Tibetan Spaniel

Feed your Tibetan Spaniel a high-quality dog food, whether commercially made or home-prepared with your veterinarian's supervision and approval, and match the diet to the dog's life stage, whether puppy, adult, or senior. If you feed dry food, the breed tends to prefer a small-bite kibble. Keep clean, fresh water available at all times.

A general feeding schedule looks like this:

• Adults: a measured amount twice a day
• Puppies: at least three meals a day on a consistent schedule, which helps prevent low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

The right amount varies with age, health, and lifestyle. The feeding guide on your food packaging works as a starting point for a 24-hour period, but your veterinarian can give the most reliable advice for your dog. Some Tibbies are prone to gaining weight, so watch calorie intake and use treats in moderation, since too many can lead to obesity.

A complete, well-balanced diet supplies the nutrients your Tibetan Spaniel needs. Your vet may suggest supplements if your dog needs them, so never add supplements without talking to your vet first.

The Tibetan Spaniel is easy to maintain and needs no trimming except the hair on the bottom of the paw pads, kept clear for cleanliness and traction. When that hair gets too long, your dog may slip on hard floors or pick up extra dirt. Most of the coat does not mat much, but the area behind the ears tends to mat and benefits from frequent combing.

Regular brushing and the occasional bath keep the coat in good condition, with extra attention to the rear fringes. Tibetan Spaniels shed, and they can shed heavily at any time of year, so a bath and conditioning help during a shed. Watch the common mat spots: behind the ears, on the tail, and under the armpits.

If your Tibbie visits a groomer, ask them not to cut the hair on the belly or between the legs. Many groomers do this sanitary cut by default, and a Tibetan Spaniel will lick and itch badly afterward.

Trim the nails, clean the ears, and provide dental care. Start nail trims early, since Tibbies can be difficult about their nails unless they get used to it young. Clean the ears with an ear cleaner to help keep them comfortable, and brush the teeth at home alongside professional cleanings. Talk to your veterinarian if you notice changes in the skin, eyes (such as discharge), or coat, or if your dog seems itchy.

Tibetan Spaniels do not need much exercise. A daily walk or time to explore a securely fenced yard is usually enough, and a fenced yard is a must. The breed can settle indoors, run in a yard, and accompany owners on longer walks or jogs.

Given the chance, Tibbies take to agility, scent work, rally, and obedience, which give them an outlet for their bright, lively minds. After activity, the breed may perch where it can watch its surroundings.

Tibetan Spaniels remain alert to unusual activity and may bark at unfamiliar sounds or people. They need regular company and may not suit a household away from home most of the day.

Tibetan Spaniels are smart and eager to please, yet they also have a very independent mind and will decide if and when they do what is asked. Start training early, keep it fun, and expect the stubborn streak to mean training takes patience. Their wish to please makes an early start worthwhile.

Tibbies can be sensitive, so they respond well to positive reinforcement and reward-based training with plenty of treats and praise, not harsh commands. Tibetan Spaniels enjoy outings, games, and quiet time at home.

Begin socializing your puppy as soon as you bring them home. Puppies exposed to new people, places, animals, and experiences grow into more confident adults. Well-socialized Tibbies are friendly with other animals and dogs, though they tend to be more reserved with strangers.