Tibetan Mastiff — A Lion-Like Dog Breed

A unique and enormous dog breed from Tibet, the Tibetan mastiff has a gigantic, towering build, a flowing mane, and a watchful face. The breed is reputed to be just as majestic and vigilant as a lion. The Tibetan mastiff, which has been used as estate guardians in Tibet for thousands of years, still exhibits strong protective instincts, vigilantly guarding its home and family.

Personality

It’s common to describe this independent, brash type as “difficult.” Because he is intelligent and possesses a positive sense of identity, he wants to be treated with respect and not as a pet. He wants to gain the community’s approval, but he has his own objectives and needs regular affirmation that he is doing what is expected of him. The Tibetan Mastiff is a loyal and serious family guardian who keeps to himself or is reserved for strangers. He can prevent developing territorial hostility with the help of early socialization and continued relationships with other individuals. His social skills will improve if you frequently entertain friends; take him to busy parks; dog-friendly stores; and on leisurely strolls to meet your neighbors.

History

Initially, these dogs were used to protect Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and monks from animals like bears, wolves, and snow leopards. The Tibetan Mastiff is a phenotypically unique breed of dog that was developed in the high elevations of the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas as a flock guardian. A pair of Tibetan mastiffs were brought to the UK by the Prince of Wales, George, in the early 20th century. By 1906, the breed was well-established enough in England to be displayed at the Crystal Palace show. The breed, however, lost popularity and attention during the war years, and it almost went extinct in England.

Since 1980, the breed has become more and more well-known all over the world. Despite the fact that the breed is still regarded as being fairly rare, as more active breeders emerged and produced enough puppies, other registries and show organizations (FCI, AKC) started to recognise the breed. The Tibetan Mastiff entered the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show for the first time in 2008. Since the AKC’s accreditation, there has been an unprecedented number of active breeders, which has resulted in an overproduction of puppies — many of which are of questionable quality and are heavily inbred. Due to the small genetic pool of the original stock, the breed initially deteriorated.

Prices for the best dogs had dropped to around $2,000 in China by 2015 as a result of overbreeding and the breed’s unsuitability as a pet in urban settings, and that both lower-quality and crossbred dogs were being abandoned.

According to a DNA study published in 2011, the Tibetan Mastiff shares a genetic affinity with the Great Pyrenees, Bernese Mountain Dog, Rottweiler, and Saint Bernard, suggesting that these huge breed dogs are likely descended in part from the Tibetan Mastiff. Read More…