General Appearance - Should be small, active and alert. The outline should give a well balanced appearance, slightly longer than the height at withers. FAULT-Coarseness of type.

General Appearance - Small, active and alert. Well balanced in general outline slightly longer in body than height at withers.

Size, Proportion, Substance - size-height about 10 inches. Body slightly longer from the point of shoulder to root of tail than height at withers. Weight 9-15 pounds being ideal.

Size - Ideal weight: 4.1 - 6.8 kg (9-15 lbs), height: about 25.4 cms (10 inches)

Neck, Topline, Body - Neck moderately short, strong and well set on. Level back, well ribbed with good depth.

Neck - Moderately short, strong and well set on. Covered with a mane or 'shawl' of longer hair, more pronounced in dogs than bitches.
Body - Slightly longer from withers to root of tail than the height at withers, good spring of rib, level back.

Head - small in proportion to the body and proudly carried, giving an impression of quality. Masculine in dogs but free from coarseness.
Skull - slightly domed, moderate width and length. FAULTS - Very domed or flat wide skull.
Stop - Slight, but defined. FAULTS - Accentuated stop; without stop.
Medium length of Muzzle blunt with cushioning, free from wrinkle. The chin should show some depth and width. FAULTS - Long, plain down face, broad flat muzzle, pointed, weak or wrinkled muzzle.

Head and Skull - Small in proportion to body, carried proudly. Masculine in dogs but free from coarseness. Skull slightly domed, moderate width and length. Stop slight but defined. Medium length of muzzle, blunt with cushioning, free from wrinkle. Chin showing some depth and width.

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Eyes - Dark brown in color, oval in shape, bright and expressive, of medium size set fairly well apart but forward looking, giving an apelike expression. Eye rims black. FAULTS - Large full eyes; light eyes; mean expression.

Eyes - Dark brown, oval, bright and expressive, medium size, set fairly well apart but forward looking. Rims black.

Ears - Medium size, pendant, well feathered in the adult and set fairly high. They may have a slight lift from the skull, but should not fly. Large, heavy, low set ears are not typical.

Ears - Medium size, pendant, well feathered in adults, set fairly high. Slight lift from the skull desirable but must not fly. Large, heavy low set untypical.

Mouth - Ideally slightly undershot, the upper incisors fitting neatly inside and touching the lower incisors. Teeth should be evenly placed and the lower jaw wide between the canine tusks. Full dentition desired. A level mouth is permissible, providing there is sufficient width and depth of chin to preserve the blunt appearance of the muzzle. Teeth must not show when mouth is closed. FAULTS - Overshot mouth; protruding tongue.

Mouth - Slightly undershot. Teeth evenly placed and the lower jaw wide between the canine teeth. Full dentition desirable. Teeth and tongue not showing when mouth closed.

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Black Nose preferred. FAULTS - Liver or putty-colored pigmentation.

Nose - Black preferred.

Tail set high, richly plumed and carried in a gay curl over the back when moving. Should not be penalized for dropping tail when standing.

Tail - Set high, richly plumed and carried in a gay curl over back when moving. (Not to be penalised for drooping tail when standing).

Feet - Hare-footed, small and neat, dewclaws may be removed. FAULT - Cat feet.

Feet - Harefoot. Small and neat with feathering between toes often extending beyond the feet. Round cat-feet undesirable.

Forequarters - Shoulder well placed. The bones of the forelegs slightly bowed but firm at shoulder. Moderate bone. FAULTS - Very bowed or loose front.

Forequarters - Moderate bone. Forelegs slightly bowed but firm at shoulder. Shoulder well laid.

Hindquarters - Well made and strong. Stifle well developed, showing moderate angulation. Hocks well let down and straight when viewed from behind. Feet as in front. FAULTS - Straight stifle; cow-hocks.

Hindquarters - Well made and strong, hocks well let down, straight when viewed from behind. Moderate turn of stifle.

Gait - Quick moving, straight, free, positive.

Gait/Movement - Quick moving, straight, free positive.

Temperament - Gay and assertive, highly intelligent, aloof with strangers. FAULT - Nervousness.

Characteristics - Gay and assertive, highly intelligent, aloof with strangers.
Temperament - Alert, loyal but independent.

Coat - Double coat, silky in texture, smooth on face and front of legs, of moderate length on body, but lying rather flat. Ears and back of forelegs nicely feathered, tail and buttocks well furnished with longer hair. Neck covered with a mane or "shawl" of longer hair which is more pronounced in dogs than bitches. Feathering between toes often extending beyond the feet. Should not be over-coated and bitches tend to carry less coat and mane than dogs.

Coat - Top coat, silky in texture, smooth on face and front legs, of moderate length on doby, but lying rather flat. Undercoat fine and dense. Ears and back of forelegs nicely feathered, tail and buttocks well funished with longer hair. Not overcoated, bitches tend to carry less coat and mane than dogs.

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Color - All colors, and mixtures of colors allowed. FEET - White markings allowed.

Colour - all colours and mixture of colours permissible.

Presentation - In the show ring it is essential the Tibetan Spaniel be presented in an unaltered condition with the coat lying naturally with no teasing, parting or stylizing of the hair. Specimens where the coat has been altered by trimming, clipping, or by artificial means shall be severely penalized as to be effectively eliminated from competition. Dogs with such a long coat that there is no rectangle of daylight showing beneath, or so profuse that it obstructs the natural outline, are to be severely penalized. Whiskers are not to be removed. Hair growing between the pads on the underside of the feet may be trimmed for safety and cleanliness.

TSCA Standard ©Copyright 1993 Tibetan Spaniel Club of America, Inc.

Faults - Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note - Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

The Kennel Club Standard -- The Kennel Club, United Kingdom, All Rights Reserved