Centuries of legend and mystery accompany the Tibetan mastiff, this ancestral race that today enjoys great popularity and is synonymous with status among the most wealthy social classes, becoming the most expensive dog in the world.
Size: Giant
Weight: Between 85 and 100kg.
Hair type: Abundant and long
Character: Docile and affectionate
Health: Tendency to suffer congenital diseases
His impeccable trajectory makes the Tibet tibetan mastin or dogo, as it is also known, a unique race, not only because of its age but for its particular characteristics and their natural propensity to take care of the family where it develops. Because of its territorial character, especially carefully cares about children. It is, while Guardian, a grazing dog, ideal for all types of cattle thanks to its extraordinary size.
It is necessary Know this breed very well from its origins, type of character and care you need, before deciding to obtain one of these specimens; well Tibetan mastin is a special dog, very strong, but that requires specific care, as well as adequate climatic conditions for its fur to look healthy and silky, this being one of the greatest attractions of this race, apart from the size. Its nature evokes its presence in the great moments of the development of the Asian continent, which notoriously influenced the culture, even of the West.
History and origin of the Tibetan Mast
References to the existence of Tibetan mastiff date up to 2,000 years before Christ. There are paintings and under reliefs that account for this magnificent animal, used as War dog and prison guard Assyrian war; He was mentioned in the Chronicles of Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, in the 384-322 B.C. Subsequently, it is admired by Marco Polo, which reflects in their scriptures that narrate their trip to Asia in 1271, being a noticeable story, the incursions in the battlefield of this animal, accompanying the armies of Genghis Kan, who is said to have 30,000 copies, one for each soldier.
Their millenary origin places them exercising grazing work with the former inhabitants of the Himalayas and as eternal guardians of the Buddhist monasteries, which adds an aura of mysticism that makes them even more attractive and therefore coveted. Have a tibetan mastin It is synonymous with ancestral knowledge of the origins of this dog of such special and varied qualities, which has been adapted very well, as the needs of the inhabitants of the Asian continent have been, in their process of evolution through the centuries. The British occupation of India, allowed the West to know more closely to these millenary canine specimens, when one, Queen Victoria, in 1847. The royal house, was attracted to the Tibetan mastin, thanks to its origin that dates back to very remote times, accompanying the great representatives of the history of humanity and by 1898, it already realized several of these peculiar Dogs, including the first birth of a puppy in the Berlin Zoo, Germany. In England, they were allocated to circus functions, where they constituted a special attraction, looking like gigantic lions, being dogs.
Currently, China adapts to international standards on the distinction of purity of the Tibetan mastiff and already has recognized hatcheries, where the genetic links of this ancestral and mythical race are maintained. However, in the remote areas of Tibet grazing, it is common to find the Tibetan mastiff, also known as Tibet's Dogo, accompanying the children, children of the shepherds, while running next to them in the field and taking care of the herds. For the West, as in China, possessing a dog of this race is equivalent to wearing an expensive luxury article, since the price of these incomparable specimens has come to quote 1.6 million euros.
Physical characteristics of the Tibetan Mastish Dog
It is a very big dog, He weighs between 85 and 100 kilos; Your height can reach more than a meter. With a wide and large and thick chest chest, it has a defined musculature to withstand its weight and height. His head stands out of the body because of its size, the eyes are sunken and dark. Because of its origin in the Mountains of Tibet, it has two layers of abundant and long fur that makes a lion resemble; The snout is black and round, with cheeks that hang leaving enough space in the gums, where large fangs are appreciated that give it a strong bite capacity. The tail screws forward and rests on its hind rooms. The color of its fur varies between black with yellow details in the eyebrows, chest and legs; White, red, gray, yellow in several shades and there are two colors, mixed among the natural variety.
His diaphragm is longer than in other races because his body is equally longer than high; The internal chamber is disturbed when barking and with the passage of air, it provides a sound like thunder, resembling the roar of a lion, which adds a fierceness that it really does not possess in its character. In general terms, the Tibetan mastiff is a strong and healthy dog, but because of its size and weight, it usually suffers from the joints and wear of its bones is faster than other races present; For this reason, a good space must be provided so that it can move and run comfortably; It is also recommended not to submit it to exhausting activities in which you have to use a lot of strength. In its physical structure, it has not evolved through the centuries, making this A really pure dog From its origins. As for its abundant fur, change the inner layer twice a year, causing its appearance to vary; To achieve a healthy appearance on your skin, you must brush frequently and dedicated, taking care of each part of your body with special care.
Character and personality
Having not suffered morphological changes in its body structure, its character has not changed, despite having been a war dog, where only its size and powerful barking infused terror in the opposing armies; The nature of the Tibetan mastin is grazing And in response to this quality, it is a pack of herd, who considers those who are constantly in their environment as parts of theirs. This makes this race an ideal dog to take care of children, properties and herds. Its character is docile and affectionate, but it can become fierce in the presence of strangers, especially if you feel or perceive any threat to your pack. For this reason, it is recommended to discipline it since childhood and if it is going to have it at home, you should notice visits, so that they do not make sudden movements in the presence of the dog in order to prevent the situation from getting out of control. If the Tibetan mastiff is found in the mountains, developing according to its pastor's nature, it will be seen running at ease, taking care of all kinds of cattle and children without the lack of space altering it.
