A little over three years ago, I became the proud new owner of a Tibetan Spaniel named Tashi (pictured above, and throughout the article). I had done plenty of research on the breed beforehand, which I originally discovered while simply flicking through a book of dog breeds. However, even after all my research, there were some things that I only learned through hands-on experience with a Tibbie.
1. Tibetan Spaniels have soft fur.
Very, very, soft. Literally every stranger who pets my dog exclaims "He's so soft!" (Or "She's so soft!") Sometimes, even people who have met Tashi before still can't help but remark on how soft his fur is.
2. Small, soft dogs are automatically female.
Most strangers seem to assume that Tashi's a girl, as they ask what "her" name is or squeal about how cute "she" is. The only reason I can think of that would lead people to think that is that Tibbies are small, fluffy, and ridiculously adorable.
3. You get used to people assuming you have a Pekingese...
"What a beautiful Peke!" passersby tell me when they see Tashi. Or, if they stop to pet him, they'll ask, "Is that a pure Pekingese?" No, he's not. He's a Tibetan Spaniel. "Oh, I've never heard of that before."
4. ...Which means you immediately bond with fellow Tibbie people.
I've met other Tibbie owners who have been delighted that I recognized their dog's breed. Or, somebody might have a family member with Tibbies, and is happily surprised to see someone else with the same breed. Rare breed lovers, unite!
5. Doggie dental care is really important.
I would read about it all the time in dog books and magazines, how you're supposed to brush your dog's teeth every day, but I figured, eh, they're dogs, it's not a big deal. Once you have a dog with a squished-in face, however, the tartar builds up at an alarming rate, and it's either daily brushing and dental treats, or frequent (and very expensive) professional dental cleanings.
6. Sun patches are the source of supreme contentment.
Anytime the sun is shining through the living room window, my Tibbie will stretch out on an illuminated patch of carpet, squeezing his eyes in such a happy, relaxed way. If the curtains aren't open enough to allow a decent space to lie down in, he will whine to let us know that he needs more sunlight.
7. Commands are optional, from the dog's point of view.
Tibetan Spaniels are very independent, and while they are very smart and trainable, if they don't feel like listening, they won't. Period. That's why we'll probably never let him off-leash at the dog park, at least until he's too old to move very fast. And when we're on walks, he'll often stop, drop, and roll in the middle of an intersection, no matter whether or not I've got treats to encourage him along.
8. There's no such thing as "fetch."
It's usually more of a "throw the ball and maybe I'll bring it or maybe I won't" kind of game. Or, instead of bringing the toy back, he'll take it over to a home base of sorts, perhaps a pillow or bag on the floor (or a sun patch).
9. The dog books are completely accurate in their descriptions.
In her book about Tibetan Spaniels, Juliet Cunliffe described the breed as "part dog, part cat, part monkey," which I found amusing, but wasn't sure whether or not to really believe it. Well, after three years of living with a Tibbie, I can say that it is true—Tashi is a very loyal dog, yet with all the independence of a cat, and definitely just as mischievous as a monkey.
10. Tibetan Spaniels think they are Tibetan Mastiffs...
In Tashi's mind, he is massive and muscular, the defender of the house. We are alerted to the presence of every single dog that passes by our house, thanks to the trusty little dog. (Unfortunately for him, the tough image is kind of ruined by the fact that he carries his rubber bone around while barking at passersby.)
11. ...But they are also quite content to be lap dogs.
Sometimes, Tibbies will just really want to cuddle. Especially when he's tired, I can just pick Tashi up, and he's perfectly content to be cuddled and called all manner of undignified names, such as Smooshie. However, he still needs his space, being a tough "mastiff" and all, so after a little while, he'll move and settle down a few feet away from me. As you can see in the picture, the big and fierce dog also coexists quite happily with cats.
12. Tibbies are very expressive.
His timing with snorts is absolutely impeccable. If he's not really in the mood to do the Smooshie thing, he'll snort right in your face. When he's sleepy and doesn't want to go outside, he looks up at you with his big brown eyes, and heaves a resigned sigh. If you dare to leave the house without him, he just stares at you as though you've betrayed him. And finally, he's not afraid to use his voice to express his feelings, usually when he feels you're not paying enough attention to him; there's also a weird growly noise he makes when he's hungry, or when people come home and don't pet him quickly enough.
13. Your dog might just be the cutest thing on four legs.
Okay, okay, them's fightin' words, I know. Most dog owners believe their dog is the cutest dog in the world. But look at his curly, fluffy tail! Look at his soft fur! Look at his big brown eyes! His squishy face! His short legs! His goofiness, growling while holding a toy at the same time! His poofy ears! His little underbite! Did I mention how soft he is?
14. You couldn't ask for a more loyal companion.
A Tibetan Spaniel will usually form a very close bond with one person in particular, and once that happens, he'll be your best friend for life. Maybe he won't do everything you tell him to, maybe he doesn't want to cuddle all the time, but he will stick with you through thick and thin. Tashi notices when I don't feel well, and stays close by my side till I perk up a bit. When we're out and about, he does his best not to let me out of sight. On a road trip to California, he stayed on my lap practically the entire way. And whenever I'm gone for a long time (over a day; trips to the store and such aren't enough to worry him), he is all bouncy and happy to see me.
