogs were brought to the West.

The variety that is nowadays called Tibetan Spaniel is differentiated from the other types and could be described, with certain reservation, as a type between the Pekingese and the shih-tzu. Although there have been attempts to introduce the breed in many countries, it is true that there are a few specimens.

The Tibetan Spaniel must be elegant and have a very large body. The head is convex and the snout short, but not flat; the ears are down as in the Pekingese but the eyes are not so big and jumpy and the legs are longer and straighter. The tail must be like a feather duster over the loin and the hair although similar to the Pekingese should not be abundant.

Many colors are accepted: white, cream, fawn, golden, dark brown or black (uniform colors or multiple colors). The height at withers should not exceed 28 cm in males and 27 cm in females.