Tristan is a darling 11-year-old purebred Tibetan spaniel who sadly has lost both of his people in the past year or so. While he enjoys being near his people -- usually, but not always, within sight of them -- he is not clingy. He enjoys lying next to you on the couch. But, like most Tibbies, as they're called, he has an independent streak and sometimes prefers lying on the opposite end. He prefers to sleep in your bed, where he'll sleep through the night. It's where he's slept all of his life, and given all he's been through, we hope he can continue to do so in his forever home.  

Don't let his age worry you. Tibbies are a long-lived breed. Tristan is as cute as a puppy and just as sweet. 

Tristan loves walks. He enjoys meeting doggie friends while on walks, and often adapts  to their personalities. If another dog is excited and wants to play, so does Tristan. If another dog is quiet and calm, Tristan will be the same. 

He likes and gets along well with other dogs and cats. He is quite fascinated by his neighbor's cat but respects the feline when he wants to be left alone. He plays well with others at dog daycare. He's polite in public. In a dog-friendly restaurant, he lay under the table, greeted passersby nicely and gently took treats from them.

Because he likes other animals a lot and because he isn't fond of being left alone, Tristan would do best in a home where someone is there all or nearly all of the time or he has another dog (or perhaps a cat) for company. We will give preference to the right home with other pets over one without them.

He is a good passenger in the car, where he rides in a car seat while belted in. He enjoys watching the world go by. 

He's food motivated and a quick learner. Like most Tibbies, he's very intelligent and enjoys working for food. He adores puzzle games and has quickly solved all that we've given him. That doesn't stop him from playing them over and over -- after all, treats are involved! 

Before we took Tristan into our care, we were told that he is a bit nervous. We didn't see much evidence of it, but we weren't sure becase he was on fluoxetine (prozac). When we weaned him off the drug, he became a bit more anxious, so we are giving it to him again. He possibly could be weaned once he is completely settled into a new home. However, for now, we believe it's best to keep him on it. He takes his pills easily with just a little liverwurst. 

Tibbies were bred to be alert dogs, and Tristan will let you know if he thinks there's something to be concerned about in the area. He'll also "talk" to remind you to feed him, take him out, or pay a little more attention to him. His "talking" is low grunts and whimpers more than barking. 

Because Tibbies can be notorious escape artists, we require a completely fenced and secure yard (if you have one) and a way to prevent him from slipping out of any doors that do not lead to a secure area. 

Tristan is being cared for by Tibetan Spaniel Club of America (TSCA) Rescue. If you are interested in learning more about Tristan, you can contact either TSCA Rescue or Shamrock Rescue. To adopt, please fill out the application on this website. A home check will be required.

TSCA Rescue: info@tstrust.com

Shamrock: mdellsavetibbies@gmail.com