Tibetan Mastiff

This breed which looks a bit scary but is just a big ball of fur is also known as TDo-Khyi or Tsang Khyi or Ipoo in Tibet. This breed is also known as Bhote Kukur in Nepali language which literally translates to the dog from Tibet. This breed easily resembles a lion and there was this one time when a zoo labelled this breed as a Chinese Lion.  Tibetan Mastiff are considered the primary breed for most of the Mastiff breeds including the English Mastiff. This breed is also not readily available in India, barely 5000 breeds registered. This breed is perceived to be very huge but that is just an illusion that the large head plus the hairy coat creates. Mastiffs are generally considered as a bully breed which gets a kick out of scaring people. Because Tibet is a country with harsh winters, this breed has a thick coat which protects it from the terrible weather conditions. The long hair is also a mechanism that will protect this breed from the harsh weather conditions of the place.  This breed is also the largest known dog breed on planet earth and is primarily a guard breed. 

Tibetan Mastiff would look like a bundle of joy and at peace, but it can be very territorial when it comes to its own security. This breed also holds a good fight and has the potential to take out any large animal. This breed is very happy indoors during the day but loves patrolling outside during the night as it is one of its inherent trade. This breed is also not an attention seeking pet but can exist independently of its owner and also enjoy their company. This breed is what we call an introvert in human terms.  This breed also functions on respect and it needs to be given respect. This breed can come off as haughty a number of times because of its independent steak but once comfortable is generally very nice to have around. This fascinating breed doesn’t believe in shedding, it just blows off its coat once a year. This breed also suffers from lesser health concerns than many other breeds. 

Bred centuries ago in Tibet to be guardian dogs for livestock and property, the Tibetan Mastiff continues to perform this role, but is now also a happy family dog. This is a massive breed of dog and, however, little the puppy, remember that they grow into a mammoth 65kgs in most cases. With their luxurious mane of hair, muscular bodies and show-stopping presence, Tibetan Mastiffs are known to be amongst the most expensive dogs to maintain. Naturally, this leads them to become status symbols, not just in the land of their birth, but the world over. The aspirational value apart, remember that this beautiful beast comes with several disclaimers. They cannot live in small houses, don’t do well in warm climates, need constant grooming, cannot be left off-leash on walks, and tend to be protective and loyal to a fault. However, if you’re a responsible pet parent and are willing to put in a lot of research before acquiring this stunning new family member and plenty of hard work in terms of socialisation and training after, be prepared for a lifetime of adventures with the Tibetan Mastiff!

While no existing records can pinpoint the exact year of origin of the Tibetan Mastiff, it’s safe to say that this is one of the oldest breeds in the world. DNA evidence suggests that mastiff-type dogs have existed in Tibet for about 5,000 years. The Do-Khyi was a smaller type of mastiff that travelled with nomads and served the purpose of guardian dogs to the livestock, while the Tsang-Khyi – a larger type of mastiff – served as guardians to Tibetan Buddhist monks. In written records, Captain Samuel Turner wrote of his time in Tibet and mentions a large breed of dog. The first Tibetan Mastiff made its way to England, when Queen Victoria received one as a gift from Lord Hardinge, the then Viceroy of India. The breed officially made it to Englands Kennel Club records as a Tibetan Mastiff, in 1873. The breed continued to be imported into England and other European countries, where they were bred and shown. There was a brief interlude in their breeding during World War II till, in 1976, English breeders resumed breeding this dog. Today, it’s rare to find a purebred Tibetan Mastiff in the land of its birth, but they can still occasionally be found amongst nomadic Tibetans. The breed continues to flourish in Europe and the USA.

There aren’t very specific and accurate records of the Origin of the Tibetan Mastiff but there are some records which show that there are evidences which can be seen about their existence which dates back to the BC era. There were also said to accompany rulers like Genghis Khan through Central Asia. These were primarily guard dogs which were chained during the day due to their ferocious appearance. The first time that this breed moved out of the contours of Asian region is when the Viceroy of India gifted one to Queen Victoria and then after that Prince of Whales imported two of them for a dog show. After the famous Chinese Invasion of Tibet, the count of them decreased significantly but there were few who survived by escaping through the borders to the other nations. Around the 1970’s this breed was imported by the USA for breeding from India and Nepal. This breed is in the miscellaneous list of the American Kennel club. This breed is said to the origin point of many other large sized breeds.  It has though become difficult to find an original pure bred Tibetan mastiff. This dog used to go around with its owner protecting them against any animal attacks. 

