History
It is thanks to an Englishwoman Mrs A.R.H. (Agnes) Greig that theTibetan Terrier developed in Europe and the USA; a woman who could take care of herself. After the First World World she became a member of the Women’s Medical Service of India. In 1918 she is sent as surgeon to a hospital in Cawnpore (now Kanpur) in the neighbourhood of the Tibetan border. Around 1920 she successfully operated a Tibetan women who had a large tumor on her overies. The patient came with her husband and all her belongings, but the animals they bring have to be lodged somewhere else. Their heavily pregnant bitch called Lily, is temporarily housed in Dr Greig’s bungalow. To show their appreciation for the successful operation they gave her one of Lily’s pups. This puppy called “Bunti” (also spelled ” Bunty”) is gold coloured and white. Dr Greig was so charmed by “Bunti” that she aked if she could register her for the Delhi Dog Show in India. Because the judges have never seen a dog like Bunti they suggest Dr Greig to get a similar dog and breed three generations to see if “Bunti” is a purebred. Then you can apply for recognition as a pure bred . From past history we know that when you give an Englishman (here an Englishwomen) two dogs and they will develop a new breed. To breed three generations of homogene Tibetan Terriers was not too complicated. These dogs have been purebred for hundreds maybe even thousand years by Tibetan monks.
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LADKOK, LATER LAMLEH Friends of Dr Greig found a male called “Rajah” In 1924 the first litter of “Rajah” and “Bunti” is born a second one in 1925. When Dr Greig goes on a ten months holiday to England she takes 3 dogs with her: “Buti” her daughter“Chota Tuka” and a male from the second litter “Ja-Haz”. The Kennel Club registers the three dogs a Lhasa Terriers, they are the basis of the “Ladkok” kennel, later called “Lamleh” As is the case for most breeds at the beginning in-breeding is necessary simply because there is no other choice if you want to breed coherent offspring. The first litter born in England is a mating between mother x son in this case “Bunti x “Ja-Haz”. In 1927 3 males are born from this combination: Mr Binks, Burrah Sahib and Bodmash. However, Indian judges are convinced that Agnes Greig’s dog are not Lhasa Terriers and are hence called Tibetan Terriers.
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Breeding and exhibition is not foreign to Dr Greig; her mother breeds Cocker Spaniels in Essex. A breed standard is pulled together in 1930 by the Indianl Kennel Club. The Kennel Club endorses this a year later. When Dr Greig returns to India she takes one male with her “Mr Binks” born in 1927; the other dogs stay with her mother. Mr Binks is the breed’s first World Champian and also wins four Challenge Certificates. |
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