The Tibetan Terrier was recognized by the United Kennel Club
in 1973.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
The Tibetan Terrier is a medium sized, powerfully built,
square breed with a profuse coat that comes in a variety of colors. It has
large, flat feet and a high set tail that curls over the back.
CHARACTERISTICS
The breed is highly intelligent, sensitive, loyal, devoted
and affectionate. They may be cautious or reserved with strangers.
HEAD
The head is well furnished with long hair that falls over
the eyes and the foreface.
SKULL - The skull is of
medium length and width, slightly wider at the ear than at the eye. It is
slightly rounded in shape, and there is a marked stop.
MUZZLE - The muzzle is
strong, with a well-developed lower jaw. The length of the muzzle is equal to
the length of the skull. The cheeks are well-developed, but not bulging.
NOSE - The nose is
always black.
Fault: Nose any other color than black.
TEETH - A full
complement of strong, white teeth meet in a scissors, even or reverse scissors
bite. The incisors are set in a slight curve between the canine teeth.
Faults: Overshot bite. Very undershot. Wry mouth.
EYES - The eyes are
large, dark brown in color and set fairly wide apart. The eyelids are dark in
color.
Faults: Prominent or sunken eyes.
EARS - Pendant,
V-shaped ears fall not too close to the head. They are heavily feathered and
should not be too large.
NECK
The length is in proportion to the body and the head. It is
well set on, slightly arched and is carried erect.
FOREQUARTERS
The shoulders are sloping, well laid back, and are well
muscled.
FORELEGS - The forelegs
are straight and strong when viewed from the front, and are heavily furnished.
The distance from the withers to the elbow equals the distance from the elbow
to the ground. The pasterns slope slightly. Dewclaws may be removed.
BODY
The body is compact, square and strong. The chest is deep,
and the ribs are well-sprung. The topline is level to the loin, which is short,
strong and slightly arched. The croup is flat to the set on of the tail.
HINDQUARTERS
Fairly broad, and well-muscled.
HIND LEGS - The hind
legs are well bent at the stifle, with low set hocks. Dewclaws may be removed.
FEET
The feet are unique, being large, flat and round in shape,
producing a snowshoe effect that provides traction. There is no arch in the
toes. The feet are heavily furnished with hair between the toes and the pads.
TAIL
The tail is of medium length and is heavily furnished. It is
set on fairly high and falls forward over the back. It may curl to either side.
There may be a kink near the tip.
COAT
The Tibetan Terrier has a profuse, double coat. The
undercoat is soft and woolly. The outer coat is long and fine. It may be wavy
or straight.
Note: Sculpting,
scissoring, stripping and/or shaving are totally contrary to breed type and are
serious faults.
COLOR
Any color or combination of colors, including white, are
acceptable.
GAIT
At a trot, the gait is smooth and free, with good reach and
powerful drive. There should be a tendency to single track.
HEIGHT & WEIGHT
The average height for males is 14 to 16 inches. Slightly
less for females.
Weight range is
approximately 18 to 30 pounds.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme
shyness. Albinism.
AKC TIBETAN TERRIER BREED STANDARD
(from the AKC website, 2012)
General Appearance
The Tibetan Terrier is a medium-sized dog, profusely coated, of powerful build,
and square in proportion. A fall of hair covers the eyes and foreface. The
well-feathered tail curls up and falls forward over the back. The feet are large,
flat, and round in shape producing a snowshoe effect that provides traction.
The Tibetan Terrier is well balanced and capable of both strong and efficient
movement. The Tibetan Terrier is shown as naturally as possible.
Head Skull--Medium
length neither broad nor coarse. The length from the eye to the tip of the nose
is equal to the length from eye to the occiput. The skull narrows slightly from
ear to eye. It is not domed but not absolutely flat between the ears. The head
is well furnished with long hair, falling forward over the eyes and foreface.
The cheekbones are curved but not so overdeveloped as to bulge. Muzzle--The
lower jaw has a small amount of beard. Stop--There is marked stop but not
exaggerated. Nose--Black. Teeth--White, strong and evenly
placed. There is a distinct curve in the jaws between the canines. A tight
scissors bite, a tight reverse scissors bite or a level bite are equally
acceptable. A slightly undershot bite is acceptable.
Eyes--
Large, set fairly wide apart, dark brown and may appear black in color, neither
prominent nor sunken. Eye rims are dark in color. Ears--Pendant, falling
not too close to the head, heavily feathered with a "V" shaped
leather proportionate to the head.
Faults--Weak
pointed muzzle. Any color other than a black nose. Overshot bite or a very
undershot bite or a wry mouth. Long narrow head. Lack of fall over the eyes and
foreface.
Neck and Body Neck--
Length proportionate to the body and head. Body--Compact, square
and strong, capable of both speed and endurance. Topline--The back is
level in motion. Chest--Heavily furnished. The brisket
extends downward to the top of the elbow in the mature Tibetan Terrier. Ribs--The
body is well ribbed up and never cloddy or coarse. The rib cage is not too wide
across the chest and narrows slightly to permit the forelegs to work free at
the sides.Loin--Slightly
arched. Tail--Medium length, heavily furnished, set on fairly
high and falls forward over the back, may curl to either side. There may be a
kink near the tip.
Forequarters
Shoulders--Sloping,
well muscled and well laid back. Legs--Straight and strong when viewed
from the front. Heavily furnished. The vertical distance from the withers to
the elbow equals the distance from the elbows to the ground. Feet--The
feet of the Tibetan Terrier are unique in form among dogs. They are large,
flat, and round in shape producing a snowshoe effect that provides traction.
The pads are thick and strong. They are heavily furnished with hair between the
toes and pads. Hair between the toes and pads may be trimmed level with the
underside of the pads for health reasons. The dog should stand well down on its
pads. Dewclaws--May
be removed.
Hindquarters
Legs--Well
furnished, with well bent stifles and the hind legs are slightly longer than
the forelegs. Thighs--Relatively broad and well
muscled. Hocks--Low set and turn neither in nor out. Feet--Same
as forefeet. Dewclaws May be removed.
Coat
Double coat. Undercoat is soft and woolly. Outer coat is profuse and fine but
never silky or woolly. May be wavy or straight. Coat is long but should not
hang to the ground. When standing on a hard surface an area of light should be
seen under the dog. The coat of puppies is shorter, single and often has a
softer texture than that of adults. A natural part is often present over the
neck and back. Fault--Lack of double coat in adults.
Sculpturing, scissoring, stripping or shaving are totally contrary to breed
type and are serious faults.
Color
Any color or combination of colors including white are acceptable to the breed.
There are no preferred colors or combinations of colors.
Gait
The Tibetan Terrier has a free, effortless stride with good reach in front and
flexibility in the rear allowing full extension. When gaiting the hind legs
should go neither inside nor outside the front legs but should move on the same
track approaching single tracking when the dog is moved at a fast trot. The dog
with the correct foot and leg construction moves with elasticity and drive
indicating that the dog is capable of great agility as well as endurance.
Size
Average weight is 20 to 24 pounds, but the weight range may be 18 to 30 pounds.
Proportion of weight to height is far more important than specific weight and
should reflect a well-balanced square dog. The average height in dogs is 15 to
16 inches, bitches slightly smaller. The length, measured from the point of
shoulder to the root of tail, is equal to the height measured from the highest
point of the withers to the ground. Faults--Any height above 17 inches or
below 14 inches.
Temperament
The Tibetan Terrier is highly intelligent, sensitive, loyal, devoted and
affectionate. The breed may be cautious or reserved. Fault--Extreme shyness.
