History

Dioghe Tibetan Terriers

History of the Breed

The origins of the Tibetan Terrier have been fairly well documented; known as the beloved companions of monks from the 'Lost Valley' which was cut off from the rest of civilization by a great earthquake in the 14th century... Known as sentinels, herding dogs, the Holy Dog of Tibet. Some with foundation no doubt, some lost in the mists of time and the romance of the land itself.

However, one absolute fact has emerged from these wonderful stories which is that the Tibetan Terrier is a survivor, little changed even today from the first pictures and photographs received here in the West. It is also an accomplished master of many roles.

Today, it is above all a loving and beautiful companion, certainly it is a sentinel - no stranger approaches the home of a Tibetan Terrier owner unannounced!

The first Tibetan Terrier that was brought before the Kennel Club for recognition belonged to Dr. Agnes Greig, a brilliant surgeon and physician based in India in government service. She was given the dog by a grateful Tibetan whose ailing wife she treated. Dr. Grieg bred and raised a number of Tibetan Terriers in India. When she returned to England, she established the famous Lamleh Kennel and the breed was recognized in 1937.

Dr. and the late Mrs. Henry S Murphy, of Great Falls, Virginia, brought Gremlin Cortina (Girlie, as she was known), the first 'official" Tibetan Terrier, to the US in 1956, from the Lamleh Kennel. Kalai of Lamleh came over next, fathered Girlie's first litter in 1957, and gave his name to the Lamleh of Kalai kennels that made such an enormous contribution to the breed in America. As recently as 1965 only six Championship shows scheduled classes for Tibetan Terriers. However, the breed has gathered strength and popularity, with registrations rising to 70 in 1966. Twenty years later in 1986 there were 601 Tibetan Terriers registered.

Since then the Tibetan Terrier has gone from strength to strength, taking its place not only in championship shows but homes around the world

As with all things Tibetan, there is a tragic side to the breed today. The breed has been all but destroyed in their native land by the Chinese. It is not simply for economic reasons, but because of their meaning to the Tibetan people, and the Chinese determination to deliberately undermine the Tibetan way of life. By good fortune, as the numbers of Tibetan Terriers in Tibet dwindle and vanish, their numbers are slowly increasing in the West. So those of us who are fortunate enough today to own Tibetan Terriers share a very real sense responsibility for the guardianship of the future of this beautiful and loyal dog

Dioghe Tibetan Terriers

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