Tibetan Mastiff: breed description, characteristics, photo

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The descriptions of the Tibetan mastiff breed given in various reference books allow us to believe that such an animal is perhaps the best life partner. People have known about this since ancient times. Mastiffs have been bred for centuries and millennia. As you can see from the name, this was traditionally done in Tibet and nearby regions. Today, dogs of this breed are considered extremely valuable not only for their beauty, but also for their unsurpassed character traits, which are perfectly combined with intelligence. Let's take a closer look.

How it all began

Usually the history of appearance is what the description of the breed begins with. The Tibetan Mastiff is a large breed of dog. Traditionally, Tibetan residents, Nepalese and Indians were engaged in breeding such dogs. It is known that mastiffs were used to guard livestock, human homes. Main taskdogs were protection from predatory animals. Often mastiffs lived at monasteries. As you can see from the description and characteristics of the breed, the Tibetan mastiffs here not only had a guard function, but were also real life partners, companions to people who had left the worldly bustle.

Modern scientists have tried to determine the genetic age. While the exact numbers are not known, but no one has any doubts that the breed appeared a very, very long time ago. This happened in such ancient times that it is almost impossible to establish exact dates with modern technology. Moreover, it is impossible to identify exactly where the mastiffs first appeared. From the works of Aristotle and the notes created by Marco Polo, modern man knows that even then they were surrounded by dogs that are similar to modern mastiffs. Some scientists believe that this breed is the progenitor of all Molossians known to the modern European inhabitant. However, the studies of genetics so far do not make it possible to say with absolute certainty that the theory is correct. Not enough information to refute it either.

Animal Spread

To find out when the dogs in question appeared in Europe, it is worth referring to the well-known descriptions of the breed. The Tibetan Mastiff is thought to have been introduced in the 19th century. Initially, dog puppies were delivered to the UK - they served as gifts to the royal family. Not only in this century, but throughout the next century, mastiffs in Europe were poorly distributed. Quite rarely, such dogs were found in America. But by the end of the 20th century, they receivedcomparatively great popularity. Mastiffs are loved by people today, but are not seen very often. In our country there are several tens (perhaps hundreds) of purebred specimens. According to experienced breeders, the number of such animals is definitely less than a thousand, although there are no specific figures.

In China these days the mastiff is an elite variety of animals. In 2009, a puppy of this breed was purchased for 4 million yuan (about 600 thousand dollars). At the moment, this cost of a puppy is the highest in history. However, one can understand why the buyer was willing to pay such a price for a purebred animal. The adult mastiff looks great, impeccably built, strong and heavy, has a powerful skeleton. Outwardly, this is a very severe animal, which is hardy by nature and can work in almost any climate. The Mastiff is an impeccable guard, excellent at presentation at exhibitions. Such an animal becomes an excellent companion for its owner. It is independent, respects the owner and causes reciprocal respect for itself. The Mastiff is known for being loyal to his master and his entire family, loy alty to the place in which he lives. In short, the nature of this animal is considered to be practically flawless.

Curious moments of history

To find out how a variety of dogs appeared, you should refer to the specialized descriptions of the breed. The Tibetan mastiff is believed to have been first mentioned in written sources in the work "Shu-king". This Chinese creation dates from 1122 BC. Some believe that the mastiff is a direct descendant ofthe first dog that appeared on our planet. Certain observations about mastiffs can be found in Gosfen. True, scientists who have de alt with this issue note significant differences in the description in comparison with the equally detailed works of Aristotle. But Marco Polo in his notes left information about a large and vicious dog - this is how he saw the mastiff in 1271. This created the image of a wild beast. When the mastiffs first arrived in London, they were locked up in the zoo, where the animals soon died due to intolerance to the climate and living conditions.

Tibet was taken over in the 20th century. This caused a mastiff breeding crisis. Many animals died, this fate did not bypass the dogs of the breed in question. In fact, mastiffs were completely destroyed in Tibet. Separate specimens survived only among the Nepalese. In 1996, the Mastiff Protection Program was launched. After some time they were brought to North America. Animal breeding was taken up by Anna Roar. She initiated the creation of a club dedicated to these animals.

Amazing and unusual

As you can see from the description of the breed, the reviews about the Tibetan mastiffs from those who first saw these animals many centuries ago were unflattering. Modern people have a different opinion, admiring unique dogs. However, among those who bred mastiffs in ancient times, dogs also aroused genuine admiration and love. It is believed that the Assyrian ruler Ashurbanapal, for example, was a great lovermastiffs. Legends tell that he had innumerable animals of this breed. From historical sources, it can be assumed that mastiffs were extremely common not only in Assyria, but also among the Babylonians.

