Which ancient dog breed was originally bred in Tibet to act as sentinels in Buddhist monasteries?
"Lhasa Apso The Lhasa Apso ( ) is a non-sporting dog breed originating in Tibet. It was bred as an interior sentinel in the Buddhist monasteries, to alert the monks to any intruders who entered. Lhasa is the capital city of Tibet, and ""apso"" is a word in the Tibetan language meaning ""bearded"", so, Lhasa Apso simply means ""long-haired Lhasa dog"". There are, however, some who claim that the word ""apso"" is a form of the Tibetan word ""rapso"", meaning ""goat-like"", which would make the equivalent translation ""woolly Lhasa dog"". Male Lhasa Apsos should ideally be at the withers and"
"Tibetan Mastiff The Tibetan Mastiff is a large Tibetan dog breed (""Canis lupus familiaris"") (Tibetan: དོ་ཁྱི, Chinese: 藏獒; Pinyin: ""Zàng áo"") in the mastiff family. Originating with the nomadic cultures of Tibet, China, India, Mongolia and Nepal, it is used by local tribes of Tibetans to protect sheep from wolves, leopards, bears, large mustelids, and tigers. The Tibetan Mastiff known as ""Drog-Khyi"" (འབྲོག་ཁྱི) in Tibetan, which means ""nomad dog"", (""dog which may be tied"", ""dog which may be kept""), reflects its use as a guardian of herds, flocks, tents, villages, monasteries, and palaces, much as the old English ban-dog (also"
"continuing until as late as 1908. As a result of exchanges of Tibetan Spaniels between palaces and monasteries, the breed is likely to have common ancestors with Oriental breeds such as the Japanese Chin and the Pekingese. Not only was the Tibetan Spaniel prized as a pet and companion, but it was also a useful member of Tibetan monastic life. The little dogs would sit on the monastery walls, keeping watch over the countryside. Their keen eyesight and ability to see great distances made them excellent watchdogs. They would alarm bark to alert the monks and the Tibetan Mastiffs below."
"Tibetan Spaniel The Tibetan Spaniel is a breed of assertive, small, intelligent dogs originating over 2,500 years ago in the Himalayan mountains of Tibet. They share ancestry with the Pekingese, Japanese Chin, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Tibetan Terrier and Pug. This breed is not a spaniel; in the original meaning of the term; its breeding and role differs from other spaniels and spaniels are gun dogs. The spaniel name may have been given due to its resemblance to the bred-down lapdog versions of the hunting spaniels, such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The Tibetan Spaniel has a domed head"
"dogs were kept in luxury and guarded by soldiers. Pugs later spread to other parts of Asia. In Tibet, Buddhist monks kept Pugs as pets in their monasteries. The breed has retained its affectionate devotion to its owners since ancient times. The early history of the Pug breed has not been recorded in great detail; however, it is widely believed that the breed came from the Orient. China is the earliest known source for the breed. Similar dogs were popular in the Imperial court during the Song Dynasty. Pugs were popular at European courts, and reportedly become the official dog"
"In addition to functioning as lookouts, the Tibetan Spaniels were trained to spin the monk's prayer wheels. They also slept with the monks at night to provide warmth. Village-bred Tibetan Spaniels varied greatly in size and type, and the smaller puppies were usually given as gifts to the monasteries. In turn, these smaller dogs used in the monastery breeding programs were probably combined with the more elegant Tibetan Spaniel-type dogs brought from China. Those bred closer to the Chinese borders were characterized by shorter snouts. Tibetan Spaniels were being bred in the United Kingdom by the 1890s. The first authenticated"
"and body structure, the general hardiness and longevity of the breed. DNA Analysis has identified the Lhasa Apso as one of the 14 most ancient dog breeds, verifying that lap dogs and companion dogs were among the first dogs bred by humans. Today, in the USA, there exists a unique group of Lhasa Apsos known within the fancy as the Gompa dogs. (Gompa is the Tibetan word for a monastery’s main meditation hall.) These Lhasa Apsos are direct descendants of the Lhasa Apsos from the Drepung monastery in Tibet, where, in 1941, Lama Gyen Yeshe was gifted Preserving the Future,"
"are not sight-oriented dogs and they endure blindness with few noticeable changes in behavior. The Lhasa Apso originated on the Himalayan plateau in the area of Tibet. They were domesticated and actively bred perhaps as long ago as 800 BC, which makes the Lhasa Apso one of the oldest recognized breeds in the world. Recent research has shown the Lhasa as one of the breeds most closely related to the ancestral wolf. (Others are Akita, Shiba Inu, Shar-Pei, Chow, Basenji, Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, Saluki, Afghan, Pekingese, Shih Tzu, and Samoyed.) Referred to in Tibet as Apso Seng Kyi, which"
"wander off and explore rather than come when called. This quality - assertive, independent, and alert - is the standard temperament required by both the AKC and FCI breed standards. Small monastery dogs, thought to be early representatives of the Tibetan Spaniel, loyally trailed behind their Lama masters and came to be regarded as ""little Lions"" owing to their resemblance to the Chinese guardian lions that gave them great value and prestige. The practice of sending the dogs as gifts to the palaces of China and other Buddhist countries grew significantly, and more ""lion dogs"" were presented back to Tibet,"
"years. Tibetan Terriers were kept as good luck charms, mascots, watchdogs, herding dogs, and companions. They were also used to retrieve articles that fell down mountain sides. Also known as the ""Holy Dogs of Tibet,"" Tibetan Terriers were never sold, only given as gifts by monks to promote good fortune. As such, the early history of the breed is linked to only a handful of foundation dogs. Recent DNA analysis has concluded that the Tibetan Terrier is descended from the most ancient dog breeds. Due in part to Tibet's geographical isolation, Tibetan Terriers were kept purebred for over 2000 years."
