The Tibetan Mastiff

The Tibetan Mastiff is an ancient and noble breed of dog. Believed to have traveled with the likes of Genghis Khan and Atilla the Hun, these canines have a rich and storied history as guardians and protectors.

History

The exact ancestry of the Tibetan Mastiff has been lost to time but according to the American Kennel Club (AKC) there is archeological evidence of massive dogs in China dating all the way back to 1100 BC. In fact, the Tibetan may be the original large dog breed making it the grandfather of all modern Mastiffs.

For most of history the Tibetan Mastiff has remained largely isolated to the mountains and valleys of the Himalayan region. While it is believed that these dogs traveled with the armies of ancient civilizations including Persia, Assyria, Greece and the Rome; they were kept mainly as guard dogs of the Tibetan people. Tethered by day they would be loosed at night to protect villages, families, monasteries or nomadic camps.

It was not until 1847, when the Viceroy of India sent a large dog from Tibet to Queen Victoria that Westerners began to be exposed to these impressive dogs. England's official kennel club was formed in 1873 at which point the "large dog from Tibet" was first named "Tibetan Mastiff." From then on there was a trickle of imports of these dogs into England and Europe.

In the 1950's the Dalai Lama sent two Tibetan Mastiffs to President Eisenhower, but they are not heard of again in the United States until the 1970s when dogs began being imported from Nepal and India. The American Tibetan Mastiff Association was founded in 1974, but this breed did not gain American Kennel Club (AKC) recognition until 2005.

Temperament

The Tibetan Mastiff's personality has been conditioned by his centuries of utility. As a guardian he was expected to be a protective and territorial animal. The AKC describes this breed as having "a disposition and temperament of controlled strength, initiative and fearlessness, tempered with patience, loyalty and gentleness." As such these dogs are wonderfully devoted pets to their owners but do not take well to strangers of any kind. If not properly socialized, this dog can become unmanageably territorial. He also has a tendancy to bark at night which can be disruptive to a neighborhood.

The Tibetan Mastiff is highly intelligent and independent. He is used to making his own decisions is not as easily trained as other breeds. However, for all their difficulties Tibetan Mastiffs are gentle and sensitive family members. They are patient with children and generally do well with other pets. They also are very in tune to human emotions and will show it in a variety of ways.

Size

Tibetan Mastiffs are huge dogs. According to the AKC "Marco Polo wrote of the dogs in Tibet being as large as donkeys." Males stand 26 inches high at the withers and weigh between 90 and 150 pounds. Females stand 24 inches high and weigh 80 to 110 pounds.

Maintenance

Tibetan Mastiffs are not overly active dogs and will generally be quiet in the home. When they are exercised they must be confined to a leash or a fenced yard or else they will roam (as they are not inclined to come when you call them). Daily stimulation is required or else this highly intelligent dog will become board leading to highly destructive behavior.

Regular grooming of the Tibetan Mastiff's thick double coat is required. Once per year he will "blow his coat" meaning he will shed the entirety of it over the course of four to six weeks. During this process daily brushing will be needed. Also, while Tibetan Mastiffs are not known to be susceptible to any genetically inherited diseases, regular trips to the veterinarian will keep him in tip top shape.

In conclusion, the Tibetan Mastiff is not a dog for everyone. He has been bred as a guard dog for millennia and consequently can become overly territorial and protective. Historically he would have been on guard duty at night leading him to be a nighttime barker. But for those prepared to dedicate themselves to the Tibetan Mastiff he is a loyal and sensitive companion.