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The Tibetan Spaniel
As a result of this exchanging of Tibetan Spaniels among Asian monasteries and palaces, this breed likely has many ancestors common to many of the other Oriental breeds, such as the Japanese Chin and Pekinese.
A scholar named Professor Ludvic von Schulmuth conducted research of canine origins through studying the skeletal remains of dogs that were discovered in human settlements ten thousand years ago. Professor von Schulmuth developed a genealogical tree for the Tibetan dogs. This illustrates how the "Gobi Desert Kitchen Midden Dog", which was just a tiny scavenger, eventually evolved into the "Small Soft-Coated Drop-Eared Hunting Dog" which was the immediate ancestor of the Tibetan Spaniel, the Japanese Chin and the Pekinese. By mixing these Tibetan breeds the Tibetan Spaniel was bred with the Lhasa Apso and also the Shih Tzu, which resulted in the latter two breeds having pups occasionally known as "Prapso" - a dog that has a shedding coat greatly resembling the Tibetan Spaniel.
The legends say that Tibbies were taught to turn the monks' prayer wheels, but more probably it was their keen eyesight which made them good monastery watchdogs, their barking alerting the monks of intruders. The Tibbies that were bred nearer to the Chinese border mostly has shorter muzzles than others.
The Tibetan Spaniel was prized as a companion and loving pet, and this through all the classes of Tibetan citizens. In the daytime, these dogs would perch on the monastery walls looking out across the countryside beneath the walls. Their sharp eyes and keen ability to perceive great distance combined with their barking, made them highly prized as watch dogs. Today, Tibbies still have their ancestors' attraction to heights.
As of January 1, 1984, the Tibetan Spaniel was accepted for AKC registration and was designated eligible to compete in the Non-Sporting breed category.
This dog has a happy personality and can be highly intelligent, assertive, and stand-offish to strangers. "Tibbies" can make great family pets where children are present, as well as for older adults. Tibetan Spaniels love attention and interacting with their master, but can also be willful and independent. Their bark warns of strangers in the area and anything out of the ordinary. they love to sit in high places where they can oversee everything in their environment.
The Tibetan Spaniel is an unusual breed of small, assertive, intelligent dogs which come from the Himalayan mountains of Tibet. They have a common ancestry with other breeds such as the Pekinese, Shih
Tzu, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso, and Pug. Despite the name, this breed is not really a Spaniel; it has been bred for different roles other than hunting like Spaniels. Another name for this breed is the
"Tibbie".
This breed began as tiny dogs living in the monastery, which were early varieties of the Tibetan Spaniel. They were trained to be loyal to their Lama masters and were thought of as "little Lions", which lent them prestige and high value. A common practice at the time was to send dogs as gifts to Chinese palaces and other Buddhist countries, so reciprocal gifts of "lion dogs" also came back to Tibet, a practice of exchanging dogs which continued until 1908.
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