An intelligent companion who loves communication, takes part in long walks with pleasure or just sitting nearby, is friendly and cheerful, albeit with character - this is what the owners of the Tibetan spaniel characterize.
This is a decorative breed of small dogs, outwardly resembling an English toy spaniel. Dog handlers call it briefly - tibby. For many centuries, these animals were used by Tibetan monks to conduct religious rituals. Cute tibbies spun special prayer drums, with special texts arranged on them. The monks were sure that the participation of four-legged assistants in the ritual helps to attract positive energy and establish a connection with the spirits.
In addition, it was believed that the souls of the dead moved into these dogs. It is for this reason that animals were treated condescendingly, but without sentimentality.
Breed history
Researchers studying various breeds of dogs find it difficult to name the exact date of occurrence of the Tibetan spaniel breed. Descriptions of animals preserved in the chronicles date back to the 8th century. However, in the course of some researchers, a version appeared that the history of the breed significantly exceeds two thousand years.
Dog handlers believe that these dogs participated in the formation of some breeds - Shih Tzu, Japanese Chin, Pekingese. However, heated debate is still underway about this: for example, researchers cannot agree on who the Pekingese is - a descendant or ancestor for the Tibetan spaniel.
Representatives of this breed were introduced to Europe in the 19th century, but were not widely used at that time. Tibetan spaniels appeared in the UK in 1905. The development of the breed began after 1945. In 1961, the first standard was published and published. In 1988, a slightly modified version of the standard was released, which is valid today.
general information
The Tibetan Spaniel, whose photo is posted in this article, is a miniature dog. The growth of males at the withers does not exceed 27 cm, bitches are slightly lower - 24 cm, weight ranges from 4 to 7 kg. Life expectancy is about 15 years. Compared to the size of the body, the head is small. The muzzle is flattened, like a Pekingese, without folds. The nose is black. The lower jaw covers the upper teeth. The standard allows the jaws to be located at the same level, but only on condition of a deep chin, so that the flattened shape of the muzzle is preserved.
Eyes of medium size, oval, dark brown. Ears set high, hanging, covered with fluffy, silky hair. Tail with thick undercoat, set high. When the animal moves, it takes the form of a ringlet. The front legs are strong, may be slightly curved. The rear ones seem somewhat dry.
Wool
Reading the description of the Tibetan spaniel in various sources, we can conclude that the current two-layer coat was formed as a result of a long stay in the climate of Tibet. Such a fur coat protected animals from low temperatures and a piercing wind. The top layer is silky, the undercoat is thick and dense. The longest hair is on the hips of the animal. On the muzzle and forelegs it is smooth and short, on the body - medium length. The back side of the front legs, ears, tail are well pubescent. Any color is allowed: gray, bright red, white, golden, cream, black.
Character
The Tibetan Spaniel dog is a moving, cheerful and playful animal. She is equally friendly towards all family members, she feels great even in a very modest apartment. It is quite loyal to other pets, but only on the condition that Tibby got into the house as a puppy.
The Tibetan Spaniel breed has one interesting feature, thanks to which these dogs are compared with cats - they relieve stress. Abroad, these animals are often trained and used in canister therapy programs (a kind of zoototherapy designed to rehabilitate patients with impaired brain activity).
Long retreat in the monastery left its mark on the character of the animal. They react wary to strangers. Naturally, the miniature size of the Tibetan spaniel will not allow him to harm a person, and he will be able to warn the owner about the visit of unexpected guests.
Despite their quite friendly disposition, these animals are prone to independence. The Tibetan spaniel is characterized by self-confidence and a certain alienation. Tibby won't bark for no reason. Such a pet is hard to endure loneliness. For this reason, it should not be left unattended for a long time. In protest, he can chew on household items. The dog needs long and active daily walks. Otherwise, he will become irritable.
Content Features
The Tibetan Spaniel feels comfortable in a city apartment, due to its small size and simple maintenance, as well as in a country house. True, as we have already said, a passive lifestyle is not suitable for this dog. The spaniel must have a place to rest. To organize it, put litter in a draft-protected area of the room. Tibby will not refuse to rest on the couch, where he climbs on his own.
Spaniel Care
Keeping an animal does not cause serious problems, but such a pet needs regular grooming. It should be combed out every two days with a special brush. But water procedures for representatives of this breed are undesirable - they can provoke dermatitis.
