The biggest Tibetan mastiff: breed history, description, photo

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

Tibetan mastiff is a huge and beautiful dog that perfectly understands its owner. This breed is not very common among Russian dog lovers, however, it is very popular due to its size and appearance.

Origin story

This breed is considered very ancient. In Tibetan and Himalayan monasteries, this breed of dog was originally used for protection. Merchants of the Middle Ages also frequently adopted Tibetan Mastiffs. They acted as guides and protectors of caravans, and, in addition, were excellent rescuers who helped pull people out of avalanches and warmed those who were freezing with thick wool.

This breed is surrounded by various legends and myths. It is believed that even Aristotle praised the Tibetan Mastiff as the progenitors of all dogs belonging to the Molossian group.

Tibetan mastiff as the biggest dogfirst appeared in Europe in 1847, it was brought as a gift to the English queen from the Indian king. Later, two more representatives of this breed were brought to England. The first offspring of these dogs even appeared in the Berlin Zoo in 1898.

According to information with varying degrees of reliability, the Tibetan mastiff was in the possession of the Buddha, Alexander the Great, US President Eisenhower, Alain Delon and other famous personalities. (Pictured above, the Tibetan Mastiff is the largest dog.)

External Description

Tibetan Mastiff is the largest and most expensive breed known in the world. Its height at the withers can reach 71 cm, and the weight of individual individuals reaches 100 kg. It has a strong build and massive paws. The dog has thick hair on its head, resembling a lion's mane. In addition, its size and weight also make it look like the king of beasts.

The world's largest Tibetan mastiff named Hong Dong until 2012 was also the most expensive dog. It was bought by a Chinese millionaire for 1.5 million euros. However, he was replaced by another representative of this breed, a male named Chief, who was sold for 1.6 million euros in 2012.

Features

According to international standards, Tibetan mastiffs as the largest dogs have the following characteristics:

• country of origin considered Tibet;
• males grow to an average of 66 cm and females to 61 cm;
• males weigh up to 76kg and females 59kg;
• sexualmaturity in a male comes at 4 years, in a female - at 3 years;
• they live an average of 10 to 15 years;
• their body structure is strong;
• in proportion, the length of the mastiff's body is greater than the height;
• normal bite is scissor-like, but straight bite is allowed;
• they are red or black in color, which allows the presence of a white spot on the chest;
• they have a long straight and coarse coat with a thick undercoat;
• they belong to the group of Pinschers, Schnauzers and Great Danes;
• by application they refer to guard and guard dogs, as well as companion dogs;
• recognized by all international cynological associations;
• also known as Do-Khai, Tibetan Great Danes, Tibetan Molossians or Tibetan dogs.

A record was registered, which indicates how much the largest Tibetan mastiff weighed - 113 kg.

Currently, work is underway to reduce the body weight of this breed, as it leads to certain problems, namely, it affects the weak joints of the dog.

Photos of the world's largest Tibetan Mastiff can be seen in the article.

Character and upbringing of a dog

The character of the Mastiff, the largest of the dog breeds, is stubborn and independent. He has an exaggerated self-esteem and therefore requires increased attention in relation to himself.

It is very important for a dog of this breed to socialize. From an early age, puppies should be inaround people and other animals. You need to regularly walk with him on the street, introduce him to new people. It is important to bear in mind that mastiffs do not accept everyone.

This breed requires companionship, attention and training. If such a pet starts to get bored, its independent entertainment, given its size, can be very destructive.

Even the largest Tibetan mastiff cannot live separately from people (yard or aviary), because, being alone, he begins to acquire bad habits (digging, aggressive behavior, lack of obedience). In addition, the mastiff is not suitable for living in apartments, as he needs freedom of movement. Also, this breed is not recommended for families with children, since some children's games can be perceived by the mastiff as aggression in his direction.

Walking with such a dog is recommended along different routes, since he perceives frequently visited places as his territory. For this reason, it may begin to establish its own rules on it.

