The Tibetan Spaniel is an ancient breed that traces its roots to Buddhist monasteries possibly more than 3,000 years ago. The Tibetan Spaniel is believed to have shared ancestry with the Japanese Chin as well as the Pekingese. While they do not represent a typical spaniel, they are known to be great watch dogs and are very comfortable with heights. It was not uncommon to see them sitting atop the walls of the Buddhist temples while scanning the countryside. In addition to watching over the monasteries, the Tibetan Spaniel was used to turn the monk's prayer wheels.
The breed became a favorite among Chinese royalty, where they were known as "little lions". The first true reference of the Tibetan Spaniel being bred in America is in 1965, when a litter was produced from two dogs that were acquired from a monastery in Tibet.
By 1971, the Tibetan Spaniel Club of America was formed and finally, in 1984, the Tibetan Spaniel was accepted into the American Kennel Club as a non-sporting breed.
