The Tibetan Mastiff
Table of Contents
The Tibetan Mastiff is an imposing and powerful dog of the molluscoid family. It falls into the category of "giants". If he is attached to his adopted family and loyal, he is not a demonstrative dog on the affection side. He is above all a working dog who needs to exert himself.
- Size: 60 cm to 70 cm
- Weight: 65 kg to 80 kg
- Hair: long
- Colour: black with tan markings
- Life expectancy: 11 years
- Gestation period: 63 days
Description and characteristics of the Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff is classified among the large mastiff, Molossian, and
molluscoid type dogs. He has everything of a mountain dog, robust and
solid. Its head is large with a strong skull. Its square muzzle is also
wide. The Tibetan Mastiff's ears, triangular in shape, droop along with
its head. His eyes are always dark in color, most often brown. His hair is
long and thick. It is usually black in color with occasional tan
markings.
Origin of the Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff is a very old dog: we find its traces since
Antiquity. As its name suggests, it is native to Tibet and more precisely
to the Himalayan plateaus where it was used as a guard dog by shepherds
and monks. It appeared in Europe in the middle of the 19th century. The
Tibetan Mastiff is primarily bred in England today. We do not find many
copies in France.
Character and behavior of the Tibetan Mastiff – Who is it for?
The Tibetan Mastiff is an independent dog with a rather difficult
character. It is however a courageous dog who is not afraid of anything.
These characteristics make it a very good guard dog. This is why he does
not accept people from outside his family. It is important to socialize
him very early so that he does not become too aggressive towards people he
does not know, whom he can easily bite.
Due to its unpredictability, families with children, especially young
children, are not advised to adopt a Tibetan Mastiff. In general, it is
suitable for a person already accustomed to dogs, patient, and
persevering.
Despite its strong character, the Tibetan Mastiff is very loyal to its
masters.
How to take care of your Tibetan Mastiff: its needs
This big dog needs space. The Tibetan Mastiff is more suited to the
countryside or to a house with a large garden. In any case, it requires
daily walks. Be careful to teach him early to go out on a leash without
pulling too hard. Its strength can otherwise represent a danger for its
master.
On the maintenance side, the provided coat of this dog requires regular
thorough brushing, at least once a week, in addition to maintenance
brushing once a day.
The Tibetan Mastiff's diet
The Tibetan Mastiff's diet is classic but it must be of very good
quality and low in fat, especially in the first years of its life. He is
a dog who is wary of food he does not know. Its peculiarity is not to
drink a lot.
Even if its life expectancy is not very long, the Tibetan Mastiff does
not experience any particular health problems except, for some,
conditions such as epilepsy, demodicosis caused by a parasitic mite of
the hair system, or certain eye diseases. Like all large dogs, he can
also be prone to hip dysplasia.
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