March, 2024
We are from Tibet but…..
So, what’s in a name anyway? To all Tibetan Terrier owners, the answer is “a LOT”! The banner on the Tibetan Terrier Club of America website spells it out- We are not terriers, but we are from Tibet! I cannot imagine there is a TT owner in the world who has not had to explain at least once to a curious passerby that their adorable, hairy canine is not a terrier after all. So why all the confusion? The Tibetan name for the Breed is Tsang (one of three Tibetan regions) Apso (meaning shaggy or bearded dog) or Dokhi (meaning an outdoor or tied dog; watchdog) Apso, and they DO originate from Tibet. But somewhere between Tibet and now, things got re-interpreted.
According to an article in the Genetic Selection Evolution Journal published in December, 2019, entitled “Population structure and genetic history of the Tibetan Terrier”, their research results “reveal the relationship between western and native populations of Tibetan Terriers supports the hypothesis that the Tibetan Terrier belongs to the group of ancient dog breeds of Asian origin, which are close to the ancestors of the modern dog that were involved in the early domestication process. Thus, [we] were able to reject the initial hypothesis that Tibetan Terriers belong to the group of terrier breeds.” So, if we know that Tibetan Terriers are not terriers at all, then how did the name come about? In 1922, Dr. Agnes R.H. Greig, an English surgeon practicing medicine in India, was gifted a female Tibetan Terrier puppy (named Bunti) after saving the life of a Tibetan woman. For centuries, these dogs, fondly called “The Little People”, remained within the boundaries of the Tibet regions and were never sold, but instead only offered as a token of gratitude. It is believed that Dr. Greig was the first European to ever receive one of these dogs. While still practicing medicine in India. Dr. Grieg’s keen interest in dogs, especially this puppy, led her to the decision to register Bunti with the Kennel Club of India. The Club suggested that Bunti be registered as a ‘Lhasa Terrier’ (which was a similar but much smaller dog we now know as Lhasa Apso); however, because of that discrepancy in size, it was decided that before the kennel club would accept Bunti as a legitimate breed, Dr. Greig should produce three generations to prove consistency in conformation. And so, Dr. Greig’s breeding program began. In 1930, Dr. Greig presented three consistent generations of her beloved dogs, and the breed was officially accepted and registered with the Kennel Club of India as a separate, unique breed to be known as Tibetan Terriers, as they were considered to be closely related to the already-established Lhasa Terriers. But the Asiatic breeds didn’t really fit into the European dog categories, such as terrier, herding, sporting, etc. The placement of Tibetan Terriers into the terrier group of dogs was apparently based on the physical structure and size of the dogs, which was thought to closely resemble terriers. Historical information and genetic data don’t support this decision. But here we are. Dr. Greig returned to England with her now-registered Tibetan Terriers and continued her breeding program, and in 1937 the Kennel Club of England recognized the breed and kept the name from the original registration in India. In 1956, the first Tibetan Terrier made its way to America, and in 1957, the Tibetan Terrier Club of America was founded. The American Kennel Club accepted the Tibetan Terrier in 1973 and placed it into the Non-Sporting Group. Regardless of their name- Tibetan Terrier, Dokhi Apso, Tsang Apso or affectionate nickname of TT- these “little people” will always be loved by “their people”! We’ll just have to be ready with that history lesson when someone looks at our dogs and says, “Oh, I love terriers”!!
Janet Krynzel
Tibetan Terrier Club of America http://www.ttca-online.org
September, 2023
Tibetan Terriers: Our Spiritual Guardians.
Like so many Tibetan Terrier owners, I am often asked how and why I “got into” the breed. My answer always includes the word “destiny”, and I believe most TT owners would agree. So, in 1991, the advertisement read “Pet of the Week” and included a photo of the most adorable puppy face you could ever imagine. Little did I know just how much that newspaper ad would change my life forever. I wasn’t looking for a dog. My life was busy, and it had been years since I’d owned a pet. As destiny would have it, three days later I found myself at the other end of the leash, walking down the street with my new dog! Her name was Susie, and the Rescue was sure she was a Tibetan Terrier that had been abandoned in a nearby town. All I knew was that she needed me, and I would soon discover that I needed her. She would be at my side through some very challenging times, and I truly believe that she saved my sanity, and was the foundation for my path to happiness. Fast-forward 30 years and 12 Tibetan Terriers later, I am convinced that this wonderful breed creates their own destiny until they find the right person and circumstance. Every Tibetan Terrier that has come into my life has been there to guide me. Described as the Holy Dog of Tibet and initially given to visitors as a token of gratitude and good luck by the monks, Tibetan Terriers are truly the spiritual guardians and guides to those who are fortunate enough to be owned by one. In Angela Mulliner’s book, “The Tibetan Terrier”, a description goes as follows:
There are many stories of the Tibetan Terriers’ ability to assess a situation and act on their own initiative; natural guards, like all Tibetan dogs, they are extremely loyal to their owner and sometimes show a definite reserve or watchfulness in the presence of strangers. They are sensitive and intelligent though not nervous, and are quite prepared to stand up for themselves or their owner when necessary. …Though friendly with the entire household, there was always one person of whom they took special charge.
It is their unique ability to take special charge of their one person that makes TTs so endearing, and for many owners, truly lifesaving. Log in to any Facebook group of Tibetan Terrier owners and you will find countless stories of just how special and unique these “little people” really are, and what impact they have had on their owners’ lives. When dogs are described as loving us unconditionally, Tibetan Terriers take that to a new level. They guide us through illness, mental health challenges, life changes and day-to-day stress. In an excerpt from “TIME How Dogs Think: Inside the Canine Mind”, it is written “what began as a mutual-services contract between two very different species became something much more like love. None of that makes a lick of sense, but it doesn’t have to. Love rarely touches the reasoning parts of the brain. It touches the dreamy parts, the devoted parts- it touches the part we sometimes call the heart. For many thousands of years, it’s there that our dogs have lived”.
If you are fortunate enough to love- and be loved by- a Tibetan Terrier, your life will never be the same. Tibetan Terrier owners’ loyalty to the breed can only be outmatched by the breed’s loyalty to their owners.
Janet Krynzel
Tibetan Terrier Club of America http://www.ttca-online.org