You have managed to get a wonderful Tibetan Spaniel after a long time waiting. The dog is everything you dreamed of and it seems to be the perfect dog, well behaved and now house-trained. Then, you go off to work and leave the dog alone and all of a sudden the problems start. The dog forgets its house-training or refuses to use newspaper while you are out. The furniture is chewed to pieces and your neighbors are complaining that it barks all the time when you are gone. You are starting to get visits from the animal control office. What went wrong?
Simply put, the Tibetan Spaniel cannot be left alone for long periods of time without suffering separation anxiety. While it can appear to be the model dog as long as you are around, the minute you leave the clock starts ticking. Not soon afterwards, the dog begins to exhibit behavior that suggests it is completely maladjusted. The problem isn't so much that it is being stubborn (even though it is a stubborn breed); it is that this breed was never meant to be alone for long periods of time. It is just too much for them.
Don't get this dog if you don't plan to be home all day. It will drive your neighbors crazy barking. Even getting a barking collar won't relieve the primary anxiety the dog is feeling. Instead it will opt to make its displeasure known in other ways like chewing and messing the house. The same mild-mannered dog that is wonderful to have when you are around, becomes something entirely different when left home alone. The same is true whether you have someone checking in on the dog for small periods of time. The dog just really needs to have constant companionship for it to be secure in its environment. You don't have to be in the same room, but you should be in the same house.
This dog makes an absolutely spectacular companion dog. You can take it on vacation with you and many hotels will allow small dogs and are pet-friendly. You can take it with you, instead of leaving it home. Having someone check in on it daily just really isn't enough to ward off the separation anxiety. You can leave for vacation and come back to find a completely different dog who is sulking and misbehaving. If you can't be home with the dog, try to find a companion pet for it to spend the time with, but be certain you can handle two dogs. Otherwise, it is best left for someone who is home most of the time and who enjoys taking the dog with them when they are going on vacation. In the right environment, with proper companionship this dog is a very good indoor dog. Left to itself, it can become a little monster.
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