Excellent Pets and Family Companions
The generally accepted history of the TT breed says that they were raised for hundreds of years by the monks that lived high in the mountains of Tibet. The TTs were companions to the monks, and generally not working dogs, though it is believed that occasionally they worked as herding dogs. TTs were never sold, but only occasionally given to friends or travelers for good luck. History of Tibetan Terriers.
With this heritage, it is easy to see why TTs make excellent pets and family companions. They are sometimes a little shy at first around strangers, but generally very outgoing and good-natured dogs. TTs seem to adapt to the lifestyle of their family. They're content to be couch potatoes in less active homes, but are also willing and able to participate in family activities such as hiking or camping or dog activities such as agility or obedience training. Tibetan Terriers and Performance.
TTs are extremely intelligent, and can be trained to do almost anything, but they respond best to positive training methods. Being as intelligent as they are, they are quick to learn how to train humans too, so consistency in dealing with them is important. Their long coats, while beautiful when neatly groomed, require frequent brushing or (if not being shown) trimming to prevent matting. Grooming can, however, become a special time of bonding if done frequently for short periods, as it is a time when the TT gets your full attention.
