Know more about
Tibetan Mastiff
Introduction
A Tibetan Mastiff is
equal to the weight of 25 Chihuahuas! Nearly every large breed of dog traces
its heritage back to the Tibetan Mastiff. Noble, affectionate, beautiful, and
loyal, Tibetan Mastiffs really are one of a kind - in appearances and personality.
History
The Tibetan Mastiff's
size is meant to look fierce, along with its stocky, muscular body. Tibetan
Mastiffs are an ancient breed that hails from the Himalayan mountain range in
Tibet, where they protected the nomads and their flock of sheep/cattle. Over
the years, Tibetan Mastiffs were entrusted with the task of guarding whole
villages from wild animals. Soon after, they set foot on international ground
like Europe, where they were given as gifts.
Is this my perfect
pooch?
Tibetan Mastiffs are
incredible guard dogs.
They are incredibly
loyal and protective of their family
They are easy to
housebreak
Tibetan Mastiffs are
good with children and senior citizens
They do not shed all
year round
Why is this breed not
my best choice?
They cannot live in
hot weather
They don't do well in
apartments or small houses
Tibetan Mastiffs are
hard to train and not for novice pet parents
They take up a lot of
space - in your home, car, and bed!
Tibetan Mastiffs are
loud barkers and drool almost everywhere
They can be aggressive
and destructive if not socialised or trained well
About the Breed
Nutrition
Tibetan Mastiffs do
not require any special kind of diet. They do well with high-quality wet or dry food so long as it is
appropriate for its age and size (large/giant breed). You might think that a
dog their size requires three or four portions a day, but surprisingly, TMs do
well on only two wholesome meals a day. Remember to start supplementation as early as puppyhood
to avoid problems like hip dysplasia, joint inflammation, arthritis etc. Some
Tibetan Mastiffs will refuse to eat when on female's heat and can lose close to
15% of body weight. Hence, it is best to get your TM neutered by nine months.
Grooming
Tibetan Mastiffs have
a plush double coat - a woolly undercoat and coarse fur on top. For most of the
year, grooming can be done from the comfort of home with daily brushing and weekly deshedding using a slicker brush and a de-shedder. Once a year, during
shedding season, TMs need to go to a professional groomer to blow their
undercoat and strip the body of dead fur. In addition to coat care, it is
important to clean their ears, brush their teeth, and trim their nails once a week at home.
Exercise
Tibetan Mastiffs need
lots of vigorous exercise to keep them calm and even-tempered; however, they
enjoy activities with a set outcome at the end instead of aimless exercise like
walks or runs. A good way to exercise your TM is to make it a game - fetching
toys, drafting, treasure hunts, agility, search and rescue etc. They enjoy a
structured activity like guarding a house, fetching the newspaper, searching
for hidden people etc.
Training
You don't have to
repeat training over and over again with a TM because they are very intelligent
and learn quickly. However, the hard part of training a Tibetan Mastiff is not
teaching him but getting him to listen. Unfortunately, most of them are not
food driven and hence not as motivated by treats to do something. They enjoy
toys instead, i.e. prey-driven. Training a TM needs more intelligence on your
part than on his, but with consistent, patient and positive reinforcement
training, you and your TM will get there!
Health
They are a healthy
breed but suffer from a few health complications as they age - hip dysplasia,
hypothyroidism, cataracts, obesity, and heart disease.
Temperament
They can be warm and
fuzzy but also aggressive and destructive - it is all about how you raise them.
A well trained and well socialised TM can be the essence of a family, no doubt.
Conclusion
This one of a kind dog
is a family favourite. Despite their menacing look, Tibetan Mastiffs are
nothing but warm, gentle, loving souls - when exercised enough and socialised
well.