Grooming
Although it may surprise you, given all the fancy feathering and plumage that comes standard on a Tibetan Spaniel, they don’t need fancy styling like the highly coifed Poodle. It’s quite easy to manage a Tibetan Spaniel dog’s grooming needs at home.
While they do shed, if you’re on top of brushing them about once a week, it’s manageable. And a variety of brushes will do, including a pin brush or a slicker brush.
When it comes to bathing your Tibbie, every four to six weeks should be sufficient, especially if your pup leads a relatively low-key, mud-free lifestyle. Just as with human hair, over-bathing can strip their fur of the essential oils that keep it healthy.
Like bathing, you should trim your Tibbie’s nails every four to six weeks, or whenever you see them start to curl or hear that click-click-click on your floors. (Get the how-to here.) And, city dwellers, rejoice: Walking your dog regularly on concrete helps file their nails naturally.
Teeth brushing every day is a must. If you don’t, the plaque build-up in their mouths will solidify into tartar and no amount of brushing after the fact will remove it. #Gross. In conjunction with brushing, you can also use dental treats approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC). Vets can give you the full 101 on teeth brushing and teach you how to do this. It’s best to start dogs as puppies so they’ll get used to it faster. And be sure to have their teeth professionally cleaned by your vet every year.
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Training
Training a Tibetan Spaniel is not a particularly difficult task, as these dogs are quite bright and eager to please. Building a solid bond while raising a Tibbie will also help your training efforts—it only makes them want to please you more. But with all their intelligence comes an independent streak. This means if they’ve decided they don’t want to complete a task or come when called, well, then, good luck to you. So start your training when your Tibbie’s a puppy. If you do and are consistent, these pups can be pretty easy to train and can even excel at dog sports like agility, obedience and rally (similar to obedience, but the handlers can encourage their dogs along the course).
The Tibetan Spaniel breed also tends to be highly food motivated, so using treats as a reward can be effective. Treats can help them focus on you and help you lure them into specific positions with cues. And positive reinforcement (using treats, toys and praise) is an essential component of teaching these happy, responsive dogs to do what you ask.
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Diet
The Tibetan Spaniel breed typically does well on a high-quality commercial dog food. Be sure to factor in your dog’s age and choose the type of formula that fits their stage in life (puppy, adult, senior). A small-kibble food is likely to suit these diminutive guys and gals best. Your vet can help you determine exactly how much and how often to feed your Tibbie to meet their nutritional needs.
You do need to take some care with your pup’s food because obesity can be a concern for these homebodies. If your dog’s weight does begin to balloon, you might see an adverse effect on their orthopedic health. They don’t have great knees to begin with, and excess weight is no friend to them, wreaking havoc on their joints and even causing arthritis. This doesn’t mean you’ve got to go diet-crazy. You may not necessarily need to feed them just an old-school low-fat kibble, either. It does mean you must, like a Jedi, resist all their table-scrap begging and keep track of how many treats you dole out. If you have any questions about what (or how much) you should be feeding your pup, talk with your vet. They’re in the best position to help you make good choices for your Tibbie based on their unique needs.
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Exercise
On a scale of couch potato to Iron Man competitor, the Tibetan Spaniel’s exercise needs veer more closely to the former. Sometimes quite literally—they can seem almost feline in their love of a good spot on the couch (especially one with an outside view). That’s not to say they won’t go for a walk or don’t enjoy them. They do, and one or two a day will suit the Tibetan Spaniel’s energy level quite well (totaling about 30 to 60 minutes). Despite their short legs, they might even go on a brief jog. However, Tibbies are brachycephalic (they have that distinctively flat face); their airways are obstructed because of their face shape, which makes it difficult to breathe, so endurance athletes they are not. And when they’re done, they’re dooone. Their strong-willed streak is real. You didn’t really need to run that marathon did you?
A fenced-in yard is highly useful, as they love to zoom about and play a rousing game of fetch—Tibbies are crazy about their toys. And sunbathing, too. Sure, they’re from Tibet with its often punishing weather, but unless it’s scorching out, the calm Tibbie breed needs their downtime to soak up some rays. No spray tan required.
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Environment
Tibetan Spaniels adapt well to any loving home, whether that’s with a single person in a small city apartment, an elderly person confined to a wheelchair or a family living in the country with room to roam. They get along well with other dogs and cats, too. Tibbies are easy-going pups, so they mix well with kids. That said, a rambunctious home of four or five children might not be ideal. Having been originally raised by monks in Tibetan monasteries, they are calm dogs and accustomed to a peaceful, quiet existence.
Experienced and first-time pet parents alike can thrive with a Tibetan Spaniel puppy whether they lead an active or mellower lifestyle. What’s key is a willingness to snuggle—Tibbies love their humans, not extensive alone time—and allowing free access to your furniture. Because—try as you might—you won’t keep them off of it. They’re also great in the snow, but when the sun is blazing, they’ll opt for shade or, better yet, a sweet spot inside under the air conditioning vent.
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