Tibetan Spaniel Temperament: Little lions from Tibet
Tibetan Spaniels are a charming and loyal breed known for their gentle nature and affectionate temperament. They are beloved for their intelligence, playful spirits, and even-tempered demeanour, making them the ideal companion dogs for young and old alike. But the Tibbie also has a watchful and alert side, never missing the trick.
Before bringing a four-legged companion home, gathering as much information as possible about the dog breed is crucial.
In this blog post, we'll explore the Tibetan Spaniel's temperament in detail, its impressive history as the monk's best friend and potential health issues in the breed.
Are you ready for all that comes with owning a Tibetan Spaniel? Let's find out.
Tibetan Spaniel History
As the name suggests, the history of the assertive and small-sized Tibetan Spaniel starts in Tibet. They had the important job of watching over temples and monasteries and keeping monks and lamas company.
The Tibetan Spaniel has technically not much to do with the gun dog spaniels that we know today, and they don't share a common ancestry.
In Tibet, they're called "Simkhyi", which means housedog, bedroom dog or room dog. The name refers to their crucial activity as companion dogs in an often lonely profession. Lovingly called "little lion" by their keepers, these happy and lively dogs were the perfect companions with their family-orientated temperament. Hence, the reference to "little lion" is highly esteemed.
No one knows for sure when these little dogs emerged, but it is believed the breed is around 2,500 to 3,000 years old.
Tibetan Spaniels were never sold in Tibet but rather gifted to worthy friends. In the tradition, the little dog is priceless, hence can only be gifted. Traditionally, dogs were given as gifts often in that region, leading to ancestral ties between oriental dog breeds.
Professor Ludvic von Schulmuth has provided a genealogical tree of Tibetan breeds by studying skeletal remains dating back to the Paleolithic era (10,000 years ago).
The ancestor of oriental breeds was the "Gobi Desert Kitchen Midden Dog", which split into individual branches later. One of the lines is divided into smooth-coated little dogs like Pekingese, Japanese Chin and Tibetan Spaniel. The Papillon and long-haired Chihuahua developed on a parallel branch, and another was the basis for the Pug and the Shih Tzu.
Larger dogs like the Tibetan Mastiff, Lhasa Apso and Tibetan Terrier split up earlier.
In the Tibetan tradition, Tibetan Spaniels are considered sacred dogs by lamas and monks. All creatures should be treated with respect, as any human or Buddha can be reincarnated as a dog.
Tibetan Spaniels accompanied monks and lamas everywhere and sat on their laps during meditation sessions. In addition, they often lay on the high monastery walls, looking out and barking at everything they perceived as suspicious activity outside. This even allowed the larger Tibetan Mastiff to become more watchful as they tend to be tied closer to the ground. It also explains the affinity of Tibetan Spaniels to be close to vantage points to have a better overview of the terrain.
The first Tibetan Spaniels came to England around 1895. It is unknown if a Tibetan Spaniel called "Yezo" or "Ching" first laid paws on the England shores. Regardless, it wasn't until after WWII that the breeding in the UK started.
The breed started firmly established in the 1950s when Lady and Lord Wakefield imported a Tibetan Spaniel bitch from western Tibet.
They lived in India for a long time but decided to return to England.
The female Tibbie, Mughiwuli, formed the foundation stock of the breed in the UK, and most UK Tibbies can be traced back to her. Mughiwuli mated with Tashi and produced two little pups called "Potala" and "Garpon".
The Tibetan Spaniel Association was formed in 1957 to oversee the breed's interest.
The UK Kennel Club first recognised the breed in 1960.
The high-altitude mountains in Tibet are cold. To protect themselves from freezing weather, the Tibetan Mastiff has a double coat which consists of a soft undercoat for warmth and a silky, longer outer coat. That makes them perfectly adapted for temperatures up to minus 20 degrees.
The Tibbie can come in a range of colours. 35 are recognised as breed standard colours in the UK, like black, fawn, white, gold and red.
