Activity Level
In general, the mature TTs are not boisterous. They tend to be dignified creatures, although they may indulge themselves by having a mad-cap half hour now and again, and they are usually ready to join in a rough and tumble game whenever the opportunity arises.
The youngsters on the other hand, are an entirely different proposition. They have boundless energy and no shortage of ideas as to how to use it. All TT puppies arrive in the world with their fair share of original sin. They can push, pull, chew, run and jump with the best.
If you look closely at the construction of a Tibetan Terrier you will see that his hind legs are noticeably longer than his front ones, although they are angulated in such a way that his back remains level. This particular build gives him a effective "spring" together with the strength needed to tackle his original work in the precipitous mountain regions of Tibet. He is, therefore an expert jumper and may choose to demonstrate his skill by bounding effortlessly onto surfaces many times his own height. Luckily he has a miraculous sense of balance (TTs who missed their footing above the sheer rock faces in Tibet rarely survived to perfect their technique), and will land nonchalantly on top of the television or whatever, although this can be disconcerting to his owner. In the matter of jumping, and in other ways too, TTs can be remarkably cat-like in their actions.
Given the right kind of guidance, TTs quickly learn where they may, and may not, jump and will do their best to comply with the rules. On the occasions where they fail it just has to be remembered that leaping, to them, is as natural a form of progression as walking is to us.