"""Tibetan Mastiff-dog"". In Mongolia, a similar looking dog it is called банхар (""bankhar""), but this dog is genetically distinct (different Traditional Native Landrace Breed) and is of a more ancient linage. The name Tibetan Mastiff is a misnomer; the Tibetan Mastiff itself is not a true Mastiff. The term ""mastiff"" was used by the Europeans who first came to Tibet because it was used to refer to nearly all large dog breeds in the West. Early Western visitors to Tibet misnamed several of its breeds: The ""Tibetan Terrier"" is not a terrier and the ""Tibetan Spaniel"" is not a spaniel."
"experience cherry eye, a prolapsed third eyelid. Additionally, the shape of a Tibetan Spaniel's face makes it prone to a common cosmetic condition called weeping eye. Tibetan Spaniel The Tibetan Spaniel is a breed of assertive, small, intelligent dogs originating over 2,500 years ago in the Himalayan mountains of Tibet. They share ancestry with the Pekingese, Japanese Chin, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Tibetan Terrier and Pug. This breed is not a spaniel; in the original meaning of the term; its breeding and role differs from other spaniels and spaniels are gun dogs. The spaniel name may have been given due"
"Himalayan Sheepdog The Himalayan Sheepdog, also referred to as the Bhote Kukur or Bhotia, is a livestock guardian dog that originated from Nepal and India. This mountain dog breed is closely similar to Tibetan Mastiff and may be related to the long-haired Kinnaur Sheepdog of Tibet. Naturally, Himalayan Sheepdogs enjoy outdoor lifestyles and are rarely seen beyond the regions of India and Nepal. As a powerful and robust breed, the Himalayan Sheepdog is mainly used for herding purposes. The Himalayan Sheepdog is regionally popular as both a loyal companion as well as a working dog. Four commemorative postage stamps were"
"Tibetan Terrier The Tibetan Terrier is a medium-size breed of dog that originated in Tibet. Despite its name, it is not a member of the terrier group. The breed was given its English name by European travelers due to its resemblance to known terrier breeds. The Tibetan name for the breed, Tsang Apso, roughly translates to ""shaggy or bearded (""apso"") dog, from the province of Tsang"". Some old travelers' accounts refer to the dog as Dokhi Apso or ""outdoor"" Apso, indicating a shaggy or bearded working dog which lives outdoors. The history of the Tibetan Terrier dates back thousands of"
"can be translated as ""Bearded Lion Dog"", the Lhasa's primary function was that of a household sentinel, guarding the homes of Tibetan nobility and Buddhist monasteries, particularly in or near the sacred city of Lhasa. The large Tibetan Mastiffs guarded the monasteries' entrances, but the keen hearing and sharp bark of the Lhasa Apso served to warn residents by acting like a burglar alarm if an intruder happened to get past the exterior guards. It was believed that the bodies of the Lhasa Apsos could be entered by souls of deceased lamas while they awaited rebirth into a new body."
