Non-sporting breeds: Tibetan Terrier

Origin
    Tibetan Terriers originated in the Lost Valley of Tibet. The breed was thought to bring good luck to anyone who owned one. A longing to retain this good fortune prevented owners from selling these dogs or mating them with other breeds. They were known as the "Holy Dog of Tibet," the" Good Luck Dog," or "Luck Bringer." They were also given to those about to set out on hazardous journeys or caravans; the traveler's safety was guaranteed, as no one would harm anyone fortunate enough to have been given a Tibetan Terrier. The present Dalai Lama took his Tibetan Terrier, "Senge," with him when he was forced to leave Tibet.
    Although you could not buy them, they were often given as tokens of esteem. A Dr. Agnes R. H. Greig, for example, cured a sick Tibetan woman and received a puppy in return. These particular puppies formed the core group that initiated an international spread of the breed. She was luckily able to acquire a mate for "Bunty" and she consequently persuaded the Indian Kennel Club to recognize the breed in the 1920s.
    In the 1930s Dr. Greig began Lamleh Kennels, founding the breed in England where the Kennel Club of England accepted it in 1937. Dr. Greig continued her untiring care breeding and promoting Tibetan Terriers until her death in 1972. She kept tight control on her breeding stock and it was not until the mid-1950s that a few other breeders began to come forth using Dr. Greig's stock and a few other imports certified by the English Kennel Club. Some of the first were John and Connie Downey's Luneville Kennels and Emmie Manual's Skellfield Kennels.
    In 1956 Dr. Henry and Mrs. Alice Murphy of Great Falls, Virginia, imported Gremlin Cortina "Girlie" from Dr. Greig. In 1957, they imported a mate for her and established Kalai Kennels, and set up the Tibetan Terrier Club of America. The Tibetan Terrier Club of America acted as the official registry for the breed as well as to promote conscientious breeding and preserve the interests of the breed in the United States and Canada.
    In 1963 the American Kennel Club admitted the breed to the Miscellaneous class. The American Kennel Club admitted the breed to registration May 1973 and to regular show classification in the Non-Sporting group effective Oct. 3, 1973. Alice Murphy had devoted the last 20 years of her life to the founding of her beloved breed in the United States and Canada.

General description