Tibetan Mastiff: Breed Information

The Tibetan Mastiff is a very old dog breed and has its origins in the high plateaus of the Himalayas. The self-confident, strong dog has a pronounced protective instinct and is not only an ideal guardian of larger properties because of its imposing appearance. The will for a subordinate is not particularly pronounced in the Tibetan Mastiff, which is why this breed also belongs in the hands of connoisseurs.

Origin and history

The Tibetan Mastiff comes from the high plateaus of the Himalayas and is considered to be one of the oldest dog breeds in the east. Because of its geographic isolation, this breed – like other ancient domestic animal breeds of Tibet – has remained relatively unchanged for many centuries. The Tibetan Mastiff has been used by Tibetan Shepherds as a livestock guardian dog since ancient times and is considered a traditional guard dog in Tibetan monasteries. The dogs protect their herds from attacks by wolves, snow leopards, and other invaders. They are therefore held in the highest esteem in their home country. The first Tibetan Mastiff only arrived in the western world in the middle of the 19th century and has always been one of the very rare dog breeds.

Appearance

With a shoulder height of over 66 cm and a weight of around 60 kg, the Tibetan Mastiff is an extremely impressive sight. With his strong and muscular body and – especially in males – pronounced thick neck mane, it looks majestically sublime and inspires respect.

The thousands of years of selection in the extreme climatic conditions of the high mountain regions made the breed robust, weatherproof, and very frugal. The dense fur with a lot of undercoats offers ideal protection against wet and cold. The Tibetan Mastiff is bred in the colors black, black, and tan, gray and tan, and gold.

Nature

The Tibetan Mastiff has a strong protective instinct and is by its original purpose and is also territorial. It is calm and has strong nerves, but reacts quickly and fearlessly in an emergency. It is loyal and affectionate towards its people, reserved to be suspicious towards strangers, but not aggressive. Despite its size and strength, the Tibetan Mastiff is an affectionate family dog ​​who loves his pack unreservedly, even if it doesn’t show it all the time.

The highly intelligent, self-confident dog needs an early imprint on other dogs and environmental influences, a close family connection, and a consistent, loving upbringing. Its will to a subordinate is not particularly pronounced, but with a little sensitivity and empathy, a lot can be achieved. But blind obedience should not be expected from this breed. A Tibetan Mastiff is suitable for people who value personality and intact social behavior in their dog.

Tibetan Mastiffs love to be outdoors and need a task that corresponds to their disposition as guards and protectors of a larger territory. In addition, they love long walks and also enjoy tracking and trailing. Tibetan Mastiff are also increasingly used in therapy dog ​​and rescue dog training. The mighty Tibetan Mastiff is not suitable as a city dog ​​or apartment dog.