A well-bred dog that has everything you need behaves quite calmly. However, if left on its own for long periods of time, the mastiff may begin to bark loudly, alerting others to its presence. The barking of the Tibetan Mastiff (as the largest breed of dog) is unique and is considered one of its valuable characteristics. In ancient times, Tibetan monks fed mastiffs warm milk in order to preserve its thick and velvety timbre, comparable to the sound of a gong.

He alth

Before you start a representative of this breed, you should familiarize yourself with the list of diseases that Mastiffs are most often exposed to:

• articular dysplasia (elbow and hip);
• bone inflammation;
• osteochondrosis;
• autoimmune hypothyroidism;
• neuropathy.

To prevent the development of these diseases, the dog should be regularly vaccinated and examined.

Containment conditions

The best place for a Tibetan mastiff would be a house outside the city with a large surrounding area where he will feel like a master, as he needs a lot of space for walking and exercise. Thanks to the thick and warm coat, the mastiff feels great in frosty weather.

If he still lives in an apartment, then it should be very spacious and the dog will need to be walked at least three times a day. However, in this case, the dog may lose the beauty and thickness of his coat.

Grooming

Even the largest size Tibetan Mastiff is not that difficult to care for.

This breed of dog sheds once a year or even less, depending on the climate in which it lives. The Mastiff's coat should be brushed every week. Even though his fur coat rarely gets tangled, it's important to check for tangles, as they hurt the dog.

During shedding hair is combed out as needed, using special tools. It is recommended to carry out this procedure on the street, because woolthere will be a lot.

Bathing

A characteristic feature of the Tibetan mastiff is the complete absence of smell and special cleanliness. The dog can take care of its appearance on its own. Bathing a Mastiff more than once a month is not necessary unless there is a good reason.

Cleaning nails, teeth, ears and eyes

Mastiffs should be taught hygiene from an early age, because it will be difficult to cope with a grown dog later.

Checking and rinsing the eyes is carried out as needed and if signs of illness are found, you should immediately go to the veterinarian.

Ears should be looked into once a week, if necessary, cleaned. Teeth are brushed 2-3 times a week, and nails are trimmed every month.

Food

In order for the dog to live long and disease-free, it should be fed in a balanced way. Tibetan mastiffs are not prone to overeating, and their single portion of food does not exceed that of a Boxer or Labrador.

They sometimes have a period of complete refusal to eat. However, veterinarians consider this the norm, which does not bring any problems to the dog.

Precisely because the mastiff eats little, the food must be balanced and of excellent quality.

You need to know that it is advisable to feed puppies with natural food, only when he grows up, start a gradual transition to dry food. Foods should be purchased from premium grades that are specifically designed for this breed, as they will respondall the needs of the dog. There are the following rules to ensure good mastiff he alth:

1. It is forbidden to feed the dog dry and natural food at the same time.
2. Don't change food abruptly, as this can make the mastiff feel unwell.
3. Feeding puppies with food for a different age category is also prohibited.
4. Food must be at an acceptable temperature.
5. Do not give your dog smoked food or river fish.
6. Mastiffs who live outdoors need more protein in their diet.

Choosing a puppy

Tibetan mastiff puppies are born once a year. Therefore, their choice should be approached carefully. There are the following recommendations for choosing a mastiff puppy:

1. First of all, you should study the photos and the pedigree of the parents.
2. In the kennel, you need to pay attention to the conditions in which the dogs are kept, read the breeder's documents and ask about the nature of the parents. In addition, you should make sure that parents and puppies do not have hip dysplasia.
3. When choosing a puppy directly, attention should be paid to the appearance, cleanliness of the ears and coat, the back (to be even) and the absence of a crease on the tail. The puppy should be furry, plump, heavy, with thick paws and a wide muzzle.

Price

As mentioned above, the Tibetan Mastiff is the most expensive dog breed. Its price depends on the size, features, breeding regionand class. A he althy, purebred dog that meets international standards can cost $250,000 or more.

Tibetan mastiffs have long held the position of the most expensive dogs, as they are one of the most ancient breeds in the world. Despite their long history, mastiffs have not lost their purebred and valuable qualities.

The relatively low price of a puppy does not always mean the presence of some kind of flaw. The experience of the breeder, the number of awards from parents and the desire to quickly sell the litter play a big role.