The Tibetan Terrier is an ancient dog breed often associated with Buddhist lamas, or spiritual leaders. They're small to medium-sized with a distinctive long coat. They have a thick double coat, with the under-layer being wooly and insulating and the outer soft and flowing.

Bred to protect the monasteries they lived in, Tibetan Terriers are loyal and protective. They're loving dogs who form strong bonds with the people they respect. They're easy to train because they're smart and enjoy learning, but they don't do well with any negative reinforcement.

Fun Facts:

• Tibetan Terriers are considered good luck.
• The Buddhist lamas consider it bad form to sell a Tibetan Terrier and instead only give them as gifts.
• The first Tibetan Terrier to leave the monasteries was a gift to a surgeon for saving a monk's life. She took the puppy back home to India and eventually bred them.
• The surgeon's Tibetan Terrier was named Bunti, and she bred her to a male named Rajah.
• Tibetan Terriers have "snowshoe" feet. Their large, flat paws feature a layer of fur to help them traverse snowy mountainsides.
• Tibetan Terriers aren't actually terriers, just a similar size.
• The average life span is 15-16 years.
• Gremlin Cortina, also known as Girlie, was the first Tibetan Terrier in the United States in 1956. Her mate was named Kalai of Lamleh.
• The Tibetan Terrier was accepted into the American Kennel Club in 1973.
• They make good pets because they're affectionate.
• The amount of exercise a Tibetan Terrier needs varies between dogs, and breeders often match them to their new owners based on this.