Facts about Tibetan mastiff

For many Tibetan Mastiff breeders, owners and fanciers, there is simply no other breed that captures the beauty, nobility or the magic of the Tibetan Mastiff breed. But the Tibetan Mastiff breed is NOT for everyone so please ensure that you thoroughly investigate the true character and requirements of the breed. Acquiring a TM is a lifetime commitment so it is important that you prepare yourself before making the huge decision to welcome one of these dogs into your home. While there are too many aspects of the Tibetan Mastiff to explore in any document, the following is a quick guide to help you determine whether the Tibetan Mastiff might be the right dog for you, your family and your lifestyle.

The Tibetan Mastiff is a primitive GUARDIAN breed.
The powerful Tibetan Mastiff is a naturally protective and territorial dog. This means he will guard your property (house, yard, car, other pets, etc.) and your person. It also means that he will be typically suspicious and reserved with new people and situations. A securely fenced yard is a must!

The Tibetan Mastiff is a highly INDEPENDENT and INTELLIGENT breed.
The Tibetan Mastiff exhibits an extremely independent, stubborn nature and a wondrous depth of intelligence and character. He does not tend to show any of the attributes of the more obedient/trainable breeds that can be taught to perform simple or complex routines. Leash training is a must. While other more domesticated, people-pleasing breeds may enjoy fetching games, the primitive Tibetan Mastiff focuses on his working abilities which include guarding, alerting through barking, patrolling and basic territorial/dominant behavior. This breed has been bred for thousands of years to do so and it is unwise to think that you will change that.

The Tibetan Mastiff requires an INTERACTIVE RELATIONSHIP with his owner.
Committed and interactive owners are required to teach boundaries and guide a dog through the steps of basic dog manners. The Tibetan Mastiff is considered to be a challenging breed to care for and lifelong training requires dedicated work. Respect and patience are the essential keys to this breed.

The Tibetan Mastiff needs SOCIALIZATION.
Because his guarding tendencies are instinctual the Tibetan Mastiff needs a great deal of socialization. He needs to be introduced to many people, places and different situations right from early puppy-hood and well into the first two years of his life. Appropriate socialization leads to confident, well-adjusted and reliable dogs.

The Tibetan Mastiff requires a FENCED YARD.
This is a guardian breed and it is neither wise nor responsible to allow a guardian breed to be loose on your property, be it a surrounding open yard or acreage. Not only do these dogs have a strong tendency to roam but they are also very protective of their home, yard and family. No breeder wants to get the call that a puppy that s/he has bred has been hit by a car, is lost, has been attacked by a wild animal or stray dog, or has bitten a stranger or UPS driver.

The Tibetan Mastiff can be DESTRUCTIVE, an ESCAPE ARTIST and a nuisance BARKER.
Destructive behavior due to boredom or anxiety is not uncommon for the Tibetan Mastiff. Solid and secure containment areas are a must with this breed. When left outside overnight, nocturnal barking is a common complaint.

The Tibetan Mastiff is SENSITIVE to change.
The Tibetan Mastiff thrives on routine and familiarity. Frequent arguments, loud voices, turbulent, excited lifestyles and/or professions (i.e. military life) that result in numerous disruptions can tend to undermine the confidence of this breed. The resulting unbalance can lead to over-protective, reactive behavior and health issues.

The Tibetan Mastiff is a SLOW-MATURING breed.
Although the Tibetan Mastiff is a large-to-giant breed, it has a relatively long lifespan. Ten to fourteen years is typical. The breed is very slow to mature. While it is usually agreed upon that females mature quicker than males, both genders can take up to 4-7 years to fully mature to their physical potential.

The Tibetan Mastiff is affected by the changing of the SEASONS.
The Tibetan Mastiff normally sheds his wooly undercoat only once in the springtime and bitches typically reproduce only once a year. He may become very inactive during the warmer months and his feeding patterns may change.

The Tibetan Mastiff loves a COLD climate.
The Tibetan Mastiff does not typically do well in extremely hot and humid conditions. This does not mean that he cannot live in warmer climates but it does mean that he should be provided access to air-conditioned facilities during the summer.

The Tibetan Mastiff is generally tolerant of CHILDREN and OTHER PETS.
The Tibetan Mastiff does best with adult-supervised children who have been taught to be respectful and who show consideration for the dog’s space. Extra care should be shown for visiting children as children’s play may seem threatening or alarming. The Tibetan Mastiff seems to do best with other household pets when he is introduced to them as a puppy.

The Tibetan Mastiff can be SAME-SEX AGGRESSIVE.
If you currently own a dog and are considering adding a Tibetan Mastiff as a second dog, it is best to consider getting a puppy of the opposite gender. Same-sex aggression is often a reality when two males or females vie for dominance. Neutering/spaying does not guarantee that same-sex adult dogs will live in harmony with each other.

