The Tibetan Mastiff is a giant dog, slightly longer than tall.
The dogs of this breed are powerful and muscular, agile and athletic specimens, with a solemn calmness. Adult males are at least 66 cm tall and females at least 61 cm tall.
Its weight varies between 36 and 72 kilos or more, depending on the dog’s sex, size and complexion.
Its dense coat is quite long and with a cap on the neck and shoulders, the most visible characteristic in males. Its fur is available in different colors and spots.
Origin of the Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff is one of the oldest oriental breeds in existence. It is known to be a working breed of nomadic shepherds from the Himalayas as well as a protective dog for Tibetan monasteries. When Tibet was invaded by China in the 1950s, these dogs virtually disappeared from their homelands. Fortunately for the breed, many of these huge dogs went to India and Nepal, where the breed was repopulated. With the export of the Tibetan Mastiff in England and the United States, the breed has gained popularity among dog lovers in the West.
It is believed that the Tibetan Mastiff is the ancestor of all breeds of mastiffs and high mountain dogs, although there is no evidence to confirm this. Its bark is undoubtedly unique and is considered a characteristic of the much appreciated breed.
This ancient and incredible dog is mentioned for the first time in history thanks to Aristotle (384–322 BC), but the origin of the breed is unknown. Marco Polo also mentions him, who during his travels in Asia (1271 AD) rents a dog of great strength and size. Later, in the nineteenth century, Queen Victoria of England received in Europe one of the first Tibetan mastiffs, especially in 1847. Such was its impact, that years later, in 1898, the first mastiff of the Tibet was recorded in Berlin.
Character of the Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff is an end-to-end guard dog. It is careful with foreigners and protects its family and property. It is necessary to have the necessary experience to treat, socialize and train it, as is the case with all breeds of guard dogs. In the good house, it is a calm companion, affectionate and faithful.
The Tibetan Mastiff is an independent dog, but very faithful and protective with the family to which it belongs. Although it is not an attached dog, it appreciates the presence of its relatives, who will not hesitate to protect. On the contrary, it is often wary of strangers. This dog usually gets along with other dogs and animals, especially dogs of the same size, although this behavior is closely related to the socialization it has received as a puppy.
This dog breed is generally docile and friendly with the children of the house, however, and although it is a quiet dog at home, because of its great size and strength, it can hurt them unintentionally, so it is recommended to always monitor gaming sessions between children and dog, as well as offer a toy that is “the middleman” in their relationship and their moments of pleasure.
At home, it is a calm dog, but outside the home, the Tibetan Mastiff needs moderate activity sessions to keep its muscles in shape and relieve stress from day to day. Thanks to long walks, we will do the necessary physical activity for our mastiff of Tibet. An interesting fact to keep in mind is that these dogs tend to bark for their past as watchdogs, as well as destructive when alone, if they suffer from anxiety or even behavioral problems.
As for recommendations, this is not an appropriate breed for less experienced owners, it is recommended to have people with advanced knowledge of dog training, animal welfare and possession of large dogs.
Health of Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan mastiff is usually a fairly resistant breed. As with many other breeds, eye disorders and hip dysplasia (a condition that can lead to mobility problems) can be observed. Therefore, we recommend that you perform ophthalmic testing and hip evaluation before reproduction.
In addition to these two diseases, the Tibetan Mastiff may also suffer from:
- Hypothyroidism
- Entropion
- Neurological problems
In this section, we must also highlight a characteristic that suggests that this breed is very primitive: females have only one zeal per year, unlike most breeds of dogs and wolves.
To ensure the health of the Tibetan mastiff, the dog vaccination schedule, the deworming routine must be followed and the veterinarian must be visited as regularly as required by our dog, ideally every 6 to 12 months. Following these tips, the life expectancy of Tibetan mastiff is between 11 and 14 years.
Dogs of this breed will need approximately one hour of exercise daily, although they will readily accept more exercise if they can. Puppies should not exercise too much, as it is important to avoid overloading the muscles and joints of such a large breed.
These dogs may reside in an apartment, it is strongly recommended that this breed can live in a large house, with a garden, accessible at all times. However, whether you live in an apartment or in a big house, it is highly recommended to go for long, long, quality walks with our Tibetan mastiff.
This breed adapts perfectly to different climates, be they cold or temperate, although it is generally not comfortable in particularly humid and hot places.
We must keep in mind that the Tibetan Mastiff, mainly because of its large size, will also require large objects: a bed, a manger or toys, which usually have a much higher economic cost.
Giant dogs, in addition to a huge appetite, require a different proportion of minerals and vitamins you need for proper maintenance of the different joints and cartilage.
The Tibetan Mastiff has a tendency to swell and suffer from stomach problems, so we recommend you to offer fewer hearty meals and more frequent to minimize this risk.
Food Guide for an adult Tibetan Mastiff
Once completely mature, an adult Tibetan Mastiff must be fed a good quality diet to ensure good health. As an indication, an adult can be fed the following quantities every day:
- Dogs weighing 45 kg can be fed from 394g to 519g depending on the activity.
- Dogs weighing 55 kg can be fed from 458 g to 603 g depending on the activity.
- Dogs weighing 65 kg can be fed from 519g to 683g depending on the activity.
- Dogs weighing 72 kg can be fed from 578g to 761g depending on the activity.
The Tibetan mastiff has a double coat is formed of a woolly dense lower mantle, which changes when the good weather comes, and a smooth and hard textured outer coat. The tail and back of the legs have a longer coat. It is recommended to brush it a few times a week and increase its frequency daily during periods of loss.
The bath should be done every 2 to 4 months.
Tibetan Mastiff Dog Breed Highlights
Positive points
- The Tibetan Mastiff is a good pet and a faithful and dedicated companion.
- It’s one of the healthiest breeds in the world.
- Although large, the Tibetan Mastiff is very good around children.
- They lose moderately throughout the year, especially in the spring and fall.
- The Tibetan Mastiff does not require much maintenance on the grooming front and its coat does not tend to be entangled.
- They are very good guard dogs
Negative points
- This dog needs enough space to express itself as a big dog.
- The Tibetan Mastiff needs a lot of daily exercise.
- The cost of feeding a Tibetan Mastiff is high because it is a very big dog.
- It has a high sense of prey.
- This is not the right breed for dog owners for the first time.
- The Tibetan Mastiff is not a good choice for families with very young children because of its size.
- Puppies are expensive and the cost of their diet is high.
Originally published at https://petsfeed.co on December 9, 2019.
