Smooth Collies and Tibetan Terriers?
- Thread starter SarahHound
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I think Jack is either a large Lhasa Apso or a small Tibetan, or a mixture of both - either way, Tibetans and Lhasas both originated in Tibet, they were kept by the monks in the monasteries.
Their coat does take a decent amount of care - they're definitely not "wash and wear" like a smooth collie would be. Daily brushing is required, as well as monthly clipping. There is minimal shedding, however, so that's a plus.
They make excellent watch dogs - you'll always know someone is there. Jack is quite aloof with people until he gets to know them, but I'm not sure if that's typical of the breed or if it's just him. He's very low-energy - we went on a three mile hike today, and he handled it just fine, but he's just as content to lay on the couch.
Their coat does take a decent amount of care - they're definitely not "wash and wear" like a smooth collie would be. Daily brushing is required, as well as monthly clipping. There is minimal shedding, however, so that's a plus.
They make excellent watch dogs - you'll always know someone is there. Jack is quite aloof with people until he gets to know them, but I'm not sure if that's typical of the breed or if it's just him. He's very low-energy - we went on a three mile hike today, and he handled it just fine, but he's just as content to lay on the couch.
OMG YES! Keegan's almost 9 months and is driving me crazy! It's like a switch flipped on his 6 month birthday and he changed into Hyper Dog!
ANYWAY, it seems interesting to me that your aunt is interested in collies and tibetan terriers, they're very different breeds. Do you know what attracted her to these breeds? Or what kind of a dog she's looking for? Has she ever owned either a terrier or a herder?
ANYWAY, it seems interesting to me that your aunt is interested in collies and tibetan terriers, they're very different breeds. Do you know what attracted her to these breeds? Or what kind of a dog she's looking for? Has she ever owned either a terrier or a herder?
Some breeders believe that smooths are a little more intense than roughs. Apparently they make better working dogs, even compared to rough collies from their litter. But I'd guess that the difference is minimal when you're just trying to find a pet dog, not a champion herder.
IMO, if they're used to collies, switching to a terrier might be a bad decision. I know a lot of collie people, and most of us dislike the terrier temperament. Unless they have a lot of experience with tibetans, it might be a good idea to go with another collie.
That rough collie is gorgeous! Thanks for posting the pictures!
ETA: Collies are notorious for being very good with cats and other pets. Terriers are not, but then again, I don't have any personal experience with tibetans so they might be the exception.
IMO, if they're used to collies, switching to a terrier might be a bad decision. I know a lot of collie people, and most of us dislike the terrier temperament. Unless they have a lot of experience with tibetans, it might be a good idea to go with another collie.
That rough collie is gorgeous! Thanks for posting the pictures!
ETA: Collies are notorious for being very good with cats and other pets. Terriers are not, but then again, I don't have any personal experience with tibetans so they might be the exception.
Just speaking from my experience with my dog, not the breed as a whole. Jack, when we got him, was extremely interested in chasing my (indoor) cat. Over time, after a few swats, he has learned not to chase the cat, and he behaves very well with her. However, any outside animals (squirrels, stray cats, etc) are fair game to be chased. Many of the "softer" terriers can learn to differentiate between household cats, and outdoor animals.
It is the same breed. Rough coats are just recessive, and since most collies are rough you don't see smooths very often. Sael's Logan is out of two smooth parents, but they both carried the rough gene so he has both rough and smooth siblings.
Supposedly smooths in general are more businessy, but then so much comes down to the individual dog. Logan is a smooth, he's very much into business. His brother Amos is a smooth and he's seriously the softest, mushiest, lazy collie I have ever met. lol. Then their rough sister Gala is all drive and business again, only with a mischievous streak.
ETA: And Tibetan terriers aren't a true terrier like the western ones. Just like Tibetan spaniels don't share any close ancestry with western spaniel breeds. I have no idea if she was typical, but I did know one single Tibetan terrier. She was very intelligent and catlike. She was not dog reactive and had average prey drive for a dog, not anything like you'd expect from a working terrier anyway. She barked when people were at the door, but was quiet and well mannered once they came in. Her owner took her everywhere and she was extremely well trained and socialized.
She also had a thing for chocolate truffles, and would go to extreme and devious lengths to obtain them.
She also wasn't what I'd call a small dog. More like the size of an American cocker spaniel.
Supposedly smooths in general are more businessy, but then so much comes down to the individual dog. Logan is a smooth, he's very much into business. His brother Amos is a smooth and he's seriously the softest, mushiest, lazy collie I have ever met. lol. Then their rough sister Gala is all drive and business again, only with a mischievous streak.