History of the breed

This is an ancient breed, descended from very early large Tibetan dogs from which many of today's Molossuses are descended. The first known record of a Tibetan mastiff was in 1121 BC, when a dog trained for hunting was given to a Chinese emperor. Marco Polo encountered the large Tibetan dogs in his travels and described them as "tall as a donkey with a voice as powerful as that of a lion." They were used as guard dogs outside the sacred city of Lhasa. This dog might be able to over power its owner but they like most guard dogs need a firm hand In the early 19th century, King George IV owned a pair, and there were enough of the breed in England in 1906 to be shown at the 1906 Crystal Palace show. However, during the war years, the breed lost favor and focus and nearly died out in England. Gaining in popularity worldwide, there are more and more active breeders, although the breed is still considered somewhat uncommon. Initially the breed suffered because of the limited genepool from the original stock, but today's reputable breeders work hard at reducing the genetic problems through selective breeding and the international exchange of new bloodlines.
In 2008, the Tibetan Mastiff competed for the first time in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Temperament

The native type of dog, which still exists in Tibet, and the Westernized purebred breed can vary in temperament. Experts state, "The few individuals that remain in Tibet are ferocious and aggressive, unpredictable in their behavior, and very difficult to train. But the dogs bred by the English are obedient and attached to their masters." Others claim that the ferocity of those in Tibet is due to selective breeding and their training as guard dogs rather than companion dogs, as reflected by their Tibetan name, "tied dogs." Many breeders throughout Asia are now seeking to preserve and breed the larger, original, more protective Tibetan Mastiff while Western breeders have sought to stabilize the temperament, in both size varieties.
As a flock guardian dog in Tibet, it is tenacious in its ability to confront predators the size of wolves and lleopards. As a socialized, more domestic Western dog, it thrives in a spacious, fenced yard with a canine companion, but it is not an appropriate dog for apartment living. The Western-bred dogs are generally more easy-going, although somewhat aloof with strangers coming to the home. Through hundreds of years of selective breeding for a protective flock and family guardian, the breed has been prized for being a nocturnal sentry, keeping would-be predators and intruders at bay, barking at sounds throughout the night. Leaving a Tibetan Mastiff outside all night with neighbors nearby is not recommended.
Like all flock guardian breeds, they are intelligent and stubborn to a fault, so obedience training are recommended since this is a strong-willed, powerful breed. Socialization is also critical with this breed because of their reserved nature with strangers and guarding instincts. They are excellent family dogs.
Newspaper reports have been suggesting that a pair of these Mastiff have killed even tigers while guarding sheeps in highlands of Nepal.

Physical attributes

The Tibetan Mastiff is among the largest breeds. It is found in a heavier mastiff type and a more moderately sized mountain type. Its sturdy bone structure and large, wide head makes it appear considerably more massive than other dogs of a similar height. It can reach heights up to 31+ inches (80+cm) at the withers, although the standard for the breed is typically in the 25 to 28 inch (61 to 72 cm) range. History records the largest of the breed weighing over 110 kg but dogs in America are more typically between 100lb (45kg) to 160lb (72kg). The Tibetan Mastiff is considered a primitive breed and is one of the only dog breeds that have a single oestrus per year instead of two. This characteristic is still found in more primitive canids species like wolf. Since their oestrus usually takes place during late fall, most Tibetan Mastiff puppies are born between December and January.
Its double coat is long, and found in a wide variety of colors from solid black to tri-color with the rarest being white. Like other types of mastiffs, the larger variety has a heavier head and more pronounced wrinkling, while the mountain type has a smoother brow with less jowling, giving them a drier mouth than other mastiff breeds. They are also hypoallergenic with a thick double coat that only sheds once per year.
Tibetan Mastiffs are separated by Chinese breed-standard into two categories - Lion Head (relatively smaller in size, exceptionally long hair from forehead to withers, creating a ruff or mane) and Tiger Head ( larger in size, shorter hair)

Do Khyi - description

The Tibetan Mastiff (Do-khyi) is a very ancient breed and type of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) originating with nomadic cultures of Central Asia, and is especially identified with Tibet.

The English name, Tibetan Mastiff, is reflected in the name 'Bhote Kukur' in Nepali, which means Tibetan Dog. In Mandarin the name is 藏獒 (Zang'Ao) and in Mongolia it is called "bankhar", meaning "guard dog". The Tibetan name, Do-khyi, means 'tied dog', reflecting its use as a home guard, much as the old English ban-dog (also meaning tied dog) was a dog tied outside the home as a guardian. The molosser type with which the modern Tibetan Mastiff breed is linked was known across the ancient world by many names.