The Dogs of Tibet

Reprinted from the The Kennel Encyclopedia - 1908 Issue
General Editor - J. Sidney Turner, All photos taken in Nepal by Dr. Richard E. Zody '97

Interesting Facts

Last Tibetan Breed to be recognized by the AKC

Found in Eastern art as early as 1100 B.C.

Bred by Buddhist Lamas as companion and watch dogs

Share ancestry with Pekingese, Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu and Japanese Chin

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Tibet

Since the return of the Tibet Expeditionary Force to India a couple of years ago, much that was previously known about the breeds of dogs in that land has been confirmed, and the existence of others, not so well-known, has been revealed. Up to the time of the Expedition, Tibet was a closed land, and all information to be obtained about the dogs was what the Tibetans visiting India either could or would give. The existence of the larger dog of Tibet, the so-called mastiff, has been known to the " outer " world for a great number of years, and from time to time specimens, both good and bad, have found their way into India whence some have been taken to Europe and England. It is a well-established fact that the Tibetans have not as a rule parted with their best, and small blame to them for that. Of the smaller breeds, the Lhasa Terrier and the Tibetan Spaniel are the best known, they have been easier to get, and thrive both in India and England very well indeed. The same cannot be said for the mastiff; he cannot stand the plains of India even in winter for any length of time, while diseases, especially distemper, prove very fatal!.

The common dog of Tibet appears to be a sort of Collie-sometimes black-and-tan, sometimes of a browny colour; it is a lightly-made animal, and is probably a degenerate descendant of the Mastiff. In height it stands about 20 inches at the shoulder, has a long coat, bushy tail, ears mostly erect. This dog is the common dog of the people, and is not prized either by the monasteries nor yet by the higher grade Tibetans. Dogs of this breed were commonly known to the Expedition as the " Tibetan Collie "; many pups were obtained, and either were left behind, died on the way down, or else soon after arrival.

Another large dog constantly found in Tibet was a big, black Chow, generally with a white spot on the chest and white fore-paws. One of these was brought down to Rawulpindi, but there it died of distemper. From the fact that it has the black tongue and mouth of the Chow, the breed is probably pure Chow, though from the colder climate and higher altitude they have grown much larger than the ordinary Chows. They are described as being very fierce, but when obtained as pups they become very docile and affectionate.

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The Tibetan Mastiff

The Tibetan Mastiff is now so well known that it scarcely needs to be described. It is undoubtedly the sacred breed, highly prized and difficult to get. There are plenty of inferior specimens, but the huge big dog with the massive head, rounded skull, pendulous flews, small dark eyes showing much haw, plenty of wrinkle, almost invariably black with tan points, is only as a rule to be found in the larger monasteries, or outside the premises of the richer Tibetans. All those that were seen showed great weakness in the hind-quarters, probably caused by their being tied up without exercise from puppyhood. They are exceedingly fierce, and are used by the Tibetans as guardians to their villages and houses, eight or ten as a rule being tied up outside the village, and others left loose perhaps in the courtyards of the houses. A very large number were shot during the Expedition by both officers and British or native soldiers purely in self-protection. As one Officer remarked, they were far more troublesome than the Tibetans. Another wrote- "In entering farmhouses in search of fodder, we had to be very careful about loose dogs, and generally put an arm with the revolver cocked through the gate before going in, or else kicked open the gate and waited with cocked revolvers for what came out. Often the dogs would be left loose in the village when the inhabitants fled." Most of those that were shot were not of the best type, which, as we have already mentioned, is generally only to be found at the monasteries.

There are, of course, all degrees of the Mastiff, as there necessarily must be in such a country as Tibet, but they all appear to agree in one point-and that is fierceness. It seems that the inhabitants of the Kham country, which was not visited by the Expedition, breed and own' the finest specimens; they are also said to breed a kind of Greyhound, but no one was able to get a glimpse of one. Although swarms of Tibetan dogs of all kinds came back to India with the Force, for it must be remembered that two years were spent in the country, yet as far as can be found out only two or three really typical Mastiffs were brought down, one of which, at all events, has found its way to England. The Tibetans recognize two varieties-the rough and the smooth, though they value the rough most. The two strains, for they are not distinct breeds, resemble each other in every respect except coat. Both are to be found at the monasteries or with the richer and more influential natives.

Tibet is rich in small breeds. The Lhasa Terrier and the Tibetan Spaniel of the broad-nose kind, like the type originally shown by the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison are recognized by the Kennel Club, and have been often exhibited in England. There is, however, another small breed, called also by some the Tibetan Spaniel, in which the nose is pointed; it is not so long in the back, its legs are not so feathered, the coat is dense and only fairly long; legs straight and of moderate bone, tail curled up over the back. The usual colour is black, generally with a white mark on the chest, white paws both fore and hind, and under the belly two small white patches exactly corresponding. This dog has been also called the "Spitz-like Tibet dog "- a name without meaning. Sometimes the colour is sandy red, and even parti-colour; it is a small dog, but varies a bit in size. We have seen them of 10 lbs. weight, while others would scale 15 lbs. It appears to be quite a distinct breed, and breeds true to type.

