Tibetan monasteries produced this breed. They had these dogs perched on walls to alert the coming of strangers and wolves. There is also evidence that part of their appeal was decorative. As an additional job, they turned the prayer wheels, using small treadmills. Coming to England at the turn of the 20 century, only one dog survived WWII, Skyid. Most of the breed in the West can be traced back to this dog. They didn’t make it to America until the 1960s.
This breed will get along with pretty much anything that lives in their household. They can be stubborn and independent, but also like to earn affection in various ways. They like to be with the family and at the center of the action, and are good with children.