Tibetan mastiff: character, upbringing, training and content features

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

Not many people know about such a breed of dog as the Tibetan Mastiff. Indeed, today it is quite rare. This breed belongs to the group of Swiss mountain and cattle dogs, molossians, pinschers and schnauzers. What was the Tibetan Mastiff originally bred for? This breed is the oldest working breed. Dogs related to her were used as watchdogs in Tibetan monasteries, and the nomads whose habitat was the Himalayas valued them as their faithful helpers.

Origin story

You can already understand where the Tibetan mastiff comes from from its name. The natural conditions of the mountains, as you know, are quite severe. In this regard, the Tibetan Mastiffs had to become strong and hardy in order to successfully adapt to the environment. In the mountains, they were not influenced by the outside world, thanks to which the breed retained itsher purity and her strengths.

The first mention of Tibetan Mastiffs dates back to ancient times. Aristotle happened to meet these dogs when he traveled through Asia. Mastiffs and Marco Polo were noted. These researchers described the breed in their writings, praising the animal's fortitude and endurance. Admired by the Tibetan mastiffs and other travelers. There is an assumption that it was from this breed that the Molossian group subsequently formed.

Despite its ancient origin, the mastiff appeared in Europe only in the 19th century. The dog was presented as a gift to the Queen of England. Somewhat later, from a trip to Asia, Edward VII brought two more such dogs. In 1898, the first Tibetan Mastiff litter appeared in the Berlin Zoo for the first time in Europe.

Interesting facts

The Tibetan Mastiff is, without any doubt, one of the largest dogs. However, there is evidence that in former times the size of some individuals of this breed were comparable to the parameters of a donkey.

These dogs are considered the most expensive on our planet. So, in 2009, the price for a Tibetan mastiff puppy was set at $600,000 (slightly more than 40.6 million rubles), and relatively recently, a Chinese billionaire paid 10 million yuan for a young dog of this breed. This amount is 1.5 million dollars, or 101 million 536 thousand rubles.

There is a legend according to which the owner of such a dog was the Buddha himself.

Tibetan mastiff is so strongthat there are cases when he won the battles of wolves and snow leopards.

Having a long and lush coat, the dog sleeps peacefully in the snow. She can also spend a long time in bad weather or on ice.

Mastiff is considered an excellent watchdog. In the old days, these dogs were tied during the day, and released at night to protect the territory from enemies and predators. This way of life is not alien to Tibetans even today. They have not lost the habit of napping during the day and being active at night.

Breed Standard

The coat of the Tibetan Mastiff is thick and even. That is why animals can be kept outside all year round without any problems.

Adult Tibetan Mastiff reaches a weight of 60-80 kg. At the same time, the growth at the withers of the dog is 60-77 cm. The upper limits of these indicators remain open for the Tibetan Mastiff. The main thing for the breed is to maintain the necessary proportions.

Head

What distinguishes the Tibetan Mastiff? Strong, voluminous and heavy head. An adult Tibetan Mastiff may have folds between the corners of the mouth and the eyes.

The massive skull of this breed is rounded on top and square on the bottom. The bump on the back of the head, as well as the transitions from the muzzle to the forehead, are clearly visible in these dogs. What kind of individuals should have proportions? Compliance with the breed standard is the distance from the occiput to the transition of the muzzle to the area of the forehead, called the stop. It should be equal to the distance from the same stop to the lobe on the nose. In some cases, it is allowedto make the muzzle a little smaller.

As for the jaws, ideally they have a level or scissor bite. The teeth of a purebred dog are always complete and tightly set. The lower jaw is closed by pronounced lips.

The eyes of the Tibetan Mastiff are wide apart. According to the breed standard, they should be medium in size, oval in shape and slightly sloped. The eyes of Tibetans have a proud and spectacular expression. The eyelids cover the eyeballs quite tightly.

The dog has hanging triangular ears. They are located at the level between the skull and the eyes. The ears are covered with soft short hairs and are of medium size, they are slightly inclined forward and slightly raised when the dog is excited.

