The Tibetan Mastiff - The most complete guide to the Tibetan Mastiff – Lobo Azul

Centuries of legend and mystery accompany the Tibetan Mastiff , this ancient breed that today enjoys great popularity and is synonymous with status among the wealthiest social classes, becoming considered 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 from congenital diseases

Its impeccable track record makes the Tibetan Mastiff or Tibetan Mastiff , as it is also known, a unique breed, not only because of its age but also because of its particular characteristics and its natural propensity to take care of the family where it develops. Due to its territorial nature, it especially takes great care of children. It is, at the same time as a guardian, a herding dog, ideal for all types of livestock thanks to its extraordinary size.

It is necessary to know this breed very well from its origins , type of character and care it needs, before deciding to obtain one of these specimens; Well, the Tibetan Mastiff is a special dog , very strong, but it requires specific care, as well as adequate climatic conditions so that its coat looks healthy and silky, this being one of the greatest attractions of this breed, apart from its size. Its nature evokes its presence in the great moments of the development of the Asian Continent, which notably influenced culture, even in the West.

History and Origin of the Tibetan Mastiff

References to the existence of the Tibetan Mastiff date back to 2,000 years BC. There are paintings and bas-reliefs that show this magnificent animal, used as a war dog and guard of prisoners of war by the Assyrians; He was mentioned in the Chronicles of Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, in the years 384-322 BC. Later, he was admired by Marco Polo , which is reflected in his writings that narrate his trip to Asia in 1271, being a notorious story, the raids on the battlefield of this animal, accompanying the armies of Genghis Khan, who is said to have possessed 30,000 specimens, one for each soldier.

Their ancient origin places them as shepherds alongside the ancient inhabitants of the Himalayas and as eternal guardians of Buddhist monasteries, which adds an aura of mysticism that makes them even more attractive and therefore coveted. Owning a Tibetan Mastiff is synonymous with ancestral knowledge of the origins of this dog with such special and varied qualities, which has adapted very well, according to the needs of the inhabitants of the Asian Continent, in its process of evolution through the ages. centuries. The British occupation of India allowed the West to get to know these ancient canine specimens more closely, sending one to Queen Victoria in 1847. The royal house was attracted to the Tibetan Mastiff, thanks to its origin, which It dates back to very remote times, accompanying the great representatives of the history of humanity and by 1898, several of these peculiar dogs were already recorded, including the first birth of a puppy in the Berlin Zoo, Germany. In England, they were destined for presentations in circus functions, where they constituted a special attraction, looking like gigantic lions, being dogs.

Currently, China complies with international standards on the distinction of purity of the Tibetan Mastiff and already has recognized breeding sites, where the genetic links of this ancestral and mythical breed are maintained. However, in the remote pastoral areas of Tibet, it is common to find the Tibetan Mastiff, also known as the Tibetan bulldog, accompanying children, children of the shepherds, while they run alongside them in the fields and take care of the flocks. For the West, as in China, owning a dog of this breed is equivalent to showing off an expensive luxury item , since the price of these incomparable specimens has been quoted at 1.6 million Euros.

Physical characteristics of the Tibetan Mastiff dog

It is a very large dog, weighing between 85 and 100 kilos ; Its height can reach more than one meter. With a wide chest and large, thick legs, it has defined muscles to support its weight and height. Its head stands out from the body due to its size, the eyes are sunken and dark in color. Due to its origin in the mountains of Tibet, it has two layers of abundant and long fur that makes it resemble a lion; The snout is black and round, with cheeks that hang down, leaving plenty of space in the gums, where large fangs can be seen that give it a strong biting capacity. The tail curls forward and rests on its hindquarters. The color of its coat varies between black with yellow details on the eyebrows, chest and legs; white, red, gray, yellow in various shades and there are two colors, mixed from the natural variety.

Their midriff is longer than in other races because their body is equally longer than it is tall; The internal chamber distends when it barks and with the passage of air, it gives it a sound like thunder, resembling the roar of a lion, which adds a fierceness that it really does not have in its character. In general terms, the Tibetan Mastiff is a strong and healthy dog, but due to its size and weight, it usually suffers from its joints and the wear of its bones is faster than that of other breeds; For this reason, it must be provided with good space so that it can move and run comfortably; It is also recommended not to subject it to exhausting activities in which you have to use a lot of force. In its physical structure, it has not evolved over the centuries, making this a truly pure dog from its origins. As for its abundant fur, it sheds its inner layer twice a year, causing its appearance to vary; To achieve a healthy appearance on your skin, you must brush frequently and dedicatedly, taking care of each part of your body with special care.

Character and personality

Having not undergone morphological changes in its body structure, its character has not changed either, despite having been a war dog, where only its size and powerful bark instilled terror in the opposing armies; The nature of the Tibetan Mastiff is herding and in response to this quality, it is a pack dog, which considers those who are constantly in its environment as parts of its pack. This makes this breed an ideal dog for caring for children, properties and flocks. Its character is docile and affectionate, but it can become fierce in the presence of strangers, especially if it feels or perceives any threat to its pack. For this reason, it is recommended to discipline it from a young age and if you are going to keep it at home, visitors should be warned 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 in the mountains, developing according to its shepherd nature, it will be seen running around at ease, taking care of all types of livestock and children without being disturbed by the lack of space.

