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Tibetan Mastiff Breed Profile
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Marco Polo described this dog as:
“Tall as a donkey with a voice as powerful as that of a Lion."
Do-Khyi, Dogue du Tibet |
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Dog
Breed Profile  |
Tibet
Guarding flocks.
Working
Bitch 34-57cm., Dog 41-78cm.
Both 61-78kg. Some of the larger males can weigh up to 98kg!
15-16 years
The Tibetan Mastiff requires a long walk every day. They do not run around a lot or play games. Young dogs must have restricted exercise on lead to protect their growing bones and joints.
These dogs have serious appetites. They thrive on a natural, home prepared diet. Care must be taken not to over-feed them as they can quickly become obese.
As with many large dogs the Tibetan Mastiff is prone to hip dysplasia though this can be avoided by only choosing puppies with good breed lines. They can suffer with skin conditions and ear infections.
The overall appearance is one of a huge, powerful but calm dog. The head is wedged shaped and is massive. The ears are V shaped and are pendent. The upper lips fall over the lower ones. Adult males may have a slight dewlap. The neck is thick and powerful going down to a long, sturdy body that is extremely muscular. The legs are solid and muscular and the tail is plumed and curls over the back. The coat is heavy and dense and grows in a ruff around the neck. The coat colours come in black, black/tan, blue/tan, sable, gold or red. Overall this is a giant, bear like dog with a calm and dignified attitude.
Tibetan Mastiff K9 Obedience Dog Breed Summary:
The Tibetan Mastiff is an ancient breed that is said to have been in existence during the Stone Age. This dog is an excellent guard dog that will protect its family with fierce bravery. It is also calm, loyal and very intelligent.
The Tibetan Mastiff needs plenty of early socialising and intense training as it is a large dog that can be self-willed. Harsh training methods or any physical punishment will have a negative effect on this dog that will just turn away and ignore its owner. The owner has to have this dog's respect to be able to establish a senior role and form a bond.
Untrained Tibetan Mastiffs can be extremely aggressive and unpredictable. Any potential owner thinking of choosing this breed should bear in mind that this dog was bred to guard its flocks against wolves, leopards and bears which the dog could attack and kill with ease. In fact, Tibetan villagers would only use one of these dogs to protect the whole village against predators and invading tribes.
This dog does like children but will not welcome any visitors to the home. The Tibetan Mastiff is definitely not a suitable dog for the novice dog owner or apartment dwellers. It will only suit an experienced dog owner with a good understanding of the breed, dog obedience and reward based dog training methods. |
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