The neck of the Tibetan Mastiff is quite powerful, with well-developed muscles. It has the shape of an arc with a slight dewlap (skin folds).

Case

The Tibetan Mastiff is distinguished by a muscular back and a straight line of the spine. The body of a dog of this breed has a fairly voluminous croup of a flat shape. The chest, reaching the elbow joints, is of medium volume. The ribs in the bend resemble the shape of a heart. The breed standard contains the proportions of the ratio of the length of the body of an individual to its height. The first parameter should be slightly larger than the second.

The tail of the Tibetan Mastiff has a high fit and medium length. It is located at the level of the line of the spine. If the dog is alert or excited, he lifts his tail and easily throws it over his back.

Limbs

The elbow joints of the Tibetan Mastiff do not turn out to the side. That is, the articulation of the limbs has an ideal angle. The forearms of these dogs are even. But the pasterns, which are distinguished by sufficient power, have a slight slope.

The hind limbs of this dog breed are well muscled, with low hocks and knees with a proper bend. The thighs are well developed and of moderate length. The fingers have a characteristic arched shape.

Movements

The Tibetan mastiff moves naturally and easily, but at the same time the pushes from his steps are elastic and strong. When running, the hind legs push off the front legs and immediately return to their place.

Wool

The coat quality of the Tibetan Mastiff is much more important than its quantity. Moreover, females have fewer hairs in general, while males have more. The coat of a pedigreed Tibetan Mastiff should be free of waves and curls and be soft and silky to the touch.

A distinctive feature of the breed is a chic mane. It looks like a lion and covers the shoulders and neck of the dog. On the top of the hind legs, the covering looks like a kind of pants.

Color

Tibetan Mastiffs can be:

• black;
• black and tan;
• blue;
• blue and tan;
• gold fawn to rich red;
• sable.

Burn marks in this case can be of various shades - from red to dark brown. Depending on the coat of the dog's eyeshave a brown tint. The standard says that the darkest eye color is the most preferable. The lips and nose of Mastiffs must also be black.

Features of the breed

Due to the fact that the Tibetan mastiffs have been in only one closed area for many centuries, the breed has remained strong and he althy. Adults practically do not get sick.

Optimal conditions for keeping a Tibetan Mastiff are outdoors. Dogs feel better in the garden. Of course, apartment owners can also start such a breed, but it will be much more difficult. The Mastiff will require long walks to satisfy his movement needs, as well as more thorough training.

Besides this, in the conditions of the city, the dog will have to adapt to a variety of smells and sounds, to the noise of the streets, to people with children passing by, to loud groups of teenagers and to other animals. In addition, the coat of an individual living in an apartment will not be as luxurious and thick as that of mastiffs who are constantly in the fresh air.

One of the remarkable advantages of the breed is the absence of the smell characteristic of dogs. Even those people who suffer from allergies to wool can start such animals. The pet will not cause any concern for those who cannot stand it when the house smells like "dog".

The main decoration of the breed is its coat. How to care for a Tibetan Mastiff so that the coat remains he althy and thick? It is worth noting that this is not at all difficult. It will only be necessary to perform standard hygiene procedures that do not take much timeat the owners. These dogs shed only once a year.

Tibetan Mastiff is perfect for our harsh northern climate. And this is due to his good he alth, excellent immunity and thick coat. A dog that lives on a personal plot should not be allowed into the house, even if it is 30 degrees outside.

Mastiff puppies are very touching and cute. They look like teddy bears. Like all kids, they are playful, restless and active. However, the grown dog becomes balanced and calm.

The process of raising a Tibetan Mastiff should start as early as possible. So puppies quickly adapt to the person and to the outside world. However, do not overload the kids. Up to 1-1, 5 years they should not receive too serious loads. Growing dogs have fragile bones, and because they grow quickly and weigh quite a lot, they need to be protected from all kinds of injuries.

