MyDogBreeds
Tibetan Terrier is originated from China but Greek Sheepdog is originated from Greece. Tibetan Terrier may grow 34 cm / 13 inches shorter than Greek Sheepdog. Tibetan Terrier may weigh 36 kg / 79 pounds lesser than Greek Sheepdog. Tibetan Terrier may live 3 years more than Greek Sheepdog. Both Tibetan Terrier and Greek Sheepdog has almost same litter size. Both Tibetan Terrier and Greek Sheepdog requires Moderate maintenance.
The Tibetan Terrier is a medium-size breed of dog that originated in Tibet. He has always been kept as a pet and companion for Tibetan monks.
He is still a popular companion dog, more so because he is thought to be hypoallergenic, so that even allergy sufferers can enjoy a canine friend.
This isn't a new dog breed, and if you have to go according to records, they have been around for more than 2000 years as herding dogs.
The first Tibetan Terrier was brought to Europe in 1922. The first Tibetan Terriers in the US were imported in 1956 and in 1973 the American Kennel Club recognized the breed. They're classified as a non-sporting breed.
Known as the Olympus Dog or even simply as the Greek Shepherd, the Greek Sheepdog is a large to giant molosser dog from Greece. His purpose has always been to guard flocks and livestock from predators and he has been around for hundreds of years, looking much like the Great Pyrenees.
It is believed that the dog was likely bred with a number of breeds – both local and non-local dogs.
Unfortunately there were no records kept of the development of the breed but today the Greek Sheepdog remains a rare and fairly unknown breed outside of Greece.
It's numbers are dwindling in Greece too and since 1998 the Greek ARCTUROS has made attempts to save the breed, starting the Greek Shepherd Dog Breeding Program.
The Tibetan Terrier is a medium-sized dog weighing about 8 – 14kg and standing at about 35 – 41cm in height.
People liken him to the Bearded Collie in looks. The long, shaggy, double coat of the dog is available in a number of colors such as white, grey, golden, black or tri-colored.
The dog is powerful and squarely built with floppy ears and a tail that is well feathered, long and carried curled over the back.
He has always been a dog kept by Tibetan monks. There is nothing aggressive about this dog at all and he is sweet, reserved, gentle and sensitive while also being playful and social with his human family.
These dogs thrive on human companionship and are often used as therapy dogs. He is energetic and active and will require regular exercise. He is able to adjust to life in the city or the countryside, but wherever he is, his exercise needs can never be neglected.
The Greek Sheepdog is a large dog, standing at 65 – 75cm and weighing roughly between 32 to 50kg. He is a dog that displays physical strength. He has a large head with brown eyes and a serious expression on his face. He has a thick double coat which is essentially white with red, black or brown markings.
You will also see tri-color dogs. He has floppy ears today but there was a time when the right ear of the male dog was cut off or cropped. The tail is long and bushy and it can be held low but also held up so that it curls over the back.
Maybe because of his size and him being a strong-willed, independent thinker, the Greek Shepherd may not be the best choice for a first time dog owner. Having said that, if you're a strong, firm, patient, kind person, then you'll be able to raise any kind of dog, first time or not.
The Greek Shepherd is a brave, loyal, calm, protective dog and with socialization and training, can make an awesome pet. They are dogs who are a bit suspicious with strangers, not making friends too easily. He loves his human family and wants to be part of their activities. He can't be left on his own day after day as this can lead to excessive barking and destructive behavior.
They've been dogs used to working with livestock and they will certainly need to be taken on daily walks and involved in rough and tumble games as they thrive on activity. The dog won't fit easily into city life where there is just a handkerchief-sized garden as he needs space and activity.
Tibetan Terriers are loyal ad devoted to their human family. They’re social dogs and won’t do well stuck in the back yard.
They are sensitive dogs, being able to sense the mood of those whom they love. They also make good watchdogs. They’re ideally suited to people who can give them the attention they crave, making splendid pets and companions.
Your Greek Shepherd is an intelligent, independent dog who likes to show his loyalty and devotion to his owner.
He is a protective dog too and when trained and socialized makes an excellent family pet. These Molosser type dogs are formidable dogs known for their bravery and courage.
They're the type of dogs who like a strong leader-type of owner and when he gets someone who he can look up to as his leader, he becomes a loyal, devoted pet.
Your Tibetan Terrier can live to be between 10 and 14 years of age but even so it is susceptible to a host of health problems. Some of the problems you may have to contend with are hip dysplasia, eye problems and heart murmurs.
This is a serious condition where the femur doesn't fit snugly into the pelvic socket of the hip joint. It can be painful and cause lameness even. Dogs that have hip dysplasia most certainly shouldn't be bred.
Heart murmurs are extra heart vibrations. This is because of a disturbance in the blood flow so as to produce an audible noise.
Sometimes the sound is barely audible but it can also be louder and your pet can show signs of congestive heart failure such as coughing, not being able to tolerate exercise, and being lethargic and weak.
With good care and lots of love, this dog can live to be between 10 to 12 years of age. He is unlikely to get sick very often, but still it it wise to know of some of the health issues than can occur with large breed dogs like this.
This is a disease of the heart muscle. The heart is enlarged and unable to have the right heart rhythm. The distended muscle isn't able to push the blood through the heart chambers to where it is needed. Cause for this dilated heart can be genetic, nutritional, infectious or metabolic.
Because taurine and carnitine are involved in good heart function, and low levels of these amino acids can cause symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy, supplementation is useful, especially if you feel your dog isn't getting in the right kind of food.
Borreliosis, a bacterial infection, causes Lyme disease, transmitted by the Ixodes tick. The tick bites the dog and the toxins gets into the dog's bloodstream, with the bacteria travelling to different parts of the body.
Typical symptoms in a dog includes loss of appetite, fever, no energy, swelling of joints and lameness, but symptoms can progress to kidney failure too or cardiac problems. Treatment will include antibiotics.
The Tibetan will require good food and exercise to stay healthy. The commercially manufactured dog foods are always a convenient choice, but make sure to give your pet one of the better brand foods, otherwise you feed him a lot of useless ingredients such as fillers, preservatives and colorants from the cheap, inferior brands.
Feed him some home-made food too just to add a little bit of variety to his diet. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet.
Avoid people foods such as chocolates, onions, spices, chips etc as these can just upset his stomach and push your vet fees up. Always ensure he has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.
Brush your Tibetan Terrier. He has a long shaggy coat so will require brushing at least twice a week.
Brushing your dog regularly will help to reduce shedding. Many people opt to take the dog to professional groomers and have the coat professionally clipped. The groomers will also trim your dog’s nails and clean the inside of your dog’s ears.
Before you get a dog, make sure you have a reliable veterinarian. It’s no good if your pet becomes ill, maybe even some kind of an emergency, such as bloat, and you don’t know where to take your pet.
You need to be aware of a vet that is open 24/7. Your Tibetan will need to have your vet vaccinate him against some of the deadly diseases there are.
The coat of the Greek Shepherd is fairly long so it will need to be brushed at least twice a week to keep it free from matting and tangling. He is an average shedder and the brushing will remove all loose hairs, keeping the coat sleek and shiny.
Feeding your Greek Sheepdog requires giving him top quality food as this will ensure he is healthy and can ward off common dog illnesses. If you're going to be feeding him kibble, make sure to go for the top quality brands, and as a treat for your pet you can add in some brown rice, pasta, brown bread, cooked chicken and vegetables.
Dogs are essentially carnivores and he will need to have some raw meat such as beef added into his kibble from time to time. He should never ever be without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.