"production by breeders and unsuitability of the breed as a pet in urban situations, prices in China for the best dogs had fallen to about $2,000 and lower quality and cross-breed dogs were being abandoned. In 2013, a zoo in Louhe, China attempted to pass of a Tibetan Mastiff as an African lion. Tibetan Mastiff The Tibetan Mastiff is a large Tibetan dog breed (""Canis lupus familiaris"") (Tibetan: དོ་ཁྱི, Chinese: 藏獒; Pinyin: ""Zàng áo"") in the mastiff family. Originating with the nomadic cultures of Tibet, China, India, Mongolia and Nepal, it is used by local tribes of Tibetans to protect"
"to avoid fleas and keep a clean coat of fur. Chow Chow The Chow Chow (sometimes simply Chow) is a dog breed originally from northern China, where it is referred to as ""Songshi Quan"" (Pinyin: sōngshī quǎn 鬆獅犬), which means ""puffy-lion dog"". The breed has also been called the ""Tang Quan"", ""Dog of the Tang Empire"". It is believed that the Chow Chow is one of the native dogs used as the model for the Foo dog, the traditional stone guardians found in front of Buddhist temples and palaces. The Chow Chow has been identified as a basal breed that"
"meaning tied dog) was a dog tied outside the home as a guardian. However, in nomad camps and in villages, the ""Drog-Khyi"" is traditionally allowed to run loose at night. This dog is known for its loyalty, it has been used as nomad dog by for thousands of years. The guardian type from which the modern Tibetan Mastiff breed has been derived was known across the ancient world by many names. ""Bhote Kukur"" in Nepali as ""bhote"" means someone from Tibet and ""kukur"" means dog. The Chinese name for the breed is 藏獒 (Chinese: ""Zàng áo""; Cantonese: ""Tzong ngou""), meaning"
"he could go after and destroy little demons that might infest the palace or temple. But his heart was big so that he could destroy even the largest and fiercest. (Barbara Hambly's novel, ""Bride of the Rat God"", was written from this premise, although Hambly denies knowledge of the legends.) Pekingese The Pekingese (also known as the Lion Dog, Peking Lion Dog, Pelchie Dog, or Peke) is an ancient breed of toy dog, originating in China. They are called Lion Dogs due to their resemblance to Chinese guardian lions (the Shih Tzu is also known as a Lion Dog in"
"Chow Chow The Chow Chow (sometimes simply Chow) is a dog breed originally from northern China, where it is referred to as ""Songshi Quan"" (Pinyin: sōngshī quǎn 鬆獅犬), which means ""puffy-lion dog"". The breed has also been called the ""Tang Quan"", ""Dog of the Tang Empire"". It is believed that the Chow Chow is one of the native dogs used as the model for the Foo dog, the traditional stone guardians found in front of Buddhist temples and palaces. The Chow Chow has been identified as a basal breed that predates the emergence of the modern breeds in the 19th"
"Chinese guardian lions Chinese guardian lions or Imperial guardian lions, often miscalled ""Foo Dogs"" in the West, are a common representation of the lion in imperial China. Chinese guardian lions are sometimes referred to in English as shishi, from the Chinese shí shī (), which refers specifically to lion sculptures in stone. The concept, which originated and became popular in Chinese Buddhism, subsequently spread to other parts of Asia including, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos and Singapore. Since the introduction of the lion symbolism during the Han dynasty (206 BC – AD 220) from"
"guardian tactics (e.g., barking, scent-marking perimeters) to warn away predators and avoid direct confrontations. The earliest mention of this dog breed comes from writings in the 19th and early 20th centuries about dogs from Central Asia, Tibet and the Himalaya countries. It is related to the Tibetan Mastiff. Captain George Augustus Graham, best known among dog fanciers as the founder of the Irish Wolfhound Club of Great Britain, imported a dog called a ""Tibetan wolf dog"". This dog is best described as a Kyi Apso. The 13th Dalai Lama is noted to have owned a dog of this type. Relatively"
"have been around since the ancient times of those regions. Local tribes within the regions of Nepal have used the dogs as guard dogs or herding dogs due to their known aggression and agility. The Himalayan Sheepdog was most commonly used to herd and guard cattle from predatory animals. Throughout their history, the breed was also used to hunt large game especially in the harsh terrains in its region. Currently, this breed is common only within the boundaries of India and Nepal. ""This essay is also found in the spoken version of "" Himalayan Sheepdog The Himalayan Sheepdog, also referred"
"study indicated that the Tibetan mastiff's ability to avoid hypoxia in high altitudes, due to its lower hemoglobin levels compared to low-altitude dogs, was due to prehistoric interbreeding with Tibetan wolves. In 1872, one writer has stated:The dogs of Thibet are twice the size of those seen in India, with large heads and hairy bodies. They are powerful animals, and are said to be able to kill a tiger. During the day they are kept chained up, and are let loose at night to guard their masters' house. In the early 20th century, King George V introduced a pair of"
