Buying or Adopting a Tibetan Terrier

Should You Even Get a Dog? Are You Sure?
Important – I've been helping people choose and find dogs for nearly 40 years, and honestly, some people who decide to get a dog are making a big mistake... [read more]

The Truth About Purebred Dogs
Pros and cons... (most people don't know about the cons)

The Truth About Crossbred Dogs
Pros and cons... (don't get taken by breeder hype)

The Truth About Mixed Breed Dogs
Pros and cons... (are mixes inferior to purebreds and crosses?)

Is a Tibetan Terrier the right breed for you?

Tibetan Terrier Review
I'll tell you what's good about 'em, and what's bad about 'em... most honest review you'll ever find

Dog Breed Traits – Which Traits Are Right For You? In this brand new series, I'll help you decide which dog breed traits would best suit you and your family, your home and yard, and your lifestyle, so you can choose the best dog breed for your family.

Are YOU the right owner for a Tibetan Terrier?

Can you provide what this breed needs?

• Someone home most of the day
• Fenced yard (6-8 feet high, not an electronic/underground fence)
• No young children in the household
• Ample exercise after maturity – enough ongoing exercise that your Tibetan Terrier stays slim and is tired enough to sleep contentedly and not get into mischief
• "Mental exercise" – interesting activities that keep the mind stimulated, such as a challenging dog sport (agility, rally obedience, musical freestyle); challenging dog toys; a homemade obstacle course; tricks and games such as Musical Toys and Hide 'n Seek; instructions in my training book, Teach Your Dog 100 English Words
• Brushing – moderate to a lot (unless you clip the coat short)
• Trimming/clipping – every few months
• An indoor lifestyle, except for exercise and bathroom breaks
• A meat-heavy diet, either homemade or commercial – meat is expensive, so people with less money should opt for a small dog
• An owner with enough money to treat the health problems Tibetan Terriers are prone to (pet health insurance can really help here!)
• Commitment to provide thorough socialization – introducing your Tibetan Terrier to lots of people and other animals, diligently correcting any signs of misbehavior
• Commitment to establish the right Leader-Follower relationship with your Tibetan Terrier, teaching him to listen to you and do what you say

Which sex? What age?

Male Dogs vs. Female Dogs
Which one makes a better pet?

Puppies vs. Adult Dogs
Should you get a young puppy, an older puppy, or an adult dog?

Where can you buy or adopt a Tibetan Terrier?

Tibetan Terriers are middle-of-the-road in popularity in the United States. Out of 189 breeds in the American Kennel Club, where 1 is most popular and 189 is least popular, Tibetan Terriers rank 91st.

Adopting From Dog Rescue Organizations
You might find a Tibetan Terrier available from a Dog Rescue group. But not many Tibetan Terriers are turned over to Rescue because not many people own them in the first place. Also Tibetan Terriers are not that difficult to live with, so fewer owners tend to give up on them and dump them into Rescue.

Adopting From Public Animal Shelters and Humane Societies
Tibetan Terriers are rarely found here for the same reasons listed above. However, most shelter personnel wouldn't recognize the breed and would probably mislabel the cage as a "terrier mix". Tibetan Terrier Rescue groups do keep their eyes peeled on shelters and humane societies across the country. On the off chance that a Tibetan Terrier turns up at a shelter, the rescue group typically moves in quickly to take the dog.

Buying From a Dog Breeder
You can buy a Tibetan Terrier from a show breeder, who breeds Tibetan Terriers to match a detailed standard of appearance for the dog show ring. You can also buy a Tibetan Terrier from people who "just breed pets" or "just had one litter." But should you? Be sure to read the article to learn more about these people.

Here's one difference between a responsible breeder and an irresponsible breeder – BOTH PARENTS of a Tibetan Terrier puppy should have:

• a certificate from the Orthopedic Foundation of America's CAER (Companion Animal Eye Registry) – dated within the past year – certifying the dog to be free of eye diseases
• a certificate from the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) or PennHip certifying the dog to have normal hips

Also, at least ONE PARENT of a Tibetan Terrier puppy should have:

• a DNA test proving they are Normal/Clear of a severe hereditary eye disease called primary lens luxation.
• a DNA test proving they are Normal/Clear of a severe neurological disease called NCL.

If a seller can't show you those certificates, the puppies are higher risk for health problems. You might choose to accept that risk. But then you need to be willing (and able) to pay a couple thousand bucks for future surgeries and lifelong meds if your Tibetan Terrier ends up blind and lame.

Pet Shop Puppies: Buying a Puppy From a Pet Store
Tibetan Terriers are occasionally seen in pet shops. I have plenty to say about buying a puppy from a pet shop!

Which puppy?

Choosing the Right Tibetan Terrier Puppy
How to test the temperament and personality of Tibetan Terrier puppies and pick the best puppy in a litter.

AKC Registered Puppies: Are AKC Papers Important?
Should you buy only an AKC registered Tibetan Terrier puppy? Do AKC papers and pedigrees really matter?