Bhutan is likely the only country in the world with a government that actually measures its citizens’ happiness by using a metric called the Gross National Happiness or GNH. It must work. Bhutan has consistently been ranked as the happiest country in all of Asia, and the eighth Happiest Country in the world, at least according to Business Week. We suppose that their dogs are happy, too, and that probably means that there are a lot of happy Damchis. 

Said quickly, you might be inclined to say, “gesundheit,” but Damchis isn’t a sneeze, it’s a breed of dog found in Bhutan. It’s a close relative of the Tibetan Spaniel, but larger, longer, sturdier, stockier, with a longer muzzle and less cushioning on the cheeks. In Bhutan, this breed has been a celebrated dog since the King of Bhutan owned a Damchi named “Khomyto.” 

The breed is so beloved dog that Bhutan featured it on its official postage stamps. While the breed is revered in its native land, its survival outside the country is “iffy” because so few people have ever heard of it. We learned that a while back, a few dogs lived in Germany where a breeder imported the dogs from India, but “reading between the lines” made us guess that that the bloodlines were very thin.

For all the talk of a “Gross National Happiness,” Damchis are genuinely happy dogs best known for their spunk and playfulness. They’re eager to please their people and respond well to basic training. Like some companion breeds, Damchis can suffer from separation anxiety and be barky as a result, but for the dedicated owner willing to work with their dog, the rewards are great.

Image found on Pinterest and happily credited upon receipt of information.