A unique and enormous dog breed from Tibet, the Tibetan mastiff has a gigantic, towering build, a flowing mane, and a watchful face. The breed is reputed to be just as majestic and vigilant as a lion. The Tibetan mastiff, which has been used as estate guardians in Tibet for thousands of years, still exhibits strong protective instincts, vigilantly guarding its home and family.
Personality
It's common to describe this independent, brash type as "difficult." Because he is intelligent and possesses a positive sense of identity, he wants to be treated with respect and not as a pet. He wants to gain the community's approval, but he has his own objectives and needs regular affirmation that he is doing what is expected of him. The Tibetan Mastiff is a loyal and serious family guardian who keeps to himself or is reserved for strangers. He can prevent developing territorial hostility with the help of early socialization and continued relationships with other individuals. His social skills will improve if you frequently entertain friends; take him to busy parks; dog-friendly stores; and on leisurely strolls to meet your neighbors.
History
Initially, these dogs were used to protect Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and monks from animals like bears, wolves, and snow leopards. The Tibetan Mastiff is a phenotypically unique breed of dog that was developed in the high elevations of the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas as a flock guardian. A pair of Tibetan mastiffs were brought to the UK by the Prince of Wales, George, in the early 20th century. By 1906, the breed was well-established enough in England to be displayed at the Crystal Palace show. The breed, however, lost popularity and attention during the war years, and it almost went extinct in England.
Since 1980, the breed has become more and more well-known all over the world. Despite the fact that the breed is still regarded as being fairly rare, as more active breeders emerged and produced enough puppies, other registries and show organizations (FCI, AKC) started to recognise the breed. The Tibetan Mastiff entered the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show for the first time in 2008. Since the AKC's accreditation, there has been an unprecedented number of active breeders, which has resulted in an overproduction of puppies—many of which are of questionable quality and are heavily inbred. Due to the small genetic pool of the original stock, the breed initially deteriorated.
Prices for the best dogs had dropped to around $2,000 in China by 2015 as a result of overbreeding and the breed's unsuitability as a pet in urban settings, and that both lower-quality and crossbred dogs were being abandoned.
According to a DNA study published in 2011, the Tibetan Mastiff shares a genetic affinity with the Great Pyrenees, Bernese Mountain Dog, Rottweiler, and Saint Bernard, suggesting that these huge breed dogs are likely descended in part from the Tibetan Mastiff.
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Care
Special care must be given to the Tibetan mastiff. It is imperative that the Tibetan mastiff receive early and thorough socialization. A Tibetan mastiff that has not been properly socialized could develop into a liability. About that many individuals, places, animals, and other things as you can bring a Tibetan mastiff puppy to while maintaining pleasant relationships and moving at the dog's pace. Some Tibetan mastiffs have trouble accepting strangers or foreign animals, even after extensive socialization, especially if they enter the dog's property. When they are not on their own property, most Tibetan mastiffs, particularly those who have had enough socialization, are much more laid back and accepting of outsiders.
1 - Grooming
The double-coated Tibetan Mastiff has a thick, woolly overcoat and rough guard hair. Their low-maintenance coat only needs occasional grooming throughout most of the year. Regular combing with a slicker or wide pin brush to remove surface filth and a wide-tooth comb to detangle the tails, mane, and breeches is all that is required. The undercoat of TMs "blows" once a year in a large-scale shedding that occurs in the early spring or summer. Use a de-shedding tool or undercoat rake at this time if possible.
2 - Exercise
All huge and enormous breeds require prudence while exercising puppies and young adults. Given the Tibetan mastiff's size, heavy weight, and propensity for hereditary joint diseases like hip dysplasia, repetitive movements like running or jumping should be restricted or altogether avoided till the dog is at least two years old and fully developed. Although the majority of Tibetan mastiffs enjoy regular leisurely walks lasting between 30 and 60 minutes, even a fully adult Tibetan mastiff isn't likely to be a jogging companion or agility champion.
3 - Training
Traditional obedience training does not yield positive results with Tibetan Mastiffs. They are extremely intelligent, pick things up quickly, and don't need to be reminded of what they already know. They will comply with their owners' requests because they respect and trust their discretion, but if there is ever a doubt, the TM will rely more on his gut than on training. The breed is typically not food-driven, and training with treats does not consistently get the desired results. They are also infamous for giving flawless performances in class but utterly disobeying all orders when they return home. They are unreliable in their recall, so you should never let them off the leash.
4 - Nutrition
It could be challenging to feed your Tibetan mastiff. Many Tibetan mastiffs, despite their gigantic size, don't have enormous appetites and consume much less food than you might think. Even worse, some Tibetan mastiffs will go on prolonged food fasts. Feeding your dog high-quality dog food is crucial for these reasons. Pay close attention to the amount your Tibetan mastiff consumes so you can determine how much it consumes and whether it is participating in a food strike. If your Tibetan mastiff has a robust appetite, try not to overfeed him. Free feeding can result in weight gain, which strains the joints and may cause health problems.
By keeping an eye on how much is consumed and deciding if it is too much, not quite enough, or just right by feeding your Tibetan mastiff regular meals.
5 - Health Concerns
The Tibetan Mastiff is a generally healthy breed, and ethical breeders will check their stock for diseases like hypothyroidism, entropion, and ectropion, as well as physical anomalies like elbow and hip dysplasia. Although seizures have been reported, the breed is not particularly prone to the problem.