The Tibetan mastiff (we consider its care in the article) is a territorial animal. The dog perfectly protects both its owners and the square meters provided to it, namely the garden, plot or even part of the street. Having settled down on their territory, the mastiffs choose the highest point on it, from which they observe what is happening and carry out their watchdog service.

Dog personality

These are not easy animals. Their character has its own characteristics. Judging by the reviews, it is better to start a Tibetan mastiff for those people who already have experience in keeping and raising these dogs. After all, it will take a lot of effort from the owner tothe pet became obedient. From a very young age, the Tibetan Mastiff needs to be instilled with love for people. And at the same time, he needs to be trained hard so that the obedience of the animal is perfect.

Judging by the reviews, the Tibetan Mastiff keeps his aggression under control. But at the same time, the dog is distinguished by waywardness. If you raise a puppy correctly, then an adult will become a good friend and a wonderful nanny for children.

Tibetan Mastiff is doing very well next to a human. After all, the dog is very social. She becomes attached to the owner and then wants to be with him everywhere and always, joyfully responding to the offer to play.

In temperament and character, the Tibetan mastiff is kind and calm. These are restrained animals that show friendliness towards other dogs. Nevertheless, if they notice even the slightest manifestation of aggression, they are quite ready to give an adequate response at any moment.

Due to their watchdog role, Tibetans are a little reserved and suspicious of strangers.

In terms of their intelligence, Mastiffs resemble Great Danes. They are very smart, but they also like to be stubborn.

The character of the Tibetan mastiff is quite expressive and bright, friendly and unusually harmonious. This dog has never been accused of "wastelessness". Experts compare the voice of this animal with a deep and muffled beat that a copper gong emits. In China, for example, the velvety timbre of the bark emitted by Tibet was especially appreciated. And for this, dogs were specially givenwarmed milk. But the mastiff gives a voice quite rarely. He will not burst into meaningless barking to scare a passer-by who does not like him. Even without this, the dog will be able to stand up for his loved ones and for himself.

Due to its nature, the Tibetan Mastiff is able to make independent decisions in certain situations. So, when a guest comes to the owner, the dog understands that there is no danger, and she will calmly step aside. However, in those cases when an ill-wisher comes to the house, Tibet will boldly rush to protect the owner. This happens due to the unusually developed intelligence and instinct of the animal. These qualities were confirmed even by the Tibetan sages. They said that this dog never sleeps. Indeed, the animal guards its owner so sensitively that if danger arises, it will instantly wake up and immediately proceed to active actions.

The character of the Tibetan mastiff does not allow him to bother a person with importunity. The dog will run around the site, lazily cool off in the shade or wallow in the sun, not approaching the owner. But as soon as he shows affection, Tibet will respond to it, and will do it with great pleasure. Kind words, strokes and touches have a calming effect on the dog. At the same time, communication with the owner and with all household members gives the mastiff great joy.

Due to its nature, the Tibetan Mastiff unconditionally obeys the person who is the head of the house. The rest of the family members receivepet loy alty, respect and affection. A large furry pet has a brave and devoted heart. He has enough for all the people he loves. And how happy he is when the owners return from work or from a trip! This character trait should be taken into account by someone who dreams of being met by a loving and devoted pet when he comes home.

How does the Tibetan Mastiff feel about children? If there is a child in the house, then the dog is well aware that there is a little fool in front of it. No childish pranks, fuss and harassment are capable of causing aggression in Tibet. Experts agree that in this case, you will have to think about the peace of the dog, and not about the safety of your child. The kid can wag the Tibet, climb to the animal with caresses, run after him, sit on him astride. The Mastiff will only endure philosophically. Little guests who come to the child and form a noisy company will have to be explained that playful fuss can be mistaken for a fight by a dog, which will give it the right to intervene to restore order.

