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Learn how to judge the Tibetan Spaniel, focusing on balance, moderation, and the breed’s distinctive appearance and temperament.
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This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, October 2013 issue.
The Tibetan Spaniel standard uses the word moderation in all points and that one word “moderation” should lurk in the back of your mind while you judge this “well-kept secret” of the dog world. This very intelligent breed is devoted to family and friends but may be aloof with strangers. The breed may not look you in the eye when judging them and does not like to be swooped down upon.
At first glance, the Tibetan Spaniel or “Tibbie” as we affectionately call them, should appear to be a small, active, well-balanced breed, free from coarseness; being only slightly longer than tall when measured from the point of shoulder to the root of tail. One needs to be mindful of this fact and train the hands to automatically go to those points for measurement. The Tibetan Spaniel outline should never fit into a “square box” and the dog should be balanced without any exaggerations. (The Tibetan Spaniel; Miss Phyllis Mayhew, U.K.).
The overall balance of this breed’s about 10-inch package is extremely important and the top-line is to be level. Moving the tail out of the way to check the top-line is a must, as tail hair can mask the top-line.
The head is the hallmark of the breed, however; do not confuse this as a “head” breed alone. The entire package is necessary to fulfill the balanced, moderate dog or bitch. The head should appear small in proportion to the body, free from coarseness or wrinkle. The coloring of the hair on the head and muzzle can sometimes fool the eye into thinking there is a wrinkle on the muzzle when there is none. Because of this fact, you must feel for the wrinkle and not rely on your eye for this assessment if the word wrinkle pops into your thoughts.
The skull is broadest at eye level and slightly domed of moderate width and length. The dark eyes, oval in shape (almost triangular) meeting the well-cushioned blunt muzzle of about 1½ inches, being measured from the inner corner of the eye to the tip of the nose. The bluntness of the muzzle assures the correctness of bite, being ideally slightly undershot but level mouths are permissible providing the chin has sufficient width and depth to preserve the blunt appearance. The teeth should be evenly placed and the lower jaw wide between the canine tusks. The teeth should not show when the mouth is closed. If you should have a question about the bite please re-examine on the table. This breed does not care for their mouths to be examined so it is probably best to ask for the bite to be shown by the handler.
When judging the overall look of the head on the table, cup your hands behind the dog’s ears to see how the skull, dark brown eyes, ears, and muzzle all fit together. Pay close attention to ear placement. The ears should be set fairly high and may have a slight lift from the skull but never fly. They are pendant, well feathered, in adults, and of medium size. The black nose is preferred and with the eyes set fairly well apart gives an ape-like expression.
When judging the head in profile, on the floor, the head should not be downfaced, snipy, roman, or long and narrow. Pay close attention when evaluating the oval, dark brown eyes of this breed as you can find specimens with blue marks or blue eyes in the breed, which is a fault. Also, pay attention to a large full eye, light eyes, or mean expression which detracts from the ape-like expression of the breed.
To further complete the picture, the neck is moderately short, strong, and well set on and the head may be carried high when on the move. The neck should not give a stuffy appearance. The body should be well ribbed, with good depth, have a strong loin, and a level back. The ribs should be well sprung, but not barrel and carried well back towards a short loin. The tail is set high, richly plumed, and carried in a gay curl over the back when moving. Please check for the tail set when evaluating the breed on the table. The dog should not be penalized for dropping its tail when standing.
The forequarters of this breed should be nicely laid back to allow for the brisk movement of the breed. For this reason, the neck must not be too short. The moderately short appearance of the neck is really brought about by the shawl or mane of hair. The moderate bones of the forelegs are slightly bowed but firm at the shoulder. The dog should not be out at the elbow and the legs must not be too bowed or too heavily boned. Remember, moderate is the key word here as well. The feet should not turn neither in nor out but point straight ahead. With that said, young specimens may be a bit eastie/westie when standing due to the lack of maturity; i.e., rib spring and depth of chest. The legs must be long enough to have a rectangle of daylight beneath the dog but should not appear leggy. The feet are small and hare-footed.
The hindquarters are well made and strong with the stifle well developed, showing moderate angulation. The hocks are to be well let down and straight when viewed from behind. The dew claws may be removed, hare-foot as in front.
The coat of the Tibbie is a double coat but silky in texture. Due to the silky texture, the coat lies rather flat on the body. The coat should never be a stand of coat, but the forelegs, buttocks, and tail should be well furnished with longer hair. The ears are also nicely covered and the neck is covered with a shawl or mane. Bitches tend to carry less coat than dogs. The feathering on the toes can extend beyond the feet, however; younger animals may not carry the toe hair called slippers. Slippers may not appear until age 4, and some never grow much toe fringe due to the surface they may be housed on.
It is essential that Tibbies are shown naturally. Many breeders come to Tibbies from other breeds and along with them, they bring their old, familiar ring habits from those other breeds. If the coat of the Tibbie is correct, all the brushing, in the ring, will be of no use. A correct coat will not stand once the dog shakes. The coat will then fit the body once again.
Ring presentation is of the utmost importance to the preservation of this natural breed. As stated in our standard, presentation in the show ring calls for the Tibetan Spaniel to be shown in an unaltered condition with the coat lying naturally with no teasing, parting, or stylizing of the hair. Specimens where the coat has been altered by trimming, clipping, or by artificial means shall be so severely penalized as to be effectively eliminated from competition. Dogs with such a long coat that there is no rectangle of daylight showing beneath or so profuse that it obstructs the natural outline, are to be severely penalized. Whiskers are not to be removed. Hair growing between the pads, on the underside of the feet, may be trimmed for safety and cleanliness. Feathering on the toes must not be trimmed. Exhibitors have been told by judges, from time to time, to trim those feet. That is a “no, no!”
All colors and mixtures of colors are allowed and that is what adds to the beauty of this breed. When you get breeders together and they relive the shows they have attended, one sometimes hears, “There are judges out there that are color blind.” I don’t believe they are color blind but would rather prefer to see it as judging for breed qualities rather than isolating by color. A quality dog is a quality dog regardless of its color, and I truly believe a judge is looking for the dog that fills their mind’s eye as the most correct specimen when they judge on that given day.
Whether you are learning about the breed, judging it, or evaluating your own breeding stock, make sure that this about 10-inch alert, active, moderate breed called Tibetan Spaniels gives a well-balanced appearance, ranges from 9-15 pounds, and is slightly longer than tall when measured from the point of shoulder to the root of tail. In looking for the ape-like expression; with its dark brown eyes and blunt cushioned muzzle, be sure to also include that aloof, quick-moving, and positive animal with the level topline, double silky coat, and richly plumed tail shown naturally. When you see it all, you will know you have found “The Tibetan Spaniel!
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