If you are going to have a Tibetan Bulldog in the city, you must give it enough space inside the house and, in any case, accustom it to long walks, in which it can walk and run without problems; But you must train yourself to face the constant changes in cities, where the noise of cars or the lack of foresight of those who cross your path can be threatening. Due to its territorial nature, the Tibetan Mastiff is usually a dog that is jealous of its territory and does not allow incursions of any kind, which makes it an excellent guardian, but this carries a great responsibility for the owners, who must keep the dog isolated from the environment. external area, with fences resistant to attacks, in case a nearby presence makes you feel uncomfortable. Generally speaking, despite its large size and intimidating appearance, it is a docile and affectionate dog that does not represent any danger to its owners ; Likewise, it can live with other animals and smaller breeds of dogs if it is accustomed to it from a puppy age. The Tibetan Mastiff is considered a very intelligent dog , capable of understanding and reacting favorably to different situations if it is trained properly and treated with affection.

Tibetan Mastiff Puppies

In this breed there is a limitation in relation to the offspring, since the female only comes into heat once a year, having average litters, that is, five to ten puppies per litter, they are large in size and have abundant fur, presenting the particularity of natural birth control in these enormous dogs, which would represent a serious problem for their places of origin, if they reproduced with the frequency of other breeds.

Depending on the care given to the puppies, unusually large offspring can be obtained, reaching a meter in height before reaching the first year of age. They reach maturity at four years, during which time, despite their size, abundant fur and deep and intimidating bark, in their character they remain playful and affectionate puppies, who must be disciplined from very early on to avoid disorders. of behavior that would be very difficult to control due to their physical characteristics and natural strength.

Feeding and health of the Tibet Doge

A dog of large size, strength and energy like the Tibetan Mastiff requires a diet rich in proteins to keep its muscles in good condition and promote its abundant coat. Tibetan bulldogs grow very quickly and this particularity means that their joints and bone composition can be affected more frequently than other breeds of dogs; It is for this reason that you should incorporate into your diet a nutritional supplement of shark cartilage, whose properties for the benefit of joints are widely known.

If you want to get a puppy of this breed, you need to be aware of the cost of its food, which usually ingests large amounts of feed, in accordance with its structure and size , which inevitably determine its appetite. It is recommended that you consult your veterinarian about which food or feed is best for you, as well as any supplements you may require to prevent your joint or bone problems.

Tibetan Mastiff dog care

Given the particularities of size, nature and character of the Tibetan Mastiff, special care must be given to it, not only for its physical appearance, but also for its emotional appearance. Regarding the physical part, taking care of its diet properly will allow it to have a healthy coat and its growth will not be affected by joint conditions; Providing enough space and long walks will contribute to good blood circulation. Taking care of the grooming, brushing its mane two or three times a day and taking care of the hygiene of its mouth, will result in a healthy specimen.

As for the emotional aspect, you should take advantage of your sweet and affectionate character so that you get used to interacting in the different scenarios offered by urban centers, full of noise and people, to whom you must get used to without suffering any disturbance that could cause situations. dangerous, because you cannot control it if it is altered in an unusual way. It is necessary that he be taught from a puppy to obey orders , which must be given energetically, so that he learns who is in control of the situation. Once these objectives have been achieved, you will be in possession of a docile dog that will not represent major problems.

Education and training

Owning a puppy of this breed requires a high sense of responsibility; That is why it is recommended that training begins 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 get the puppy used to sharing and interacting with several people and different animals; to identify different places on their walks and give them the opportunity to satisfy their natural curiosity, teaching them little by little to maintain appropriate behavior; that is, correct him firmly if he becomes aggressive or if he does not obey an instruction such as lying down or staying still.

As it grows and develops, more complex instructions are incorporated, such as following the master, stopping, waiting for authorization to move forward and all the instructions that make up training that allows an adult Tibetan Mastiff to be perfectly controlled. without fear of any eventuality occurring, since this breed is extremely intelligent and therefore capable of understanding the different situations that arise, being able to react in a timely, precise and appropriate manner, if it has good training. If the aspiring Tibetan Mastiff owner does not feel prepared or does not have any experience in handling dogs, they should use the services of a dog trainer.

Conclusion

Ancestral, ancient and mythical, the Tibetan Mastiff or Doge of Tibet, is a fabulous canine specimen , included in the category of the most coveted colossi in Central Asia and with renewed popularity in the West, becoming one of the breeds that are synonymous with power and social status. In ancient times it was considered an ideal complement to the war machinery, due to its great size and intelligence to learn to use its strength in the art of war, where its appearance alone generated terror in enemy armies. However, his true nature is herding and caring for those he considers members of his pack; Its territorial and docile character makes it ideal for caring for flocks and children; Currently, it continues to be the playmate of the children of the mountains of Tibet and still enjoys the preference and sympathy of the Tibetan monks , who since ancient times have used them as guardians of their temples and monasteries.

The Tibetan Mastiff is part of the oldest art and of mentions full of admiration by philosophers and great warriors of antiquity, making it the protagonist of innumerable war 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 introduced it to the West, where the admiration caused by the specimens given to royalty and were exhibited in circuses and zoos throughout Europe was immediate. Currently, they have regained their exclusive status, since Chinese breeders have allowed themselves to be guided by the world canine federations, achieving that their physical and character characteristics that denote their purity are defined, and it has been verified that they have not suffered any variation in their structure. genetics, despite the passage of time. This may be because its place of origin in the mountains of Tibet did not allow crossing with other breeds that would distort its particular characteristics, making this a dog of guaranteed purity, which contributes to its high price.

Although they can be found 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 Mastiff is a colossal dog, in the category of canine giants it is the most affectionate and docile , but it requires 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 interest you: