Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Himalayan Sheepdog - Breed Comparison

Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Himalayan Sheepdog - Breed ComparisonHimalayan Sheepdog is originated from India but Tibetan Kyi Apso is originated from China. Both Himalayan Sheepdog and Tibetan Kyi Apso are of same height. Both Himalayan Sheepdog and Tibetan Kyi Apso are of same weight. Both Himalayan Sheepdog and Tibetan Kyi Apso has same life span. Himalayan Sheepdog may have more litter size than Tibetan Kyi Apso. Himalayan Sheepdog requires High Maintenance. But Tibetan Kyi Apso requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
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India
China
Height Male:
61 - 71 cm
24 - 28 inches
61 - 71 cm
24 - 28 inches
Height Female:
58 - 69 cm
22 - 28 inches
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
Weight Male:
40 - 45 kg
88 - 100 pounds
40 - 45 kg
88 - 100 pounds
Weight Female:
38 - 43 kg
83 - 95 pounds
38 - 43 kg
83 - 95 pounds
Life Span:
9 - 14 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 10
4 - 6
Size:
Large
Large
Other Names:
Bhotia • Bhotiya • Bhote Kukkur • Gaddi • Gaddi Leopardhund • Himachal Pradesh • Himalayan Guard Dog • Himalayan Mastiff Guard Dog • Himalayan Chamba Gaddi • HSD
Apso Do-Kyi Tibetan Collie
Colors Available:
Black, fawn, light brown, beige
Any coat color is permitted; Black and tan, golden, mahogany and chocolate are also found and are equally acceptable , and black and silver are the most common colors. Multi-colored coats (more than two colors) are also acceptable.In Tibet, black and gold,black with a white chest spot, white
Coat:
rough dense long
long and full erect tail
Shedding:
Seasonal
Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Courageous, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Playful, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Independent, Intelligent, Playful, Protective, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
High Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Hard
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

himalayan sheepdogThe Himalayan Sheepdog comes from Nepal originally and was bred as a guardian for livestock. The exact location where the breed comes from is not documented well but it is thought that they come from North India and Nepal and they are rare outside of that area. They are a mountain dog – close in ancestry to the Himalayan Mastiff, and the Kinnaur Sheepdog of Tibet (Himalaya). All these Himalayan mountain dogs were all called “Gaddi dogs”. The term was used for all the large dogs no matter what their breeds actually were.

The Himalayan Sheepdog is called by various names depending on where they were from. They are called Gaddi Leopardhund in Himachai Pradesh, In Nepal they are known as Bhote Kukkur or Bhotiya. Then there are Chamba Gaddi dogs. They are an ancient breed that existed before documentation on breeds was kept.

They acted as both guardians and herders. They guarded the mountain men’s encampments as well as the livestock. They were also used at times to hunt large animals. Today they are found only within Nepal and India. These Himalayan Sheepdogs are on the verge of extinction in India. There are no breeding programs and their isolation has caused the dilution of the gene pool. It is not recognized by any clubs including the UKC and the AKC.

tibetan kyi apsoThe Tibetan Kyi Apso is an ancient rare breed. In fact, it is one of the rarest breeds on earth. Coming from Tibet, the Kyi Apso guarded livestock and homes for the nomads of the “rooftop of the world”. Apso means bearded and Kyi meand dog thus the Kyi Apso is a bearded dog.

This breed is very intelligent with a great personality and charm. In Western countries the breed is called Apso Do-Kyi or the Tibetan Collie. The first time these dogs are mentioned in any kind of documents was the late 19th and early 20th centuries in writings about Central Asian dogs. The Kyi Apso is related to the Tibetan Mastiff.

The breed is known to have been imported by Captain George Augustus Graham as a Tibetan wolf dog. The dog was also known to be owned by the 13th Dali Lama. There have not been many exported to Europe or North America, with the first coming to North America in the 1970’s.

There have been no registered litters since 2000 and the Tibetan Kyi Apso Club closed in 1999.