ETA: And Tibetan terriers aren't a true terrier like the western ones. Just like Tibetan spaniels don't share any close ancestry with western spaniel breeds. I have no idea if she was typical, but I did know one single Tibetan terrier. She was very intelligent and catlike. She was not dog reactive and had average prey drive for a dog, not anything like you'd expect from a working terrier anyway. She barked when people were at the door, but was quiet and well mannered once they came in. Her owner took her everywhere and she was extremely well trained and socialized.
She also had a thing for chocolate truffles, and would go to extreme and devious lengths to obtain them.
She also wasn't what I'd call a small dog. More like the size of an American cocker spaniel.
Well apparently I got the right dog then (for those that don't know, I initially intended to get Amos, but the breeder told me Logan would be a better match). The two roughs I'm watching are SO lazy and not all that bright. It took them 30 minutes to figure out that a Jolly Ball has a handle, and all they do is chew on it I couldn't live with a dog like that.
(for those that don't know, I initially intended to get Amos, but the breeder told me Logan would be a better match). The two roughs I'm watching are SO lazy and not all that bright. It took them 30 minutes to figure out that a Jolly Ball has a handle, and all they do is chew on it I couldn't live with a dog like that.
Well apparently I got the right dog then (for those that don't know, I initially intended to get Amos, but the breeder told me Logan would be a better match). The two roughs I'm watching are SO lazy and not all that bright. It took them 30 minutes to figure out that a Jolly Ball has a handle, and all they do is chew on it I couldn't live with a dog like that.
(for those that don't know, I initially intended to get Amos, but the breeder told me Logan would be a better match). The two roughs I'm watching are SO lazy and not all that bright. It took them 30 minutes to figure out that a Jolly Ball has a handle, and all they do is chew on it I couldn't live with a dog like that.
They are separate in the UK and have been long enough that the gene pool is different. Temperament and structure are very different as well. The UK smooths tend to be a little more reserved than the US dogs, but I still like them.
In 2006, the Smooth Collies was listed as one of the Vulnerable Native Breeds (An Introduction to the Vulnerable Native Breeds - The Kennel Club), but currently the Kennel Club website indicates they are not, so maybe their numbers have increased.
In 2006, the Smooth Collies was listed as one of the Vulnerable Native Breeds (An Introduction to the Vulnerable Native Breeds - The Kennel Club), but currently the Kennel Club website indicates they are not, so maybe their numbers have increased.
They are separate in the UK! Temperament and structure are very different. The UK smooths tend to be a little more reserved than the US dogs, but I like them.
It seems like that happens with other breeds too. Like Ibizan hounds are maintained as separate wire coated and smooth varieties and not crossed at all.
Initially when I recommended Amos, I was worried Logan would be way too intense and reactive. lol. I think a huge part of that though was just his testosterone flaring at puberty, which is hard to keep in mind when it's happening. Mel had known them both since birth so I'm glad you listened to her.
He tried starting things with Strider once. That did NOT go over well. lol. Strider likes other dogs and is happy to ignore them, but an obnoxious young male all up in his face is going to get corrected. Let's just say it was loud and toothsome.
I suspect it was really good for him to go into an unfamiliar environment when he did. Loki and Amos are totally willing to put up with all kinds of crap without doing anything back and he'd grown up pushing them around. It sounds like he wasn't sure if he could get away with it with the new dogs, and you're good enough at reading his signals and managing him while training that he never had the opportunity for that behavior to get reestablished. Yay!
I suspect it was really good for him to go into an unfamiliar environment when he did. Loki and Amos are totally willing to put up with all kinds of crap without doing anything back and he'd grown up pushing them around. It sounds like he wasn't sure if he could get away with it with the new dogs, and you're good enough at reading his signals and managing him while training that he never had the opportunity for that behavior to get reestablished. Yay!
Gavroche was not about to let him think for one minute that he could get away with anything lol. Gavroche IMMEDIATELY postured when he was first introduced to Logan and Logan was all "Oh...okay then." My parents have 2 old intact male GSDs that also wouldn't take crap from him, though he never really tried either. He ADORES the GSDs, which shouldn't be a surprise
Gavroche was not about to let him think for one minute that he could get away with anything lol. Gavroche IMMEDIATELY postured when he was first introduced to Logan and Logan was all "Oh...okay then." My parents have 2 old intact male GSDs that also wouldn't take crap from him, though he never really tried either. He ADORES the GSDs, which shouldn't be a surprise
Sight Hounds = Drama Queens.
That makes sense with the shepherds too. lol. Willow isn't one to take crap from anybody, but all the collies love her anyway.