"Bakharwal dog The Bakharwal Dog is an ancient working breed of dog found in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India, where it has been bred for many centuries by the Bakarwal and Gujjar nomadic tribes as a livestock guardian dog and settlement protector. A recent study says that this breed is on the verge of extinction. ORIGIN UTILIZATION: CLASSIFICATION: Working group of dogs BRIEF HISTORY: This is an ancient breed of Kashmir that was bred by local nomads called as bakarwals and local people of Jammu and Kashmir for guarding their flocks of goats, sheep and cattle along"
"Monks and families referred to the ancient breed as ""the little people"", for they were highly valued as companions who were eager to assist in protecting properties and flocks. Since the dog was considered a bringer of luck, mistreating or selling a Tibetan Terrier was believed to cause bad luck to both family and village alike. Dr. A.R.H. Greig of England brought the first Tibetan Terrier to Europe in 1922. She was given a gold and white female puppy named ""Bunti"" after successfully performing an operation on a patient in Tibet. After acquiring a second male, ""Rajah,"" Dr. Greig established"
"analysis placed the ancestors of today's Shih Tzu breed in the group of ""ancient"" breeds indicating ""close genetic relationship to wolves"". Another branch coming down from the ""Kitchen Midden Dog"" gave rise to the Papillon and Long-haired Chihuahua and yet another ""Kitchen Midden Dog"" branch to the Pug and Shih Tzu. It is also said that the breed originated in China, hence the name ""Lion Dog"", in 800 B.C. There are various theories of the origins of today's breed. Theories relate that it stemmed from a cross between the Pekingese and Lhasa Apso,<ref name=""Clark/Brace""></ref> a Tibetan dog given by the"
"a kennel and began to breed them. The first litter was born in 1924 and were registered as Lhasa Terriers. In 1930, the Kennel Club of India changed the breed's name to Tibetan Terrier. The first Tibetan Terriers in the US were imported in 1956 by Dr. Henry and Mrs. Alice Murphy of Great Falls, Virginia. In 1973, the American Kennel Club recognized the breed, classifying it as part of the non-sporting group. Tibetan Terriers are related to and have contributed to the development of other breeds, including the Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Tibetan Spaniel, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, among others."
"it was introduced by breeders who took the breed to Europe in the late 19th century. Kumaon Mastiff The Kumaon Mastiff (Kumauni: सिप्रो कुकुर), also known as the Indian Mastiff and Bulli, is a rare Molosser-type working breed of dog originating in Uttarakhand state of India. Originally bred as a watch dog and livestock guardian in the hills of Kumaon, this dog is rare even in the region of its origin. It is said that the dogs primitive ancestors were domiciled in the Kumaon region. Kumaon Mastiff is a large dog with fairly lean, muscular, well-boned bodies. They have a"
"Pekingese The Pekingese (also known as the Lion Dog, Peking Lion Dog, Pelchie Dog, or Peke) is an ancient breed of toy dog, originating in China. They are called Lion Dogs due to their resemblance to Chinese guardian lions (the Shih Tzu is also known as a Lion Dog in Chinese). The breed was favored by royalty of the Chinese Imperial court as both a lap dog and companion dog, and its name refers to the city of Peking (Beijing) where the Forbidden City is located. The breed has several characteristics and health issues related to its unique appearance. Because"
"few Tibetan Kyi Apsos have reached North America or Europe. Among the first to North America were imported in the late 1970s, or perhaps earlier, but none of those dogs seem to have left any progeny. The breed used to be well-represented and cared for by the now defunct Tibetan Kyi Apso Club, established in 1995, but collapsed in 1999 and registered no litters after 2000. Tibetan kyi apso The Tibetan Kyi Apso, also known as the Apso Do-Kyi or (in Western countries) the Tibetan collie, is a rare Tibetan breed of livestock guardian dog. In Tibet, the Pashmina of"
"Dalai Lama to Chinese emperors near the end of the 17th century. Dogs during ancient times were selectively bred and seen in Chinese paintings. The dogs were favorites of the Chinese royals and so prized that, for years, the Chinese refused to sell, trade, or give any away. The first dogs of the breed were imported into Europe (England and Norway) in 1930 and were classified by the Kennel Club as ""Apsos"". The first European standard for the breed was written in England in 1935 by the Shih Tzu Club, and the dogs were categorised again as Shih Tzu. The"
"Tibetan kyi apso The Tibetan Kyi Apso, also known as the Apso Do-Kyi or (in Western countries) the Tibetan collie, is a rare Tibetan breed of livestock guardian dog. In Tibet, the Pashmina of this breed is occasionally saved and used to weave small carpets. In Tibetan, ""kyi"" means dog and ""apso"" is short for ""ara"" meaning moustache and ""sog-sog"" meaning hairy. It also qualifies in common parliance as a type of ""do-khyi"", meaning a dog that is tied. In Europe, this breed is often referred to as the Tibetan collie, which is a misnomer because it is not a"