14 April 2026, 8am EST
(and just to tease you . . . https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B24b1KH4Ex6CQ2tvbDIySnRtNW8/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-qGdCJ_CNY9SwZczsJNUF5w)
Hello and welcome!
Thank you for your interest in Kensington Tibetan Terriers. We’ve been in the breed since 1992 and began our breeding program in 2006 with the acquisition of our foundation pair of Tibetan Terriers from Nina Wagner of Shalimar Tibetan Terriers. Nina passed away in 2016. We all miss Nina, but she lives on in the foundation bloodlines with which I began my breeding program in 2006 and she lives on in Oskar, a Brady son. I have quite a lot of frozen semen from Oskar, CH Shalimar Zacchariah of Kensington, and will be using it in 2026. Oskar is Campari and Leo’s dad and he has sired quite a few pups in the last 18 years for both Nina and myself, including quite a few AKC Conformation CHampions.
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We have three doggie au pairs who help me regularly, a circle of close friends who’ve known my dogs for the 30 years I’ve lived in Stowe, Vermont – and some of these fabulous peeps have kids who help to socialize the young animals to small humans. I could not do this, without the help of my community, friends and some very helpful men, too!
This is Claire and she has literally been coming to handle and play with pups, since she was 3. Her older brother, Levi, is now 17 and has a girlfriend – so, he’s out of the picture – but he used to come, too! Claire still loves to come and when those of you with kids come for your visits? Your children will help to expose the young pups further, as well as learning how to handle and play with young doggies under my supervision and with participation from you, too. Visits are a terrific opportunity to ask questions and for us to get to know one another a little bit, as I believe that is important.
I want to breed and raise Kensington Tibetan Terrier puppies for people who want to be involved and want to learn, as well as who want to share their previous life experience with dogs. It makes it more fun for me and builds community. And the completion of a paper application, returned by snail mail, is also required as part of my application process. Your printed answers to my questions contribute to the topics we discuss during your visit. I take notes; I ask more questions and I show you more than you might ever have thought about, whether it comes to what to feed your adult dog, how to correct an unwanted behaviour, how to clarify boundaries without being punitive – and – you get to ask questions, too, and meet my gorgeous dogs.
Since the beginning of my breeding program, I took a somewhat different approach from what Nina was doing. I have very carefully outcrossed with TTs from Claire Coppola of RinChen in Colorado (2013), gorgeous boy TTs from Markus Gisslen of Shadeacre in Sweden (2016), Veronika Kucerkova of Erbosedition in Slovakia (2020) and most recently? A stunning male I brought into the US who was bred by Mme. Brigitte Roy of Kundali in Switzerland/France in early spring 2023. Through CH Kundali Romeo Kensington Edition, we have been adding Kundali and Sun Kosi bloodlines to some of what I’ve produced. Slowly and carefully, I test new bloodlines with multiple breedings to see what they might produce, before I keep any of the offspring for potential use in my Kensington breeding program. Genetic diversity is necessary for genetic health and Kensington Tibetan Terriers is committed to health, proper structure, genetic testing and great temperament.
My goals include producing healthy, gorgeous, happy puppies who meet the accepted American Kennel Club breed standard. The British standard includes puppies with heights at the withers of 13″ to 14″ and I do not seek to breed Tibetan Terriers who are that small at maturity. However, there is variety in every litter and often, a ‘smallest’ and a ‘largest’ puppy who may or may not mature that way. Crystal balls are not perfect! I match Kensington puppies to applicant homes, according to personality aspects demonstrated early on, gender, coat color and pattern requests – but always, for good reason. We prefer to breed and raise Tibetan Terrier puppies for folks already in the breed but respect families seeking to change breeds. Regardless, our application will allow you the opportunity to clarify what it is you seek and why. Your answers will serve as a guide to me, as I study future puppies with your family’s lifestyle and dog experience in mind. And if curve balls hit you with a change in plans? Non problem. There are always other people waiting behind you and your having to postpone your plan will allow them to have a happy surprise and bring a Kensington kid into their home lifestyle even sooner than expected.
Leo and Molly, 25 March 2020.
With Covid in our past, we learned to use zoom.us for video calls in lieu of 3D visits and they can be arranged if you live outside of ‘driving distance’ from Stowe, Vermont. If you are seriously interested in and willing to wait for a Kensington Tibetan Terrier, you are more than welcome to contact me and request an application. I am also happy to discuss your personal situation by phone or email.
The puppies from our 2025 litters are all happily ensconced in their forever homes all across the country. Three went to unrelated families in Chicago, one went to London, several are in Massachusetts, at least two or three in Virginia and the rest doesn’t really matter. The point is that we can work together to get a Kensington puppy into your arms, regardless of where you live in North America.
If you’d like to participate in puppy selection for yourself or your family? You are welcome to do so – but – it will require a minimum of two visits to my home and between 6/8 weeks of age of the potentially available pups. There is good reason for this and I remain happy to discuss, should you like to know more.