The below numbers of new registrations show how rare this breed is in the UK. If you're interested in the breed and spot a Tibetan Spaniel, we recommend speaking with the owner and learning more about them.
Q1 2021 | Q2 2021 | Q3 2021 | Q4 2021 | Yearly 2021 | Q1 2022 | Q2 2022 | Q3 2022 | Q4 2022 | 2022 Total |
16 | 43 | 68 | 53 | 180 | 30 | 51 | 29 | 41 | 151 |
Source: UK Kennel Club https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/2407/quarterly-breed-stats-utility.pdf updated March 2023
Now that we have a rough idea about their breeding history let's dive into how your life with a Tibetan Spaniel might look.
What is the Temperament of the Tibetan Spaniel?
Tibetan Spaniels are very outgoing and engaging, making them excellent companions. They quickly bond with their family and people they have built a level of trust. These lively little dogs are often happiest when spending quality time with their human companions, enjoying activities like cuddling, walking, or playing fetch.
Due to their predominantly low energy levels, they're excellent for retired and older adults. But also, a Tibetan Spaniel needs to let its hair down sometimes and enjoy "zoomies" in the garden. Mostly, they will love your company and happily curl up next to you on the couch. However, they have a playful side that needs to be catered for accordingly.
Being bred as a companion dog, the Tibetan Spaniel has an impressive depth of empathy towards their owner. They will feel when something is off; it can make them upset.
Their sensitivity makes them less suitable for busy homes with a lot of fighting and crying, as it will affect their happiness. On the other hand, if you're upset, your Tibetan Spaniel will respond kindly.
All in all, the Tibetan Spaniel requires more emotional support rather than physical exercise.
They will be happy with two short walks per day of around 20 minutes. Being sensitive means that the Tibbie doesn't like being left alone and can suffer from separation anxiety. A sad dog makes for a mischievous dog.
Opening shelves, shredding toilet paper or opening drawers to find treats: All not unheard actions of a Tibetan Spaniel suffering from separation anxiety or boredom. Being mostly at home or having a dog walker come in are important ways to alleviate the risk of naughty behaviour.
Socialising a dog early is imperative, but this mainly applies to watchdogs. They're naturally inclined to be more aloof and distrust strangers at first. In the case of the Tibetan Spaniel, it can lead to small dog syndrome with aggressive tendencies.
Therefore, it is crucial to calculate in time for puppy classes, walks in crowded areas, and visiting food markets and active regions so your Tibetan Spaniel can learn to adjust their behaviour accordingly.
A Tibetan Spaniel hasn't got an aggressive bone in them. So giving your dog the proper framework to distinguish between a business-as-usual situation and something more out of the ordinary is vital.
Getting on well with other dogs is fine for Tibetan Spaniels. They're used to working in tandem with Tibetan Mastiffs and other monastery dogs, so they're not usually unsocial with other dogs. Instead, they will be calm and collected.
Training a Tibetan Spaniel might be a bit of a challenge. They can display independent streaks and are often referred to as "stubborn"; however, it's more the case of their own agenda they'd like to follow.
Tibetan Spaniels can display a surprising capacity for independent actions. Although some have been known to show a satisfying display in agility-or obedience competitions, the average Tibbie will most likely not shine their brightest.
For that reason, many Tibbie owners don't trust their dogs off-lead as they want to avoid running after their small dog in public. However, the Tibetan Spaniel will return to you when they feel ready for it. You can improve your dog's obedience with calm and consistent positive reinforcement and understanding what makes them tick. However, don't be too upset when they display selective hearing.
The small Tibbie is also not a jogging partner for long, fast-paced runs. You should look for higher-energy breeds, like a Dobermann or Beagle, if you're looking for an athletic and high-stamina breed. Tibbies could tag along for a soft-paced jog.
Tibetan Spaniels are good with well-behaved children. However, a child should always be taught how to approach dogs respectfully. The Tibbie is a relatively gentle and patient dog but doesn't like being swooped up. As always, interactions between a dog and a child should happen supervised.