About Tibetan Mastiffs
The Tibetan mastiff is a large breed of dog that was
developed during the 10th century in, as its name suggests,
Tibet. The Tibetan mastiff was originally developed
by nomadic groups and village people in Tibet and surrounding
areas to guard property such as herds and tents. Tibetan
mastiffs serving as guard dogs were historically allowed
to roam free at night, as opposed to many guard breeds,
which were traditionally tied to one place while guarding.
Despite its name, the Tibetan mastiff is not a true
mastiff breed. The misnomer derives from the Tibetan
mastiff's large size; on average, Tibetan mastiffs weigh
between 140 and 170 pounds and measure between 25 and
28 inches in height.
The Tibetan mastiff has a long, double-layered coat,
which historically facilitated life in the Himalayan
mountain range. Its coat can be black, black and tan,
dark gray, gold, or red, and may have white markings.
The Tibetan mastiff has a strong, muscular build with
a broad, strong head and wide, square muzzle, large
paws, and a high-set tail.
Considered a primitive breed, the Tibetan mastiff has
a variety of qualities geared directly towards survival,
particularly in the climate in which it was developed.
Its hardiness and pack behavior are examples of such
qualities. Additionally, female Tibetan mastiffs are
only receptive to mating once per year, while most breeds
of dog are receptive to mating twice yearly.
Tibetan mastiffs are eager to please and extremely
loyal to their humans, and can be described as calm
and courageous. For these reasons they make excellent
guard dogs, yet they can be very gentle with children
and can therefore be good family dogs. Tibetan mastiffs,
however, are known to be stubborn, and may therefore
be difficult to train. It is very important that Tibetan
mastiffs receive firm, consistent leadership and understand
that their owners are their masters, or they are likely
to be very disobedient and problematic.
If exercised frequently and sufficiently, Tibetan mastiffs
can live happily in an apartment. However, they do best
with houses with large, fenced yards, especially since
they are not particularly active indoors. All Tibetan
mastiffs should be walked daily, though owners should
take care that young Tibetan mastiffs are not overexercised.
The Tibetan mastiff's coat requires a moderate level
of maintenance, and should be brushed regularly. Tibetan
mastiffs shed significantly once each year, as the weather
becomes warmer, during which time they should be brushed
or combed daily.
Unlike most large breeds, Tibetan mastiffs typically
live fairly long lives. The average life expectancy
of a Tibetan mastiff is 10 to 15 years, though they
may live for even longer.
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