Initially found on the Tibetan Plateau, and now all over the world, Tibetan Mastiffs come off as quite a large breed of dogs. For years, these dogs have gained popularity in Western cultures because they are loyal and always look out for their family. With their calm nature and obedience around children, they can make good family pets.
Powerful, muscular, massive, and substantial, these dogs can cause any intruder to back off and find more lenient targets instead. Tibetan Mastiffs are surprisingly light-footed and agile for their size. These dogs carry around a noble and wise appearance with their broad head, high-set ears, and expressive brown eyes.
You might be thinking of a Tibetan Mastiff as the next addition to your family, but you may not know much about them. This is why we have put together this article on 10 interesting Tibetan Mastiff facts that you probably didn’t know about.
1. The Masked History of The Tibetan Mastiff:
An ancient breed that has been living and working in Tibet for thousands of years, the Tibetan Mastiff does not have an exact history of origin. Though we may never come to know how they originated, it is still believed that Tibetan Mastiff dogs are the ancestors of several modern-day Mastiff-type dogs. The story goes back to Tibet being quite secluded and isolated due to which not many westerners traveled so far. And those that did sometimes received these giants as gifts.
Once these dogs were taken back to Europe, they began blending in with domestic breeds. The genes of Tibetan Mastiffs can be found in breeds from all around the Middle East and as far as Britain. The first known specimen of this breed arrived in England in 1847 while the American specimen arrived there in the 1950s. The AKC listed them in 2006 as the Club’s 155th breed.
2. Tibetan Mastiffs Were Used as Guardian Dogs:
As it has been mentioned, Tibetan Mastiffs were kept as protectors and guardians. These dogs then developed in two specific directions; one of them is called Do-Khyi, while the other is known as Tsang-Khyi. The Do-Khyi resided among the villagers and they carried an active duty of keeping livestock secure from predators. The Tsang-Khyi was handed over to monasteries in Tibet, and their main task was to safeguard monasteries from intruders.
Not many dogs have been able to stand toe-to-toe with predators from Tibet. But you can imagine how powerful these dogs are as they were trusted to fend off Tibetan predators such as wolves, lynxes, snow leopards, and Tibetan brown bears.
3. Tibetan Mastiffs Are Highly Reliable and Patient:
These dogs are not just strong-willed but they are also known to be self-reliant and they take control of almost every crucial situation. Tibetan mastiffs are calm and patient unless they’re purposely provoked. They serve as an illustration of the way to be patient.
Their disposition of patience with children and family pets is highly commendable. They can do quite well with a sedentary lifestyle regardless of their size. But they are best known to thrive when upholding a moderate exercise regime. They are amazing at simply being a member of the family, while they also make excellent watchdogs and therapy dogs. Tibetan Mastiff dogs can also succeed in carting, tracking, conformation, obedience, and search and rescue if maintained and kept in prime condition.
4. Early Socialization Should Be Considered a Must for Tibetan Mastiffs:
Due to their instinctual guarding tendencies, the Tibetan Mastiff dogs happen to need a great deal of socialization. They need to be introduced and get familiar with many people, places, and different situations right from early puppy-hood and pretty much into the first two years of their life. Proper socialization leads to confident, well-adjusted, and dependable dogs.
The Tibetan Mastiff would make just the right fit for most homes. Right from the beginning, they seem to get along well with other pets. Since this breed is fairly obedient, it will be easy to train your Tibetan Mastiff and let them adjust according to the rules of your home and follow basic commands. They might just as well take up being your family’s watchdog on their own.
Adding to the perks, this breed is considered a “gentle giant.” So, you can safely assume that your Tibetan Mastiffs understand just how big they are and will be gentle with your children. These dogs cater to your children like their own and shield them from any danger.
5. Tibetan Mastiffs Have a Unique Coat:
These giant dogs were accustomed to living in the freezing climates of Tibet. To survive there they had to form rich, thick, double coats that could keep them secure from harsh weather. It might not come as a surprise since most large mountain dogs have double coats. However, the big reveal is that these dogs don’t shed as much as other dogs! Tibetan Mastiffs, however, do shed regularly throughout the year.
6. Tibetan Mastiffs Have Independent Personalities:
Exhibiting an extremely independent, stubborn nature with an amazing depth of intelligence, Tibetan Mastiffs aren’t really obedient when it comes to training. You’ll soon find out that leash training is a must for Tibetan Mastiffs.
Compared with other breeds that are more domesticated and people-pleasing who may enjoy fetching games, the primitive Tibetan Mastiffs focus on their working abilities, including guarding, alerting through barking, patrolling, and key territorial behavior that might seem dominant. This breed has been bred for centuries to be curious and exploratory, so, you’ll not want to think you can change that.
Our article ‘How To Train A Tibetan Mastiff Puppy?’ will tell you everything you need to know about effectively training your Mastiff puppy.
7. Tibetan Mastiffs Are Your Ideal Team Players:
Mostly used to working and protecting on their own, large guard dogs have been expected to be independent, and they patrolled the area they were entrusted to look after. The monastery-raised Tibetan Mastiffs, on the other hand, had a separate idea of what guarding means. They were seldom by themselves patrolling the area they were guarding. Instead, they had a smaller partner.
As strange as it may sound, Tibetan Mastiffs were mostly kept with Lhasa Apso. Lhasas patrolled the area, and if they noticed anything doubtful, they would begin barking and alert the “big dogs.” Together they made quite a splendid guard team.
8. Most Tibetan Mastiff Puppies Are Born in December and January:
Another impressive fact about these giant dogs is that the Tibetan Mastiff females go into heat just once a year. As we know, small dog breeds can go into heat three or even four times annually, but for Tibetan Mastiffs, it generally happens in the late fall.
They have the same gestation period as other breeds, which results in most puppies being born in December and January. You might want to adapt your schedule if you are planning on getting a Tibetan Mastiff puppy, as most of them can be given away in April or March.
9. Tibetan Mastiffs Love Cold Climates:
The Tibetan Mastiff does not normally do well in extremely hot and humid temperatures. This doesn’t mean that they cannot survive in warmer climates but they should be provided access to air-conditioned facilities during the summer.
Tibetan Mastiffs are also affected by the changing of the seasons. They generally shed their wooly undercoat only once in the springtime and the females typically reproduce only once a year. They may become very inactive in the warmer months and their feeding patterns may also change.
10. Tibetan Mastiffs Can Be Same-Sex Aggressive:
If you’re looking to add a Tibetan Mastiff as a second dog while you currently own one, it is best to plan on getting a puppy or dog of the opposite gender. Same-sex aggression is frequently a reality when two males or females compete for dominance. There is also no guarantee that neutering will make same-sex adult dogs live in harmony with each other.
These dogs will get along with other pets once they are brought up together. Also, since they are trained to guard property against predators, they won’t necessarily harass your harmless cat if you’ve got one. The key here is proper socialization. As long as your Tibetan Mastiff is properly trained, there won’t be any issues.
And, here ends our list of 10 interesting facts you need to learn before owning a Tibetan Mastiff. We are sure that by having a Tibetan Mastiff in your home, they will complete your family with their obedient and calm personalities.
Thank you for reading the article.
To explore more, check out else what we’ve got on Tibetan Mastiffs!
Do you have a Tibetan Mastiff? What is living with your Mastiff pup like? Share your experience with us in the comment section.