Tibetan Mastiffs can be calm indoors dogs, but tend to get active in the mornings and evenings. Create a schedule for them that will keep them occupied during these times of day and, chances are, you’ll have a happy, well-adjusted dog. They are companion dogs and do not do well when left alone, especially outdoors, for several hours. This breed has a particularly protective nature and should never be walked off leash, when in public. It is also advised that their walk route be changed regularly to keep it interesting and keep them from getting possessive about “their” route. It’s for the same reason that they are not recommended as pets for either first time dog families or families with very little children. Tibetan Mastiffs are extremely intelligent, even stubborn, dogs. They are known to be very sensitive to human moods, and get upset if their human companions are unhappy. Because of their possessive nature, early socialisation with several people and animals comes highly recommended for these dogs.

Fun Trivia

The Tibetan Mastiff is a giant size dog with powerful looks but sadly we could not find any movies or celebrities that have this breed. We will update it once we know about some. It is believed though that there are some Chinese movies and superstars that have this powerful Mastiff.

Vital Stats:

Dog Breed Group: Working Dogs

Height: 34-36 Inches

Weight: 64-78 Kg

Life Span: 13 to 14 years

Tibetan Mastiff Maintenance & Effort

The Tibetan Mastiff has a double coat with a long, thick topcoat and a soft, woolly undercoat. The undercoat is thinner during the warm months. A heavy mane covers the neck and shoulders, while the tail and the upper thighs have a heavy, feathery coat. This breed doesn’t shed much – once a year, depending on the climate in which they live – however, their long coat is prone to getting tangled. Brushing at least twice a week is recommended, especially if you want to avoid the extra work of clipping off unsightly clumps of hair that are also a receptacle for ticks and fleas. The breed produces very little odour, so they usually don’t require a bath more often than once a month.

Tibetan Mastiff is a hairy breed, it comes with a lot of hair and shedding can be a major problem with this breed. Good breeding not only helps the breed in looking great but can also significantly reduce a number of health concerns that they may have. It also ensures that the coat is shiny because the oil gets dispersed through proper regular grooming. Brushing regularly and using the right kind of equipment’s while brushing is a great way to reduce shredding and stopping hair fall. It also helps by reducing the irritability under the coat of the breed. Brushing also helps in separating hair which further helps in keeping the coat warmer. An Un brushed pet is likely to feel colder in comparison to the one who is brushed regularly. The breed also needs to be regularly be checked for fleas and ticks so that they don’t irritate the breeds skin so much. The hair on the breed should be brushed at least twice a week. The ears of the breed should be cleaned every once and a while and attention should be paid on trimming the nails every once in a while also. This breed shouldn’t be made to bathe too often rather occasional bathing as per need should be done. There is a yearly shedding that happens where the breed almost loses its entire coat. 

Color and Coat 

The Tibetan Mastiff has a double coat. The undercoat is softer and warmer and the upper coat is coarse and long. The hair on the breed is coarse and straight and not wavy. The colors that are available on this breed are black, brown, gold and blue and they also come with certain markings which also act as distinguishable features. There are breeds which may have certain markings on chest and feet which may be white in color. 

Feeding and Nutrition

A good diet is primary for the growth of the breed along with maintaining its health. It’s also very important that the breed’s weight is maintained because an overweight breed attracts a number of diseases. It is also important for the breed to exercise properly in order to maintain its weight. Nutritious food also varies breed per breed because depending upon the size, the weight and other factors the diet also differs from breed to breed. The basic components of the diet of the breed should be composed of Protein, Fat, Minerals, Vitamins and Water. The protein content in the diet of the dog should be between 19-22% at least. The fat amount also needs to be on the higher end because to maintain the coat, there needs to be fat in the food. The fat should also be of good quality such as animal fat and not bad fat which is higher in saturated fats. This is a large breed and needs to be fed a good amount of food but overfeeding should be avoided. This breed should either be fed once a day or twice a day, a puppy should be fed small portions three times a day. The minerals and the vitamins should be balances and neither too much nor too little as both of them have adverse consequences. An active breed generally requires more food than an inactive one but still, it shouldn’t be too much.