The Tibetan Spaniel
A small dog from Tibet with a keen eye for what’s going on. Cookie has her windowsill for that.
- Origin
- Tibet
- Height at the withers
- about 25.4 cm
- Standard
- FCI No. 231
What the FCI standard says
Standard No. 231 places the Tibetan Spaniel in Group 9, Companion and Toy Dogs, in the Tibetan breeds section. The breed originated in Tibet, Great Britain holds patronage, and the FCI requires no working trial.
Size, coat and temperament
The standard gives a height of about 25.4 cm at the withers and an ideal weight of 4.1 to 6.8 kg. The topcoat is silky and the undercoat dense. All colours and combinations are allowed except merle. The standard describes an alert, loyal and independent dog that can be reserved with strangers.
From monastery walls to windowsills
According to the American Kennel Club, these dogs kept monks company and watched the surroundings from monastery walls. Despite its name, the Tibetan Spaniel is a companion dog, not a hunting spaniel.
A few details to look for
The standard describes elongated hare feet and a well-feathered tail carried curled over the back when moving. The longer coat around the neck forms a mane, usually more noticeable in males.