Another remarkable feature of the Tibetan Mastiff is his sense of dignity, expressed in the majestic poise of the animal. But at the same time, it would be wrong to call a dog a phlegmatic. After all, this pet is distinguished by mobility and curiosity, playfulness and liveliness of mind, and in addition to all this, it has a sense of humor. All of the above traits of character the animal shows in accordance with the situation. So when the familyis alone with the dog, she, despite her gigantic size, behaves like a playful and gentle kitten. In the presence of unfamiliar guests, Tibet is an attentive observer. He does not get underfoot, but at the same time he constantly controls the situation. When danger arises, the mastiff turns into an unsurpassed guard. But the most important character trait of this animal is devotion and fidelity, which it literally radiates with its gaze, movements and every cell of the body.

Contents

Proper care of the Tibetan Mastiff allows you to maintain the mental and physical he alth of the animal. To achieve the desired result, you must follow a number of rules, which include security:

• balanced nutrition;
• optimal amount of physical activity;
• daily hair care;
• competent training;
• constant communication.

Hygiene and care

The thick coat of the pet will require increased attention. After all, his coat is the pride of the breed. In addition, Tibet will need to ensure the hygiene of nails, teeth, ears and eyes. What should be the care of a dog?

• During shedding, the dog's coat must be brushed three times a day, using special brushes.
• It is enough to bathe a pet twice a year.
• When tangled hairballs or tangles appear, they are carefully cut off.
• Twice a week it is recommended to brush your dog's teeth for preventive purposes, and when changing them, constantly monitor the condition of the gums andbite formation.
• The claws of the animal are trimmed with special tools twice a month.
• After returning from a walk, it is necessary to inspect the paws of the Tibet, rinse them with clean water and wipe them with a soft cloth.
• You can remove the accumulation of dust or wax from the ears by wiping them with wet wipes.
• Mastiff's eyes should be periodically rinsed using an infusion of pharmaceutical chamomile.

Diet

The pet menu should contain only natural products or fully prepared wet and dry food. Moreover, you need to give such food only separately. It is strictly forbidden to mix it.

How to feed a Tibetan mastiff puppy? A small pet needs to organize six meals a day, evenly distributing the required daily amount of food. The list of products that must be included in the Tibetan diet are:

• lean meat;
• cooked by-products;
• fermented milk products;
• cereals (buckwheat or rice);
• boiled eggs;
• vegetable oils;
• boiled vegetables;
• dried fruits, raisins and cheese as a reward for ongoing training;
• any greens.

Vitamin and mineral supplements should also be present in pet food. They are prescribed by a veterinarian based on the he alth and age of the dog. Starting from two months and up to a year, puppies are transferred to five meals a day. During this period, their diet includes additionally boiled pitted sea fish.

Training and education

As mentioned above, the Tibetan Mastiff requires early socialization. And for this it is necessary to properly raise a pet, and start doing it as early as possible.

How to train a Tibetan Mastiff? The standard components of this process are:

• socialization;
• imprinting;
• passing the general course.

Imprinting is a complex application of special techniques. Thanks to them, the puppy gets used to the owner, ceases to be afraid of him and begins to trust him completely. Such classes are held at the very first stage of education. At the same time, the dog acquires the skills of an adequate attitude to the environment and to society.

After imprinting, the dog begins to socialize. At the same time, she is taught to calmly respond to the world around her and to society. Only a fully socialized animal is able to begin training and follow basic commands.

Acquiring a Tibetan Mastiff

It is better to buy a purebred dog in a kennel or on the recommendation of the club. Experienced breeders will give the necessary instructions regarding the diet of the animal and its maintenance.

What is the price of a Tibetan Mastiff? The amount assigned for a thoroughbred puppy will depend on many factors. Among them:

• pedigree parameters;
• opportunity to participate in exhibitions;
• origin of parents;
• natural type.

In the kennels of Moscow, for example, the mastiff boy of the highestclass can be sold from 100-120 thousand rubles. Adult individuals belonging to the category "pet-pets" cost 40-50 thousand rubles in Russia.