The Tibetan Kyi Apso, also known as the Apso Do-Kyi or the Tibetan Collie, is a rare Tibetan breed of livestock guardian dog. In Tibet, the Pashmina of this breed is occasionally saved and used to weave small carpets.
Names and etymology
In Tibetan, "kyi" means dog and "apso" is short for "ara" meaning moustache and "sog-sog" meaning hairy. It also qualifies in common parlance as a type of "do-khyi", meaning a dog that is tied. In Europe, this breed is often referred to as the Tibetan Collie, which is a misnomer, because it is not a collie.
Description
Appearance
These large, playful dogs are recognized by their long, full coats, fully curled tails and "bearded" faces. This breed stands between 24-28 inches and weighs just under 100 lbs. In comparison to the Tibetan Mastiff, the Kyi Apso has a bearded, shaggy muzzle and longer hair overall but also its bone is not as hefty. Most Kyi Apsos appear lighter and more athletic than a Tibetan Mastiff, and lack the huge, sagging lips or dewlaps, facial wrinkles, or a lot of haw. Considered a primitive breed, it typically retains the hardiness which would be required for it to survive in Tibet and the high-altitude Himalayan range. Instinctive behaviors including canine pack behavior contributed to the survival of the breed in harsh environments. It is one of the few primitive dog breeds that retains a single estrus per year instead of two, even at much lower altitudes and in much more temperate climates than its native climate. This characteristic is also found in wild canids such as the wolf and other wild animals. The dogs also go through a period of restlessness associated with the traditional yak migrations in Tibet. This creates a tendency for these dogs to want to roam periodically. Its double coat is long, subject to climate, and found in a wide variety of colors, including solid black, black and tan, various shades of "red" and bluish-gray, often with white markings. It also lacks the unpleasant "big-dog" smell that affects many large breeds. The coat, whatever its length or color, should shed dirt and odors. Although the dogs shed somewhat throughout the year, there is generally one great "molt" in late winter or early spring and sometimes another, lesser molt in the late summer or early fall.
Temperament
Of the few dogs that have made it to the West, the temperament can best be described as generally relaxed, affectionate and peaceful, but are also very assertive in defense of their territory. They seem to be less serious than the Tibetan Mastiff, approaching life with a bit more whimsy and humor. They can turn deadly serious if the situation warrants it, but they do not sweat the small stuff. As a flock guardian dog in Tibet and in the West, it uses all the usual livestock guardian tactics to warn away predators and avoid direct confrontations.
History
The earliest mention of this dog breed comes from writings in the 19th and early 20th centuries about dogs from Central Asia, Tibet and the Himalayan countries. It is related to the Tibetan Mastiff. Captain George Augustus Graham, best known among dog fanciers as the founder of the Irish Wolfhound Club of Great Britain, imported a dog called a "Tibetan wolf dog". This dog is best described as a Kyi Apso. The 13th Dalai Lama is noted to have owned a dog of this type. Relatively few Tibetan Kyi Apsos have reached North America or Europe. Among the first to North America were imported in the late 1970s, or perhaps earlier, but none of those dogs seem to have left any progeny. The breed used to be well-represented and cared for by the now-defunct Tibetan Kyi Apso Club, which was established in 1995, but it collapsed in 1999 and registered no litters after 2000.
