Tibetan Mastiff
 Questions
About Tibetan Mastiffs? Click Here for the
Kennel.com Forum!
 Description:
The Tibetan Mastiff is large, powerful,
impressive and majestic. This breed has
a sturdy and good bone structure, a broad
head and an abundant double coat. The first
mention of large dogs similar to this breed
was around 1100 B.C. in China, yet large
dog skulls have been discovered which date
from the Bronze and Stone Ages. It is believed
the Tibetan Mastiff's ancestors date back
to primitive times and is quite possibly
the initial stock from which many large
breeds of today have been developed.
The Tibetan Mastiff, also known as the Guardian
Dog of Tibet, worked during the night to
guard and protect families and property.
For centuries, these dogs remained isolated
deep in the Himalayans where they were loved,
highly prized and cherished by the natives.
In the 1950s, Tibet had sent President Eisenhower
two Tibetan Mastiffs, however, they were
sent to a farm in the midwest and soon forgotten.
In the late 1960s, several Tibetan Mastiffs
were imported to the United States from
India and Nepal. Several years later in
1974, the American Tibetan Mastiff Association
was founded and in 2006, the American Kennel
Club recognized this breed in the Working
Group.
Height:
The height of a Tibetan Mastiff can range
between 24 - 26 inches (61-66 cm) when measured
at the shoulder. AKC Standard.
Weight:
The weight of a Tibetan Mastiff is between
140 - 170 pounds (64-77 kg).
Coat
Type: The Tibetan Mastiff
has an abundant double coat. The top coat
is harsh and thick and the under coat is
heavy, soft and wooly. It is of more importance
the coat is of good quality rather than
quantity. A male's coat is thicker than
females. The Tibetan Mastiff blows its coat
once a year - other than during this time,
this breed is a light shedder. Regular brushing
is necessary to help keep the coat in good
condition. Daily brushing is necessary when
the Tibetan Mastiff blows its coat.
Color:
The color of a Tibetan
Mastiff's coat according to AKC Standard
can be "black, brown and blue/grey,
with or without tan markings, and various
shades of gold."
Temperament:
The Tibetan Mastiff is independent, loyal,
and very intelligent. As natural guardians,
they are very protective and make good watch
dogs, but do have a tendency to bark a lot
at night due to their background working
during the night shift. They make a great
companion, family pet and are good with
well behaved children who are respectful
(of course due to such a large size, small
children should always be supervised to
avoid unintentional injury). Early socialization
and consistent training are absolutely imperative
for Tibetan Mastiffs since this strong-willed
breed was raised and trained the same way
for thousands of years. In addition, Tibetan
Mastiffs are aloof, stubborn and will think
they know better than you. If one does not
have the time for proper training as well
as consistent socialization, a Tibetan Mastiff
may not be the right breed for you. If raised
properly, a Tibetan Mastiff is an affectionate,
trusted and pleasurable companion. Tibetan
Mastiffs should be taken on daily walks,
but never left off a leash in a unsecured
area. This breed can become bored easily,
so it's important to keep him physically
and mentally active. Tibetan Mastiffs love
to dig and with their powerful jaws, have
been known to chew through doors, fences
and even concrete.
Health
Concerns: The Tibetan Mastiff
is prone to elbow or hip dysplasia which
is common in large breeds. Additional health
concerns include thyroid, heart and skin
problems and PRA. The Tibetan Mastiff's
life expectancy is between 10 - 14 years
- which is considered long for such a large
breed.
Special
Interest:
• The Tibetan Mastiff competed in
the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show for
the first time in 2008.
• The Tibetans refer to this breed
as Do Khyi which means 'tied dog'. Tibetan
Mastiffs were chained all day and then let
loose at night to guard people and property
from animals as well as human intruders.
• A Tibetan Mastiff was sold in 2009
for $582,000 to woman in China known only
by her surname, Wang. The black Tibetan
Mastiff was renamed Yangtze River Number
Two and is believed to be the "World's
Most Expensive Dog".
Classifications:
AKC: Working Group
ANKC: Utility Group 6
CKC: Working Group 3
FCI: Group 2 Section 2 Molossoid breeds
KC: Working
NZKC: Utility
UKC: Guardian Dogs
|