GRCHB Kensington’s Total Trust in Tashi returned to Stowe in February 2026, after her Westminster performance on February 2nd, 2026. She didn’t medal and I was disappointed (it would have been our third Westminster medal) – but she didn’t care! She danced after leaving the ring and gave us a private performance of what joy and engagement look like to a show dog. Cybele is gorgeous and it is an absolute pleasure to live with her. She returned home with 15″ of hair and the texture is so easy, I don’t even mind maintaining it (with the help of my groomer). She and CH Kensington’s Zenith of Zacchariah (Tucci) will be the next girls to be bred and they will give us puppies for fall availability.
Roxy and Coco came into season in late February and early March and both have been bred. No matter how many puppies we get in these first two litters of 2026? I believe that they all have homes waiting and the applications with deposits are here at my desk. Applications not yet received will be considered for later summer, fall and early winter puppy availability. I cannot continue to produce the same quality Tibetan Terriers, if I expand my breeding program. So, I ask for your patience, knowing that this is a collaborative process between us!
After genetic health, fine temperament and proper structure, the most important thing to me is the quality of individual handling & care each puppy receives from me during their first ten weeks of life. This is why I plan the timing of my litters very carefully. My personal life and mental health have value, too, and in order for me to be able to maintain my standards for cleanliness, organization and social stimulation in my own life? It is best that we breed fewer and not more puppies than folks seek from me. This way, folks often have to wait – but this also means that they can plan, prepare and be ready for the 24/7 attention a new canine family member deserves.
Unlike some breeders, I do welcome applicants who have specific wishes and wants in their next Tibetan Terrier and the more ‘wishes & wants’? Unfortunately, the longer you (usually) have to wait – but if you’re willing to wait? You are welcome to email me at wendyll.behrend@gmail.com or telephone to share your story. We require previous dog owning experience and do not offer our puppies to first time dog owners.
You see, the Tibetan Terrier is a breed known for its keen intelligence, intuitive nature and athleticism. Something like a six year old child, puppies can be challenging to one’s need for control! I have found that they are best ‘managed’ with redirection/distraction and they excel at clicker training, agility and games. I know that if I am planning on keeping a puppy from a litter? I had better not have ANYTHING planned for at least six months. IMHO, it takes a minimum of six months of attention invested in a puppy, in order to train an animal with longterm social success in mind. And I don’t start counting until the animal is at least eight weeks of age.
If you’d like to read more about what’s been on my mind over the last few years? Use the menu above, click on About Us and then, click through to What We’re All About.
If you’ve submitted an application and want to introduce yourself to other Kensington peeps? Ask to join our private group page on Facebook: Wagging Tales at Kensington. There, you will have the opportunity to meet some new Kensington friends and share a story or two. As a private page, I review each request to join the group and if I do not recognize your name? I will MESSAGE you to ask a question or two. We don’t welcome bots and they really do exist.
When asking to join the group, there are several questions you’ll need to answer. Know that this is a private page and a forum for real live peeps waiting for or who already have Kensington Tibetan Terriers. It’s a terrific place to ask questions, share veterinary references, training experiences and set up play dates. I do use geographical information when deciding with whom and where to place a puppy, as it has proven valuable to have littermates living nearby for play dates, especially during life with Covid.
There is HUGE VARIETY in the style and quality of care each breeder utilizes in the breeding and rearing of their puppies. You should explore other breeders, Because you should want to find the best fit for your family; someone who will be there to support you over the years, if you need guidance or a second opinion. You might think a visit to Kensington Palace is cumbersome and might question the value.
Visits help us all to get clear on whether we want to work together in the breeding and rearing of your next family member. Because frankly? I might not be the breeder for you. I take a collaborative approach. The physical, psychological and emotional work I put into the study & evaluation of each puppy requires that I find some sympatico/sympatica between myself and the potential forever family. It’s not just about ‘selling a puppy’. It’s about placing the right Tibetan Terrier puppy with the right family, so that everyone is set up for success over the long haul. I require the first right of refusal, should anything happen and your Kensington kid require re-homing. You will need to agree and sign a contract with this detail clearly spelled out. I do not ever want any of my Kensington bred & raised Tibetan Terriers ending up in ‘rescue’ and I ask that you respect my longterm commitment to the health and well being of each puppy bred here at Kensington.
Traditionally, I use repeat breedings to ensure that I know what will be produced in our litters and to work toward consistency in what I produce. If I breed a pair of animals two or three times and the offspring are all similar? I know that I can pretty much depend upon those animals ‘breeding true’. We try to keep our surprises to a minimum! Then, when it’s time for an outcross? I can better evaluate what I get and why. There were differences in the first two litters sired by Julius and clearly, they came as a result of the differences in the dams. I study these differences, similarities and make notes for future review. My spreadsheets offer comparisons and analyses of all litters to date, with deviations noted from cumulative averages and specific details for each sire, dam and puppy.
If you’d like to read more about what we do and why we do it? Please use the menu above, click on About Us and then, click through to What We’re All About . . .
Thank you for your interest in Kensington Tibetan Terriers and my breeding program. We take genetics, pedigrees and temperament very seriously. I hand raise every puppy personally and with the help of my three doggie au pairs – and breed for conformation to the breed standard, brains, beauty & sweetness of temperament. Mature sizes vary, coat colors vary but husbandry practices, cleanliness & health do not. I love what I do. Welcome to my world. ;>)
Woof.