A Tibetan Terrier puppy should come with paperwork that untangles this breed's name before anything else: despite the label, it is not a terrier at all, but an old Tibetan companion breed with a profuse double coat and distinctive snowshoe feet. Its health paperwork is defined by DNA testing, because several of the conditions Tibetan Terrier breeders screen for are inherited in ways that only a laboratory result, not a physical examination alone, can clarify for a particular mating.
Registration, lineage, and contract basics
Ask for the litter registration, your puppy's individual registration application, and a lineage showing at least three generations, verifying that the sire and dam named on the lineage match the dogs named on every health certificate. Mismatched names between lineage and test results are a common paperwork error worth catching on the day, while the breeder can correct it easily. The written contract should state the health guarantee, the breeder's take-back commitment at any age, whether the puppy is sold as a companion or with breeding rights, and what health testing is expected if the dog is ever bred. For a breed that lives closely with its family and often travels with them, also confirm the microchip paperwork is ready to transfer so identification follows the puppy from the first day.
DNA and eye documentation that defines this breed's file
The core documents are DNA results for both parents covering the inherited conditions Tibetan Terrier breeding programs commonly screen for, including conditions affecting the lens of the eye and a progressive neurological storage condition reported in the breed. Request certificates naming each condition and each parent's status separately; a single line claiming both dogs are clear for everything tells you nothing you can verify. Alongside DNA paperwork, expect recent eye examination certificates from a veterinary ophthalmologist for both parents and hip evaluation results. Where a parent is clear for a condition by parentage rather than by direct testing, the breeder should be able to show you the chain of earlier certificates that supports that claim. Hand the complete set to your veterinarian at the puppy's first visit so future eye checks are planned with the family history in view.
Early health records and coat-care notes
The puppy's own file should list vaccinations with dates, deworming treatments, a veterinary examination before placement, and microchip details. Because a Tibetan Terrier's double coat changes dramatically from puppy fluff to adult coat, a short written note from the breeder about the grooming routine the litter has started, including how often puppies have been brushed and bathed, is genuinely valuable paperwork too. Add feeding details and any litter weight notes the breeder keeps. That combination of health dates and practical care notes prevents the two most common first-month problems: a missed vaccination interval and a coat that mats while an owner is still learning how much brushing this breed actually needs.
Maintaining the file as the coat and years change
Keep the DNA certificates with the lineage permanently, even if you never intend to breed, because they explain your dog's inherited background to any future veterinarian in seconds. Add each new eye examination as it occurs rather than replacing the old one, so changes over time remain visible. Keep grooming notes from your own groomer alongside if coat or skin issues ever need investigating. Back up the paper file with photographs so a lost folder does not mean lost proof of testing. Filing the Tibetan Terrier's DNA results and lineage in KinsLe with Pet Passport keeps that breed-specific health packet complete and ready for travel, boarding, or a change of veterinarian.