Some cynologists are convinced that mastiffs appeared in Tibet, others believe that dogs first appeared in China, in the part adjacent to the east of Russian Siberia. True, such a theory has a minimum of reinforcements, therefore it is considered by the scientific community with reluctance. But the features of what happened in the 20th century are well known. The Chinese military attacked Tibet and relatively successfully conquered new territories, but simply did not have enough food to feed mastiffs - these animals are large and require a lot of food. It is for this reason that the breed almost disappeared from the face of the earth. The Nepalese ruler Mahendra made his contribution - he saved the mastiffs, initiated a breeding program and allocated funds for it, despite the poverty of the country. Nowadays, love for mastiffs is largely spreading around the world thanks to tourists who have visited Nepal and fell in love with beautiful animals, wished to have the same. It is known that the Tibetan Mastiff returned to Chinese lands in 2005. This year, a law was passed allowing dogs of this variety to be kept at home.

Beautiful and imposing

As the supplemented photos of the description of the breed make it clear, the Tibetan mastiff is a beautiful, impeccably built animal that will not only guard the house and serve its owner faithfully, but also become a source of aesthetic pleasure. True, when choosing a companion, you need to sensibly evaluate numerous photographs. You need to think several times thoroughly about how much a person is able to get a really large animal. No less responsibly choose a breeder in order to get into possession of a he althy purebred animal. It is necessary to take animals only from a good nursery.

Puppies of this breed, both in photographs and in real life, attract attention with their charm. These are incredible, charming, exceptionally cute animals. As they grow older, they lose their childish charm, turn into strict and serious. From the outside, you feel admiration and respect for them. This is not surprising, because the mastiff is one of the largest breeds among all dogs known to modern man.

Time is running - the animal is growing

As the accompanying photo descriptions of the breed say, the Tibetan Mastiff is one of the dogs that mature relatively slowly. This happens only at the age of two. You can talk about how big the animal has grown after it reaches three or even four years. The average height of a male is 66 cm, female - 5 cm less. An adult male weighs about 72-80 kg. Women's pieces are slightly lighter - 60-75 kg.

Sometimes mastiffs are born very large. As they grow older, such a dog can weigh 90 kg. Its weight can even reach up to 100 kg. From officially recorded information, it is known that the heaviest mastiff measured by a person in relatively recent times weighed 110 kg. Some news publications report even larger animals, but experienced breeders do not always believe such reports, without accurate confirmation of their veracity, as well as the pedigree of the animal. However, in any of the options, the potential owner must understand: this is really a very large animal, which means that you need to think twice about getting it. Particular attention will have to be paid to feeding - such a large animal needs a large amount of high-quality food.

Should I wind it up?

As can be inferred from reviews containing a description of the breed, the Tibetan Mastiff evokes admiration, pride, and love from its owners. At the same time, many recognize the complexity of its content. The animal needs an abundance of high-quality food and a fairly large amount of physical activity. Mastiffs are prone to some serious illnesses. The life span of an animal is about 15 years, and it is very difficult to part with such a large dog, which actually becomes a member of the family. Separately note the activity of the dog. Sometimes mastiffs are playful or even restless, and furniture in the house can suffer from this (if the animal is kept in a human dwelling). For breeding in an apartment, such dogs are categorically not recommended.

Animal personality

Dedicated to the character of the breed, descriptions of the Tibetan Mastiff give a detailed idea of how such a large, amazing animal behaves. It is known that this is an understanding dog that is strongly attached to a person and loves his master. Mastiff refers tonumber of particularly tolerant varieties. For long hundreds and thousands of years, close to a person, such an animal has learned to perfectly understand human nature. At the same time, the mastiff knows no fear and is ready to faithfully protect his master at any cost. This is a very large animal that will never pounce on the owner, but will lay down his life to save him from the threat.

However, many breeders pay attention: the character of the Tibetan Mastiff is not always presented in sufficient detail in the descriptions of the breed. Others believe that the beast is too deified. In fact, the mastiff is an animal whose character, although good, is pronounced. This is an amazingly loyal companion who loves to be close to the owner, but he is not inclined to obey at the first word. The greater the animal's confidence in its rightness, the higher the likelihood that the dog will not obey the owner. The breed is considered stubborn and is known for its independence. Mastiffs are surprisingly smart, they have a pronounced awareness of their own dignity. Such an animal expects to be treated as an equal. Perceiving a dog as a mere pet is a key mistake of an owner building a relationship with a mastiff.

Character: nuances

As you can see from the descriptions of the breed with photos dedicated to the varieties of Tibetan mastiffs, an animal belonging to this genus has a tendency to please the person it loves. At the same time, it is noted that mastiffs like to make their own plans. The owner, asking the dog to do something, perhapswill find himself in a situation where he needs to be reminded of this over and over again, because his beloved dog suddenly, instead of completing a task, goes somewhere where he is interested in the here and now. However, despite such independence, the mastiff is a quiet breed. If the needs of the animal are satisfied, if the living conditions are normal, the neighbors will probably not even notice that a guard has appeared in the house. But if you leave a dog accustomed to a human home to spend the night on the street, he will start barking and will not stop until he gets his way.