You can only buy such a pet if it gets very dirty, but using shampoos and conditioners for dogs (Conditioning Rinse, One Step Herbal Shampoo Conditioner). Pat your pet’s hair with a towel after bathing and blow dry with a hairdryer.
Hygiene procedures
They provide regular care for your ears, eyes, teeth and claws. In spring and summer, you should take care to protect your four-legged friend from ticks, fleas and mosquitoes, which are carriers of dangerous diseases. Hartz products specializing in the manufacture of special sprays, shampoos, collars and drops will help you with this.
Examine the animal’s eyes regularly. When acidifying, clean them with antibacterial wipes or a damp cotton swab. Once a week, remove impurities and sulfur from your ears using a cotton pad that you can avoid wetting.
At least twice a week, your pet should brush his teeth, although veterinarians recommend doing this daily to prevent the formation of tartar. In specialized stores today you can buy pastes and brushes for dogs. For example, Trixie, Canine Tooth Paste 8 in 1.
Tibby's claws are sheared twice a month using a clipper. But if the dog leads an active lifestyle, they grind during walks.
Feeding
Experienced dog breeders know, and let beginners be informed that the dog's nutrition should be balanced. The animal must receive the necessary vitamins and minerals for full development. There is a basic rule in the diet of tibby - do not overload the animal’s diet with fatty foods. You can provide your pet with useful substances using natural products and using special dry and canned food. Tibetan spaniels require super-premium class formulations for small dog breeds. It could be Nutro Chois or Merrick.
If you prefer to feed your friend with natural products, you should understand that this does not mean that the dog can be fed with food that you eat yourself. This cannot be done. The diet of the animal should include:
- veal, beef, goat;
- offal (lungs, kidneys, stomach, liver, heart);
- boiled vegetables (carrots, beets, tomatoes, zucchini);
- porridge (buckwheat, rice);
- sea fish (notothenia, cod, hake);
- dairy products (kefir, fermented baked milk, cottage cheese).
Owners should be aware that maize and chicken in tibby often cause allergic reactions. If you find signs of such reactions in your pet, these products should be urgently excluded from the diet of the animal.
What not to give tibby?
A number of products are prohibited for feeding representatives of this breed. These include:
- bakery and confectionery products;
- pork, lamb;
- products containing starch, for example, potatoes;
- salted, smoked, spicy food;
- tubular bones.
Fish should be given only in boiled form, since fresh ones may contain helminths. Tibetan spaniel is fed up to three months 5-6 times a day, from 3 to 7 months - three times, after 7 months the animal is transferred to two meals a day.
Walks
As already mentioned, the Tibetan spaniel is an active animal that needs physical activity. It should be walked twice a day. The duration of walks should be at least an hour. Since the dog is very mobile, it should be led out onto the street on a leash. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to keep the pet under control.
So that the animal could throw out the accumulated energy, from a puppy's age, it should be accustomed to jogging or to ball games.
Parenting and training
It is necessary to start raising a Tibetan spaniel puppy as early as possible. Tibby can show character, and therefore it is not easy to teach them discipline. Education in the first months of life is primarily aimed at establishing contact with the owner.
First, the puppy must learn to respond to its nickname, to learn where its place is, to get used to walking on a leash. Spaniels quickly learn the commands "Sit!", "Nearby!", "Place!", "To me!", "It is impossible!" thanks to a fairly high level of intelligence. However, the owners should know that the animals are quite stubborn: do not be surprised that the first time the team will have to repeat 25-30 times each. To motivate your pet to perform the exercise, do not skimp on praise, treat him to a treat.
Puppy selection
If you, having read this article, decided to urgently go to the bird market for a charming puppy, we want to warn you. This breed is quite rare in Russia, so there can be no talk of acquiring a baby on the market. You need to find a specialized nursery for Tibetan spaniels. We want to warn right away that in Russia there are few of them, mainly in large cities.
As a rule, puppies are transferred to new owners at two to three months of age. By this time, the responsible breeder should give the baby the first vaccinations. You should pay attention to the appearance of the animal. The puppy should have an elongated torso, a domed head, a flattened muzzle, expressive eyes, rather wide set, even back, clean wool coat. The best indicator of Tibby's well-being is the behavior of the baby: a healthy puppy is playful, agile, inquisitive.