Tibetan Spaniel
» a big soul in a small dog «

Tibetan spaniel is a gift to the world by the tibetan monks and –aristocrats. It is assumed that there have been dogs like the Tibetan spaniel already since 200 B.C. descriptions of such dogs originate from the 12th century. The origins of the breed are closely related to Chinese dog breeds. Tibet as a country has always lived a very isolated life, thus finding out the origins of dogs in Tibet has not been an easy task.



In its homeland Tibetan Spaniel was a valued companion dog in the monasteries and among the aristocrats. It is most apparent that it has been an indoor dog because its fur is shorter than its cousins, the Tibetan Terrier and the Lhasa Apso.

The Tibetan Spaniel is a very alert race by nature so it was commonly used as a guard dog; they rested on the tops of the monastery’s walls and kept their eye out for any disturbances. When a stranger appeared in their sight they alerted the monks in the monastery. This alertness is a typical trait for the race still today. The Tibetan Spaniel still finds its way to high places in the house and likes to look out the windows and keep its eye on the surroundings.



These small dogs had their own important role to play in the religious life of the monasteries. Story tells that the job of the Tibetan Spaniel was to keep the prayer mill turning. Today’s dogs have maintained the skill of dancing on their back legs and wiggling their front legs in the air simultaneously. The Tibetan dogs were sacred thus they were never sold but they were donated or given as a gift to demonstrate great respect to the receiving party or as a favour to the receiving party.

The first Tibetan Spaniel to arrive in England with a given name was most likely Lhasa. It was brought by Mr. Frank Wormald in 1905. Doctor Greig, who was better known as a breeder for Tibetan Terriers, brought several Tibetan Spaniels to England in the 1920s. The vicar and Mrs. Abbot’s Fanthorpe-kennel is based on the breeding work of Doctor Greig. As early as 1934 was established the first association for Tibetan breeds but the second world war interrupted all related activities. After the war the only Tibetan Spaniel which was found in England was a male called Skyid whose breed originated from the Fanthorpe kennel.



Lord and lady Wakefield, living in Silkkim, received a bitch called Mughiwuli as a present. When it was for Mughiwuli to have puppies, it drove in great fashion in the Rolls-Royce of the maharadza of Sikkim to meet his coming groom called Tashi. The first litter was born in 1941. Two of the puppies, Garpon and Potala came to England in 1946 and together they had several litters. When returning back to England the Wakefield couple brought with them the son, of Mughiwuli and Tashi, called Lama and a bitch called Dolma which they had gotten directly from a Tibetan monastery. These few dogs and some additional imported dogs, laid the groundwork for the whole of western world’s breeding of Tibetan Spaniels and Skyid who survived the war years connected the Fanthorpe dogs to the new breeds.

The popularity of the breed in the western world grew rapidly and new enthusiastic buffs joined the breeders’ ranks. Tibetan Spaniel arrive in Finland in 1964 when Zlazano kennel obtained two males and two bitches from the Sivas kennel in England. The popularity of the breed in Finland has increased tremendously which isn’t necessarily only a good thing since heavy demand may entice breeders to have litters with dogs that are not suitable for proper and regulated breeding. On the other hand it is easy to understand this increased popularity and demand for Tibetan Spaniels once you actually get to know the breed; it is fairly small, easy to take care of, has a kind nature, devoted, alert, healthy and ideal for city living – and to top all that it arrives in a beautiful "packaging". There are plenty of colours to choose from since all colours are accepted when breeding tibbies.