If you are going to have a Tibet Dogo in the city, it should be given enough space inside the house and in any case, accustom it to long walks, where you can walk and run without problems; But it must be trained to face the constant changes of the cities, where the noise of the cars or the lack of forecast of those that cross their way, can be threatening. Due to its territorial nature, the Tibetan mastiff is usually a jealous dog with its territory and does not admit incursions of any kind, which makes it an excellent guardian, but this entails a great responsibility for the owners, who must keep the dog isolated from the external area, with feats resistant fences, in case some close presence makes him feel uncomfortable. In general terms, despite its large size and intimidating appearance, It is a docile and affectionate dog that does not represent any danger to its owners; Likewise, you can live with other animals and smaller dog breeds if it is accustomed since it is a puppy. The Tibetan mastin is considered a very smart dog, capable of understanding and reacting favorably to different situations if it is trained properly and is treated with affection.
Tibetan mastin puppies
In this breed there is a limitation in relation to the young, because the female only enters into heat once a year, having half litters, that is, five to ten puppies per litter, are of large size and abundant fur, presenting the particularity of the natural birth control in these huge dogs, which would represent a serious problem for their places of origin, if they reproduce the frequency of other races.
Depending on the care given to puppies, unusually large offspring can be obtained, which come to measure a meter high before the first year of age. They reach maturity at four years, during which, despite their size, abundant fur and deep barking and intimacy, in their character they remain playful and affectionate puppies, to which it is necessary to discipline from very early to avoid behavioral disorders that would be very difficult to control due to their physical characteristics and natural strength.
Tibet's Dogo Food and Health
A large dog, strength and energy such as Tibetan mastin, requires a diet rich in protein that maintains their musculature in good condition and favor its abundant fur. Tibet's dogos grow very quickly and this peculiarity makes their joints and bone composition more frequently affected than other dog breeds; It is for this reason, that it must be incorporated into its diet, a food cartilage supplement, whose properties for the benefit of the joints, are widely known.
If you want to obtain a puppy of this breed, awareness of the cost of your diet is required, which usually ingested in Large amounts of feed, according to its structure and size, that inevitably determine their appetite. It is recommended that the veterinarian be consulted about what is the food or I think that the most as the supplements that may require to prevent its joint or bone problems.
Tibetan mastin dog care
Given the particularities of the size, nature and character of the Tibetan mastiff, special care should be prodred, not only for their physical, but emotional appearance. As for the physical part, attending its food properly will allow it to look healthy in its fur and that its growth is not affected by joint conditions; Providing enough and long walking space will contribute to good blood circulation. Care of cleaning, brushing his hair two or three times a day and taking care of his mouth hygiene, a healthy specimen will have.
As for the emotional aspect, its sweet and affectionate character must be used so that it is used to interact in the different scenarios offered by urban centers, full of noise and people, to which you must get used to it without suffering from any disturbance that could cause dangerous situations, for not being able to control it if it is altered into an unusual way. It is necessary that teach from puppy to obey orders, which must be energetically occurred, so that you learn who has control of the situation. Once these objectives have been achieved, a docile dog that will not represent major problems will be possession.
Education and training
Having a puppy of this race requires a high sense of responsibility; That is why it is recommended that training begin from the first three months of life, which is the time in which it begins to form its definitive character. The first thing to do is accustom the puppy to share and interact with several people and different animals; That he identifies different places in his walks and give him the opportunity to satisfy his natural curiosity, teaching him little by little, the one who maintains adequate behavior; That is, correct it firmly if it becomes aggressive or if it does not obey an instruction such as taking or staying still.
To the extent that it is growing and developing, more complex instructions are incorporated, such as following the master, stop Precise and adequate, if you have a good training. If the aspiring owner of a Tibetan mastiff does not feel prepared or has no experience in the handling of dogs, he must resort to the services of a canine coach.
Conclusion
Ancestral, millenary and mythical, the tibetan mastin or dogo of the Tibet, It is a fabulous canine specimen, framed in the category of the most coveted colossi in Central Asia and with renewed popularity in the West, when transforming into one of the races that are synonymous with power and social status. In ancient times, he was considered an ideal complement to war machinery, by virtue of its large size and intelligence to learn to use its strength in the art of war, where only its appearance, already generated terror in enemy armies. However, its true nature is grazing and caring for those who consider members of their pack; Its territorial and docile character, make it ideal for the care of herds and children; Currently, he is still the playmate of the children of the Mountains of Tibet and even Enjoy the preference and sympathy of Tibetan monks, which since ancient times use them as guardians of their temples and monasteries.
The Tibetan mastiff, is part of the oldest art and of the mentions full of admiration by philosophers and great warriors of antiquity, making it the protagonist of innumerable military feats, as well as for its unique characteristics in terms of its size and the appearance of a lion, which has contributed to its mythical lineage. Great Britain introduces it in the West, where the admiration caused by the specimens presented to royalty and were subject to exposure in circuses and zoos from all over Europe. Currently, they have regained their exclusive status, since Chinese breeders have been guided by world canine federations, making their physical and character characteristics define their purity, coming to verify that it has not suffered any variation in its genetic structure, despite the passing of time. This may be due to the fact that its place of origin in the Mountains of the Tibet did not allow the crossing with other races that distort its particular characteristics, making this a guaranteed purity dog, which contributes to its high price.
Although they can be achieved in Europe and possibly in several countries worldwide, they are not very common and there are really few specimens that can be observed. The Tibetan mastin is a colossal dog, In the category of Canine Giants is the most affectionate and docile, but it requires a great responsibility when acquiring it, because raising it without control and discipline, could represent a great danger to the community where it develops. Other mastiffs that may also be interested:
Napolitan mastin
Spanish Mastion
English mastin
Italian mastin
Great Danish
Doberman
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