Tibetan Terrier Breed Profile

Head: Mesaticephalic skull type, moderate in size, wedge-shaped under the fur, and in proportion to the rest of the body. The head is of a moderate length, with a fairly broad topskull. The topskull is fairly arched between the ears and from the occiput to the stop. When felt in profile or from above, the head tapers slightly from the topskull toward the nose. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles.

Eyes: Moderate in size, oval to open almond in shape, and medium to dark brown in color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.

Ears: Medium in size, set just above eye level, triangular in shape, and drop or pendant. They fall to the sides, hanging fairly close to the head. The ears are never long, overly large, or set high on the plane of the skull.

Muzzle: The muzzle is full, deep, and broad. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, approximately equal in length, have good bone substance, and are never snipey or weak. The lower jaw/chin is well-developed.

Nose: The nose is well-pigmented, black, or self-colored in nonstandard color varieties. The nostrils are well-opened.

Neck: Moderate length allows for an upright (yet natural) head carriage. It is strongly muscled with a slight arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.

Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows. The prosternum is only slightly developed.

Body: Compact, solid, and of good substance. The body is never racy or refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters. It is indicative of both speed and stamina without appearing racy and power without appearing bulky.

Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.

Tail: Set fairly high on the croup. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, forward over the back or to either side of the spine. The tail should never be tucked. The tail is of a moderate length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down.

Movement: Smooth, effortless, efficient, and energetic. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.

Temperament: Lively, even-tempered, alert, and watchful, the Tibetan Terrier breed are loyal and affectionate companions toward their people. However, they are known to be indifferent toward strangers. They are very protective of their families and make for exceptional watchdogs, barking to alert only when something is amiss and never indiscriminately. Their protective tendencies can become territorial aggression directed toward other animals if they are not properly trained and socialized from puppyhood. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.