The other illustration is of a Spaniel that comes into Northern India from Tibet via Leh, and is a perfectly different class of dog. To begin with, it is very much bigger, coat much longer, feathered much more, head much broader, nose much blunter. And here appears a difficulty: how are these breeds to be distinguished ? They cannot all be called by the name "Spaniel," which at best is a misnomer. They represent three distinct breeds, and might be designated by three distinct names, but what those names ought to be we do not venture to suggest.

And now there comes the question as to how far Tibet has derived her smaller breeds from China. It is a difficult one to answer, and we are inclined to think also, one that can never be really satisfactorily solved. As we all know, China has constant communication with Tibet, and it practically has always been so. It may be that China's small dog, the Pekingese, found its way by caravan to Tibet, and there would be nothing strange in that, and has in time degenerated to the present type of Tibetan "Spaniel." Many of those who were up in Tibet spoke of "the Chinese small dogs in Tibet," and yet it has been also asserted that China owes her small dog to Tibet. Anyway, there is a very distinct resemblance between the breeds. This was emphasized by the arrival of some Tibetan " Spaniels," golden-tan and white in colour, which were exactly like some Pekingese dogs, in size, colour and type, that came from Peking after the late China War. It would be very interesting if we could really find out the exact case; at present it is impossible to get reliable information from the Tibetans, for they will tell the inquirer whatever they think would please him, so, much that has been culled from them is hardly worth having without severe sifting. However, let us live in hopes.

No attempt is here made to enter into any discussion as to the Tibetan " Spaniel " that is known to the English dog world, but it is impossible to avoid mentioning the breed in connection with the others.

In addition to the Lhasa Terrier known to most English Show-goers, there is a larger Terrier? closely resembling the smaller one in general outline and character. It is prized by the Tibetans and is to be found only in the houses of the rich natives. It differs chiefly from the Lhasa Terrier' in colour and size: all the specimens that we have seen are the same chestnut-grizzle, with light tan paws, tan on the chest and muzzle. We saw them before the Expedition and have seen them since. The one in the illustration was obtained in Lhasa from a wealthy native. In size they stand 13 to 14 inches high, fairly long in body, very straight in leg, good in bone, but a bit stilty in action. The weight runs from 20 to 25 lbs. for an average specimen. It will be seen that they are from three to four inches higher at the shoulder than the smaller Lhasa l Terrier, and weigh proportionately heavier. They appear also to be a distinct breed, and might almost be called "The Greater Lhasa Terrier." They are thorough Terriers in every way, very hardy, and do not appear to mind the plains of India to any great extent.

Summing up, it may be said that of the known breeds of Tibet, probably two only are actually indigenous, namely, the Mastiff and the Lhasa Terrier-the other large dogs being merely inferior varieties of the aforesaid Mastiff, while the origin of the "Spaniel" and "Spitz-like" breeds is : most likely traceable to Chinese importation's, unless it can ever be authentically proved that it is the other way about.

Some very weird specimens of dogs came down from Tibet; there is one living close by, which has the head, coat, etc., of the Mastiff but the body of a Basset, crooked legs, low to the ground, long body-all complete. It has gone through two hot weathers already, and still survives. It is a funny looking animal; so also are many of the rest that were brought down.

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The Lhasa Terrier

It has been asked by some why our shaggy little friend should be called the Lhasa Terrier, as it does not especially come from the capital of Tibet, any more than the Fox Terrier comes especially from London, and could with as great show of reason be called the London Terrier. When first introduced into this country it was called Bhutia and Bhutanese. It is to be found in Bhutan and other hill countries bordering Tibet. It is a great pity that there are not more of the breed in this country, as they have a very distinct character and a quaintness all their own; but our stringent quarantine laws block the way to many a "would be" exhibitor.

The Lhasa Terrier has a love of locality as well as of the person. He likes to guard not only his beloved master, but like his right royal countryman, the Tibet Mastiff who guards the flocks and homes, this little busy body of the mystic land delights in protecting his master's room, clothes, or any of his possessions. He has a habit that appears to be hereditary, of sitting up on his little short hind legs and moving his front paws up and down very quickly, in a sort of begging attitude, that is very quaint and engaging.

