Tibetan Terrier Care

The Tibetan Terrier (TT) is a small- to medium-sized, affectionate companion breed whose signature characteristic is its long, flowing coat. These dogs are actually not terriers at all, so they won't have the behavioral issues usually associated with terrier breeds; instead, TTs are loving and playful, they develop strong bonds with their humans, and they often suffer separation anxiety if left alone for long periods. Overall Tibetan Terrier care and maintenance won't take too much work, but will need to include daily exercise and frequent grooming--and most of all, plenty of TLC!

Below you'll find plenty of details on caring for a Tibetan Terrier, including info about puppy development, exercise and grooming needs, diet and nutrition, and more. Find answers to your questions about raising a Tibetan Terrier in the following sections!

As playful, enthusiastic companion dogs, Tibetan Terrier exercise requirements are moderate overall. Because they form strong bonds with their owners, these dogs will need activities in which their humans also participate. Those activities should also condition the dogs physically (walking fetch) and stimulate them mentally (games, canine sports).

Specifically how much exercise does a Tibetan Terrier need? Adult TTs, depending on their age and overall activity level, will need about 45 minutes of proper exercise each day. You can start exercising your TT puppy when it's 2½-3 months old by taking it on short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the pup grows.

Precautions with Tibetan Terrier exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're nine months old
• A leash is recommended when exercising in public
• Yards should be securely fenced to keep the dog from running off
• Prone to separation anxiety; exercises should be done together with people

It's important to exercise your TT every day. While they're normally good-natured, if these dogs don't get regular exercise they'll become frustrated, disobedient, and fussy. Consistent activity will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! A few exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 15-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: Tibetan Terriers usually love chasing a ball, stick, or Frisbee
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, TTs will enjoy the company of other dogs
• Canine Sports: These dogs can excel at obedience or agility trials and other events

When indoors, give your Tibetan Terrier access to balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also good to have a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and playtime in the afternoon.

These dogs will need moderate maintenance overall. Tibetan Terrier shedding is minimal if the coat is kept long, but it will need frequent brushing. Drooling isn't an issue.

TTs have double-layered coats with soft, woolly undercoats and long, straight outer coats that are often compared to human hair. So does a Tibetan Terrier shed at all? If owners keep the coats at full length, the shed hairs from the undercoat get trapped beneath the outer one, which basically makes a Tibetan Terrier shedless. Even so, owners will need to brush those long coats with a pin brush 3-4 times per week (if not daily) to keep the hair from matting and tangling. If the coat is clipped short, it won't need to be brushed nearly as much, but the coat will shed a lot more. In that case, hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors, and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will be required regularly.

A Tibetan Terrier almost never drools, though. If your Tibetan Terrier is drooling excessively, it might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

The Tibetan Terrier diet will need to include animal proteins and carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and omega fatty acids--nutrients every dog needs to maintain its health in the long term. This means the best Tibetan Terrier food is premium dry kibble, as it has balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients.

Adult TTs, depending on their age, size, and activity level, will need about two cups of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals.. TT puppies will need a little less: again depending on age, about 1½ cups per day, divided into three meals (not two) until six months old.

For more info on feeding from puppyhood through maturity, here's a Tibetan Terrier feeding schedule:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a little more adult formula to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

Try if possible to stick to the above-listed portions. Though they're not especially prone to obesity, if constantly overfed and under-exercised these dogs certainly can become overweight--and a fat Tibetan Terrier will have numerous health problems and a potentially shortened lifespan. You can help control your TT's weight by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time.

If you're worried your Tibetan Terrier is overweight, try this simple test: run a hand along the dog's side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time--which means less food and more exercise!

Though some opinions differ, a majority of veterinarians, breeders, and owners agree that the best dog food for Tibetan Terriers is premium dry kibble. This high-quality food, while more expensive, will provide your TT with the nutrients it requires to stay healthy throughout its lifetime. Cheap, generic food is not recommended for this breed, because it contains mostly empty "filler" ingredients that are unhealthy, are harder for the dog to digest, and may even shorten the dog's lifespan if eaten on a continuous basis.

Blue Buffalo, Taste of the Wild, and Royal Canin are three recommended brands that carry excellent lines of premium dry food.