Description

himalayan sheepdog puppy - descriptionThe breed is a large dog, very athletic and strong. The Himalayan Sheepdog is muscular with a deep chest, strong neck and strong shoulders. It has a medium tail that is thick and busy, curled high over its back. It is a daunting dog that can be very intimidating. They have well padded and large paws. With a broad head and wide forehead, they have a strong, wide muzzle. Their ears are high on the head and hang from the sides. They have almond shaped medium eyes that are deep set with a black nose.

They are a very active and swift dogs. By their nature they are constantly in motion, patrolling their territory and guarding their flock and people. Their devotion to their people and their courage is the stuff of legends. Their coat is double with a large ruff around their necks that resembles a mane. The inner coat is dense and short while the outer coat is longer but dense as well.

Description

tibetan kyi apso puppy - descriptionThe Tibetan Kyi Apso is a large dog with a bearded face, full coat and curled tail. They have longer hair than the Mastiff and of course the shaggy, bearded muzzle. It is not as hefty as the Mastiff of course, and he is more athletic. Like many primitive dogs before them, the Kyi Apso comes into heat only one time a year, contributing to the rareness of the breed.

With their bearded face, the breed’s head appears bigger than it is. The ears are shaped as a V and skull is flat with the eyes on the outside of it. Their muzzle looks larger than it is due to the beard. Nose and lips are black, eyes are amber and almond shaped.

The coat is double, sheds odors and molts once a year. The coat can be black and tan, shades of red, blue-gray with white and solid black.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

himalayan sheepdog dog - characteristicsYes with enough proper socialization

Special talents

Protection and loyalty

Adaptability

They are not especially adaptable and need a large yard. They are not good in an apartment.

Learning ability

Intelligent but stubborn and independent making them able to learn if they want to.

1Children friendliness - under the right circumstances never sneak up on them

2.Special talents - exceptional agility and fast starts

3.Adaptability – large dog not good for apartment life. Need large yard

4.Learning ability – intelligent and trainable but stubborn.

Health Problems

himalayan sheepdog puppies - health problemsThis is a pretty healthy breed with very few health issues. They have the usual large dog issues.

  • Hip Dysplasia – can cause lameness and/or arthritis
  • Elbow Dysplasia – can cause lameness and/or arthritis
  • Arthritis – can cause extreme pain and lameness
  • Patellar luxation – kneecap issues that are painful and can cause lameness
  • Obesity – they have a tendency to overeat and are not that active
  • Glaucoma – can cause blindness

Hip dysplasia: Can cause lameness and arthritis.

tibetan kyi apso puppies - health problemsBloat: Fatal unless treated immediately by a vet. Common to this size dog and can be controlled by eating habits.

Elbow dysplasia: Just like hip dysplasia can cause lameness and arthritis.

Other than these the Tibetan Kyi Apso is an ancient dog and very healthy as they were mostly isolated and did not interbreed. No genetic predetermined health problems.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

himalayan sheepdog dogs - caringFeed the puppy 2-3 times a day with a total of two cups of a quality dog food for large breed dogs.

Feeding the adult

Feed the adult dog twice a day with 3 to 4 cups of a high quality dry dog food for large breed dogs.

Points for Good Health

They are very strong and athletic.

Games and Exercises

The Himalayan Sheepdog needs exercise but not to be overworked. They should be taken on long walks at least once a day. They might play fetch or run in a yard, but they don’t like too much exercise.

tibetan kyi apso dogs - caring1Feeding the puppy – grow quickly don’t overfeed. High quality large breed puppy food and feed 4 small meals a day.

2.Feeding the adult – don’t over feed and don’t feed right before or after exercise due to the possibility of bloat. Feed high quality adult large breed dog food 2 x day in smaller meals.

3.Points for Good Health – ancient breed generally healthy

4. Games and Exercises - enjoys running, luer chasing,

Comparison with other breeds

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  37. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison