Tibetan mastiff

 If you are considering including the Tibetan Mastiff, also known as the Tibetan Mastiff, in your family, it will be necessary to familiarize yourself comprehensively with the character, characteristics, and care that this breed requires.

In this dog57 profile, we will try to explain all the details you should take into consideration before considering owning this animal or useful information for any fan of this breed.

Read and find out all about the Tibetan Mastiff.

The origin of the Tibetan Mastiff

The Tibetan mastiff, also known as the Tibetan mastiff or Do Kihei, is one of the oldest oriental breeds in existence. They are known to be a working breed of the ancient nomadic herders of the Himalayas as well as the protection dog of Tibetan monasteries. When China invaded Tibet in the 1950s, these bulldogs virtually disappeared from their native lands.

 

Fortunately for the breed, many of these huge dogs ended up in India and Nepal, where the breed was resettled. With the export of the Tibetan Mastiff to England and the United States, the breed gained popularity among dog breeders in the West.

The Tibetan Mastiff is believed to be the ancestral breed of all-mountain mastiffs and upland dogs, although there is no evidence to confirm this. Its bark is certainly unique and considered a highly prized breed trait.

This ancient and wonderful dog has first mentioned in history thanks to Aristotle (384 - 322 BC), but the origin of the breed's breeding is unknown. It was also mentioned by Marco Polo, who in his travels to Asia (1271 AD) praised a dog of great strength and size. Later, in the nineteenth century, Queen Victoria of England received one of the first Tibetan mastiffs in Europe, namely in 1847. And this was its effect, years later, in 1898, the first mastiff litter was recorded in Berlin European Tibetans, Specifically at the Berlin Zoo.

It turns out that this happened about 42,000 years ago. But, the Tibetan Mastiff became distinct much earlier, around 58,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest dog breeds.

In 2011, other research found a relationship between the Tibetan Mastiff and the Great Pyrenean, Bernese Mountain Dog, Rottweiler, and Saint Bernard, and these large breeds may be its descendants. In 2014, Leonberger was added to this list.

Remains of large bones and skulls found in burials dating back to the Stone and Bronze Ages indicate that the ancestors of the Tibetan mastiff lived with man at the dawn of his history.

The first written mention of the breed dates back to 1121 when hunting dogs were introduced to the Emperor of China.

Due to its geographical remoteness from the rest of the world, the Tibetan Mastiff developed in isolation from the rest of the world, and this isolation has allowed them to maintain their originality and originality for centuries, if not thousands of years.

Some dogs came to other countries as gifts or prizes, crossed with local dogs, and gave rise to new types of mastiffs.

What does Tibetan Mastiff look like?

The Tibetan Mastiff stands out for being a strong dog, gigantic in size, extremely powerful, and majestic. In the breed standard, they describe him like a dog of serious and serious appearance, with imposing strength.

The head of this mastiff is broad, heavy, and powerful, with a slightly rounded skull. The occipital protuberance is very pronounced, and the nasolabial protuberance (stop) is well defined. The color of the nose depends on the color of the coat, but it should be as dark as possible. The muzzle is wide. The eyes are medium, brown, and oval. The middle entry ears are triangular, medium, and hanging.

The body is stocky, strong, and slightly longer than it is tall. The back is straight and muscular, while the chest is very deep and moderately wide. The tail is medium in length and high. When the dog is active, it is carried loosely on its back.

The coat of the Tibetan mastiff consists of two layers. The outer layer is coarse, thick, not very long hair. The undercoat is dense and woolly in cold weather but becomes brittle in hot weather. The coat can be black with or without tan markings, or blue with or without tan markings, sable, or gold. A white star on the chest and a few white marks on the feet are acceptable.

The minimum size for females is 61 cm at the withers, while the minimum size for males is 66 cm at the withers. There is no height limit.

Is Tibetan Mastiff aggressive?

The Tibetan Mastiff is an independent dog, but it is very loyal and protective of the family to which it belongs. Although he is not a very attached dog, he does enjoy the presence of his relatives who he will not hesitate to protect. On the contrary, he is usually suspicious of strangers. He usually gets along with dogs and other animals, especially dogs of the same size, although this behavior is closely related to the socialization he received as a puppy.

He is usually very docile and friendly with children in the house, and although he is a quiet dog in the house, due to his large size and strength, he can inadvertently hurt him, so it is always recommended to supervise play sessions between children and the dog as well as offering a toy that is "the medium" in their relationship and fun moments.

He is a quiet dog at home but requires sessions of moderate activity outside the home to keep his muscles in shape and ease the stress of everyday life. By taking long walks, we will do the necessary physical activity for the role of the Tibetan Mastiff. An interesting fact to bear in mind is that these dogs tend to be barkers due to their past as guard dogs, as well as being destructive when on their own if they suffer from anxiety or even behavior problems.

As for recommendations, it is not a suitable breed for inexperienced owners, it is recommended for people with advanced knowledge of dog education, animal care, and large dog ownership.

Are Tibetan Mastiffs high maintenance?

The Tibetan Mastiff requires regular coat care, which must be brushed three times a week. In times of hair loss, daily brushing is recommended to avoid noticing poor coat conditions. Bathing should be done approximately every two to four months.

Although they can live in an apartment, it is highly recommended that this breed lives in a large house, with a garden, which they can access whenever they want. However, whether you live in an apartment or a large house, it is highly recommended that you take long, high-quality daily walks with a Tibetan Mastiff.

  This breed perfectly adapts to different climates, both cold and temperate, although it does not usually feel comfortable in particularly humid and hot places.

We must bear in mind that this breed, mainly due to its large size, will also require large things: a bed, a feeder, or toys, which usually have a much higher economic cost. Also, daily dog food is a plus to consider.

Teaching Tibetan Mastiff

As already mentioned, this dog needs a responsible owner with a lot of experience in dealing with large dogs and in advanced training. Therefore, an inexperienced owner will need to turn, even before adoption, to a dog breeder and trainer.

It will be necessary to work immediately on puppy socialization and bite inhibition, as well as basic obedience exercises. Let's also remember that the puppy will soon reach a large size, so we should avoid reinforcing behaviors that we do not want in adulthood, such as climbing people for example.

Once the dog has already understood the basic commands, we can start with canine skills or other exercises that motivate him, but it will be necessary to review the obedience daily or weekly, thus ensuring his safety and the safety of the environment. In the face of any abnormal behavior or behavioral problem, it will be necessary to go to a specialist as soon as possible and not to attempt treatments on our own.

Tibetan mastiff health

Because the Tibetan Mastiff grows slowly, both physically and mentally, it has a longer lifespan than most large breeds.

The average life expectancy is 10 to 14 years. However, a lot depends on genetics, those breeds that often mate with each other have a shorter life expectancy.

Being a primitive breed, they do not suffer from hereditary diseases, but they are prone to joint dysplasia, which is the scourge of all large dog breeds.

Unlike other ancient breeds, the Tibetan Mastiff is not particularly prone to health problems, as it is a fairly healthy breed in general. However, the most common Tibetan diseases are:

hip joint deformities

Hypothyroidism

entropion

Neurological problems

Also in this section, we should highlight a characteristic indicating that this breed is very characteristic: females have only one heat per year, unlike most breeds of dogs and similar wolves.

To ensure the health of the Tibetan Mastiff, the dog's schedule vaccination, deworming routine and regular vet visit as required by our dog must be followed, although usually between 6 and 12 months. By following these tips.