There is no consensus about the timing of this breed. According to the oldest accounts, it is known that as early as 1121 BC the Liu people, who lived in the eastern part of China, presented Emperor Wu Wang with a Tibetan mastiff-type dog.
The traveler and explorer Marco Polo described Tibetan mastiffs as early as 1271. He wrote that the peoples of Tibet bred powerful and noble dogs, the size of donkeys, and so perfect that they could be used for hunting wild animals without any problems. In its homeland, the Tibetan Mastiff served as a herding and guard dog. It was entrusted with the care of a herd of sheep and goats and the protection of homes against thieves and wild animals. The Tibetan Mastiff came to Europe in the 19th century. The first breeding farm was established in England in 1928.
- Life Expectancy: 12 - 15 years
- Height at the withers: male - not less than 66 cm
- Height at the withers: female - not less than 61 cm
The Tibetan Mastiff is a massive and heavy dog, with strong bones, but well-proportioned. Its appearance is serious and impressive. It combines majestic strength and endurance. Dogs of this breed are adapted to work in various weather conditions. Mastiffs mature for a long time. Female dogs reach maturity at the age of 2, and dogs only at the age of 4.
The Tibetan Mastiff is an independent and respectful dog. It is a reliable guardian and protector of its family. It is an intelligent animal with a strong character, it can be stubborn and imperious. It is also a big individualist, it likes to act independently. Neatly trained it is an affectionate and warm family dog, understanding and patient with children. It is strongly attached and devoted to its owner. It is very fond of children, accepts other animals and dogs as long as ite has positive experiences with them.
This dog remains distrustful towards strangers. It can be dominant, stubborn and confident. It is brave, tough and has an outstanding defensive instinct. The Tibetan Mastiff is an utterly devoted human companion, balanced, calm, dignified and very loyal to its family. Guarding the family is an obvious matter for this breed because it has a great sense of duty.
Raising a Tibetan Mastiff should be careful and balanced. Strong words and corporal punisments may only cause the dog to ignore the owner. The aim of education should therefore be to achieve a bond based on mutual respect. The movement demand for the Tibetan Mastiff is average. It enjoys going to the woods and open fields, but is not interested in playing with a ball. The Tibetan Mastiff needs space so ideally it should live in a house.
Dogs of this breed require regular brushing. In winter, they have a profuse and very thick coat but at the beginning of summer much of their hair is shed. During this period, you should spend about half an hour a day removing any dead hair with a brush and a comb. Tibetan Mastiffs reach maturity a little later than the rest of the dogs.
The color of the Tibetan Mastiff is black, blue, black and tan, blue and tan, golden fawn to dark red. The colors are as uniform and saturated as possible. A white asterisk on the chest is allowed. Tanning occurs above the eyes, but also on the lower legs, under the tail and on the muzzle. The glasses around the eyes are tolerated.
The Tibetan Mastiff is resistant to all weather conditions. During the growing season, do not force your puppy to ensure that the muscles, bones and joints develop properly. This breed is prone to hip dysplasia.
The Mastiff is not a picky dog and will eat whatever it finds in its bowl. However, it should not be overfed, especially as it grows. It is better for the dog to be thinner, and this is true of all large breeds. If you decide to feed your puppy with dry food, choose one that has a lower protein content and is suitable for large or giant breeds. Of course, the food should not contain grains and a large amount of carbohydrates. A good way to feed your four-legged friend is Barf. It is a diet similar to what wild animals eat. It contains raw meat, meat bones, offal, vegetables and fruit. And all this without the so-called fillers such as porridge, rice or pasta.
Give your dog the necessary ingredients, being careful not to overdose them. As with the deficiency of some nutrients, an excess of them, such as phosphorus or calcium, can also have adverse effects. Therefore, it is advisable to do blood tests before taking these types of supplements. After reaching full physical maturity, the Tibetan Mastiff is no longer very demanding in terms of diet.