If the house has a yard, if you are going to get a mastiff, you need to check all the fences. If the fence is low, the dog may climb over it. As the descriptions illustrated with photographs tell, the Tibetan Mastiff is a breed of dog that requires attention from the owner. It will not work to release the animal into the yard and just forget about it. Such a dog needs a person and is demanding to communicate. If the owner neglects the animal, it acquires bad habits. Surely the dog will dig a lot. Moreover, the mastiff can become aggressive. A well-bred dog is tolerant of small children and is best with those with whom he grows up with himself. However, in general, experts warn against introducing a mastiff into the family if there are children or replenishment is planned in the future. Active children's games, screams can be perceived by the dog as aggressive manifestations. It is possible that the mastiff will try to prevent the child from playing with peers.

Territory and socialization

How to understand the supplemented photo descriptions of the breed of dogs, TibetanThe mastiff is a breed that takes its innate habit of guarding very seriously. Territoriality can affect all people living with a dog in the same house. If the owner often invites guests, if he is a sociable person who loves noisy companies, he should refrain from choosing a mastiff. The dog will probably try to limit the number of people allowed in the home.

One of the important features of raising a dog is its socialization. For it to be successful, the owner should constantly spend time with the animal on the street. Mastiffs are taken for walks in the parks. They can accompany the owner in visiting the store and any other place where you can take the beast with you without violating laws and regulations. It is necessary to give the animal the opportunity to get to know different people, carefully controlling the process. Most mastiffs are wary of strangers. If the animal does not want to get acquainted with any person, you need to protect him from the attention of an unpleasant person. Mastiffs have a strong intuition, especially when it comes to people. If a dog treats a certain person badly for some reason, it is almost impossible to overcome this.

I love walking

According to experienced dog breeders, if the owner walks with a mastiff, he should carefully choose routes. You have to constantly change them. If a place becomes too familiar for a mastiff, he will begin to perceive the territory as his own.

It is noted that such a beast is ideal for someone who ownsown large house and a plot of land next to it. As can be concluded from the negative reviews about the Tibetan mastiffs, the description of the breed in this aspect does not lie - it is almost impossible to keep a dog in a small area, especially when the owner has practically no time to walk with him. Although the animal is known for its excellent character traits, loy alty and devotion, not every human lifestyle goes well with owning this wonderful companion. When planning the acquisition of a dog, it is worth consulting with an experienced breeder who will orient how the mastiff will fit into the life and living conditions of the family. If a specialist advises against buying, no matter how much you would like to have your own mastiff, it is better to leave this idea unrealized.

He alth and life

As you can see from the descriptions of the breed dedicated to the Tibetan mastiffs, the size of this dog is quite large - at least 60 cm tall, at least 65 kg in weight. These features of addition impose certain restrictions on the nutrition and maintenance of the animal, and also explain why the mastiff suffers from certain diseases more often than others. Breeders talk about two key indicators of he alth: the state of the skeleton and ligamentous apparatus. Up to two, sometimes three years, the dog actively grows and develops, quickly gaining kilograms. For this breed, a balanced diet is very important, providing enough calcium, phosphorus, and protein. Experts advise choosing specialized feeds created for especially large breeds. True, they are worththey are quite expensive. On sale there is food for giant breeds, specimens under the age of two and after two years. Preference is given to those options that are enriched with easily digestible protein.

In order for an animal to be he althy, it must move a lot. Every day you need to walk with the dog for at least two hours, and preferably a full three. Mastiffs are not afraid of cold and frost, which means that in winter, walks should be as long as on a fine summer day.

Day after day: mood and life

One can conclude by studying the accompanying photo descriptions of the breed: the character of the Tibetan mastiff is pleasant, but has its own characteristics. This is a calm animal that will be an excellent companion to the owner, if properly trained. As the illustrated photo descriptions of the Tibetan mastiffs say, any large breed definitely needs training, the mastiff will be no exception. The task of the owner is to learn how to perfectly control the behavior of the dog. This is implemented at the stage of growing up of the animal.

When raising a dog, you need to take into account its size, character, and the power of the animal. It is necessary to be as careful as possible about how the behavior and character of the animal are formed. By the way, this particular attention is focused in almost any material devoted to the description of the nature, characteristics of the breed. Tibetan mastiffs are dogs that are strictly forbidden to be beaten, punished with a lack of food or water. The only way to raise a big animal is to be patient, loving, considerate. You can turn to experienced dog handlers who will helptrain an animal.

Daily Care

Giving an idea (from the photo) about the size of the Tibetan mastiffs, the descriptions of the breed make it possible to understand how important it is to constantly care for the animal. However, daily care is much simpler than that required by other large varieties. It is important to provide the dog with the opportunity to bathe while it is warm. On average, this is needed four times a year. As the descriptions from the photo say, the character of the Tibetan mastiff is flexible and sociable. Breeders talk about the need to constantly comb the animal - at least once a week. The owners note that due to the nature of the dog, this procedure is pleasant and brings pleasure to both the person and the dog.