The Tibetan Terrier is a healthy and robust breed of dog, with an endearing nature and willingness to please. They have few health problems. Originating from Tibet where there are extremes of weather and terrain, they had to be a healthy breed to thrive. In Tibet they worked as herding animals. On narrow paths they would skip over the backs of the stock to gain the best position to carry out their work. There are tales of them being used to retrieve dropped items from the mountain sides, showing their agility and intelligence.

They do have health issues like any breed of dog, but diligent and responsible breeding over the past 50 years in the UK have lead to these being minimal. The founder club has kept health records since its inception. Now the TTBOC along with the TTA work very closely together to promote healthy dogs and sensible breeding practices, which follows the Kennel Club’s lead with its ‘fit for purpose’ campaign. The breed standard for the Tibetan Terrier has always stated that they should be without exaggeration and this can only support the breeding of healthy animals.

The Clubs have been supporting the Animal Health Trust (A.H.T.) in its work to produce D.N.A. tests for hereditary conditions and congratulate them on the test that they have developed for Primary Lens Luxation (P.L.L.). The test for Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (N.C.L.) is not yet available in the UK but is being carried out by the Orthopaedic Foundation for Animals in the U.S.A. (OFA). The Kennel Club has approved this testing scheme. Read more about this on our news page.

Breeders today are encouraged to test for the following hereditary conditions:

P.L.L. – Primary Lens Luxation

N.C.L. – Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis

We also hip score our breeding dogs for Hip Dysplasia. Although there is believed to be some hereditary element to hip problems, there are other issues that may influence hip development such as diet, exercise, and injury. Currently the breed average score is around 14 and it follows that the lower the score the better the hip joint. The score ranges from 0 to 106.

The other recorded eye condition is Progressive Retinal Atrophy (P.R.A.). To date there is no D.N.A. test for this condition although the A.H.T. is working hard to produce one.

All breeders should carry out annual eye testing of their breeding Tibetan Terriers. However, to put things into perspective, in the past 23 years there have been 57 confirmed cases of P.R.A. and P.L.L. in a total of 22,224 dogs registered in the catchment period. In the UK we have only 2 confirmed cases of N.C.L.

In addition to D.N.A. testing we recommend that breeding stock hold a current B.V.A. eye certificate, where the general health of the eye is monitored enabling early detection of any problem.

Like any living being, Tibetan Terriers can suffer injury. Together with the wear and tear of old age, other illness such as cancer, diabetes, thyroid problems, and a few other conditions, have been presented but certainly in no exceptional numbers.

There are no laws in place governing the health tests that breeders carry out. However, the T.T.B.O.C. would encourage you to purchase puppies from adults that have had appropriate health testing.

Please remember that on the whole this is a happy and healthy breed of dog, with mostly dedicated breeders who have devoted years of hard work in maintaining this status.

If you would like further information on any of the above please contact Wendy Gardner whose details are on the committee page.