The Tibetan Terrier is a very ancient breed that originated with the Tibetan monks, who would keep the dogs not only as companions, but as charms for good luck, watchdogs, and for the job of retrieving items that might have fallen along the mountain sides. These dogs were originally never sold, but were only given as gifts by the monks as a sign of promoting good fortune. Their breeding stock was only made up of a few foundation dogs, and the process was maintained for a very long time. This resulted in a dog that changed little in appearance for most of their history. Eventually Tibetan Terriers given as gifts made their way to Europe, where a new foundation stock was bred. In 1924, the first litter of Tibettan Terriers was born in Europe, and a kennel was established dedicated to breeding these dogs. Originally registered as the Lhasa Terrier, it wasn’t until 1930 that the Kennel Club of India would change the name to the Tibetan Terrier. The breed would arrive in the U.S. in 1956. Quickly gaining popularity among American breeders and fanciers, they were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1973.