The Lhasa Terrier should be very shaggy in coat, with a general appearance of untidiness; the coat should be rough looking, but really silky in its texture; his head of moppy hair completely obliterating his eyes. The tail should be plume like, carried over the back, and almost hidden in the denseness of his coat. The legs should be quite straight and short, so that the body is low to the ground. In colour he may be white and black, grey, silver, or coffee-coloured, etc.; any colour is permissible. Size-smallness in size ought certainly to be valued, but as yet we have too few specimens in England to decide what the limit of weight or size should be.

Let us hope that this-one of the quaintest of dogs- has come to stay, and to appear in our shows in ever increasing numbers, and that enterprising fanciers will venture to bring new specimens to our shores.

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The Tibet Spaniel

The Tibet Spaniel gains in daintiness what it loses in quaintness over the Lhasa Terrier. He does not prance and dance and scamper at his master's heels; he is my lady's lap-dog, the "King Charles" of the East. His small feathered feet seem made to rest on silken cushions, not like the soft big shaggy paws of the little Lhasa, for duty in the snow.

The Tibet Spaniel is far more numerous in England than is the Lhasa Terrier, but he is still waiting for the Championship rights which the latter has already obtained. A short time ago we found in all descriptions of Tibet Spaniels the colour described as black with some white, or white with black markings. In recent years tan with black, cream and other colours have been imported; and brown, bright orange, and brindle specimens, have been bred in this country. A lovely white and tan dog has been imported, which was brought back by the recent expedition after having, with the charming little female, his kennel companion, walked nearly the whole way from Tibet to India. They are a pair of Tibet Spaniels, similar to those already in England, who undoubtedly came straight from Tibet-the genuine article. Their appearance at leading Show should give an impetus to the breed.

It is stated with some authority that the Tibet Spaniel, known for hundreds of years in the monasteries of Tibet, is the original ancestor of the Pekingese, Japanese, and English Toy Spaniel. The writer firmly believes this to be the case. The monks of the Far East know both their value and their good points, and it is very difficult to obtain a good one from them to take out of the country . The Tibet Spaniel is rather long in body and low to the ground, but withal a small dog, quite a toy; bigger ones are often excellent specimens, but the smaller ones should be most valued and encouraged by exhibitors.

The legs are straighter than those of the Pekingese, but they are similarly tufted. The coat also lies flatter than that of the Pekingese, and the mane is not so prominent, though a good frill adorns the throat of the dog when in full coat. The tail should be carried plumed over the back. The most important feature in the Tibet Spaniel is the head, which should never at all approach to that of the snub face of the Pekingese. The female has the longer face as a rule, but in good specimens there is a somewhat square looking muzzle, which is still more marked in the best males. The eye is large, but not so prominent as in the Japanese, yet most expressive. The Tibet Spaniel is very intelligent and engaging, whilst his pretty ways and charming appearance make him presentable amongst the daintiest sofa cushions of his mistress. Even if the larger specimens be kept in the "kennel," the smaller ones should grace the drawing-room and have the run of the house, as is the custom in Anglo-Indian homes where this charming little Oriental is constantly to be found. It is to be hoped that the Tibet Spaniel will take his proper place on the show benches before very long.

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Other Varieties

Closely related to the Tibetan Mastiff is the Bhutia Sheepdog. It is found all along the Himalayas, chiefly with the gadis, or sheep owners. It is an exceedingly powerful animal, and two of them are said to be more than a match for a panther. There are generally two or three with every large drove of sheep, and they usually wear large leather collars with spikes to protect them in their fights with the panthers, for it is always at the neck that the panther strikes. The real home of this dog is Bhutan, but, like the Bhutia pony, it is found everywhere along the hills. Sometimes quite perfect specimens of the Tibetan Mastiff are found with these gadis. The Bhutia Sheepdog is not as a rule a pleasant animal to meet on the hillside, for it will often attack Europeans without provocation, in which case sticks are useless-stones are the only things that will keep it off.

Editor's Note:
As the Rev. H. W. Bush points out (page 809) the name of Spaniel" is At best a misnomer. It was formerly affixed to the Pekingese and Japanese, but has of late years been omitted by the Kennel Club. The Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison states her belief in the origin of the Pekingese, Japanese, and English Toy Spaniel, from the Tibetan. There is no doubt that the Toy Spaniels of the present time have been crossed with Japanese Toy Dogs from the East to get the shorter face, now unfortunately the fashion in these breeds; but it must remain a doubtful question whether either of these three breeds of dogs originally came from Tibet. It is quite as probable that the Chinese who overran Tibet in the 13th century, when it was quite a barbarous country, introduced their dogs about that time; China having been civilized for many hundreds of years - General Editor.

Authors of the articles on Tibetan breeds were as follows:
"The Dogs of Tibet"- Rev. H.W. Bush
"The Lhasa Terrier" and "The Tibet Spaniel"- A. McLaren Morrison

Bhutan stamps from the collection of Dr. Regis Chapman

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