| Tibetan Mastiffs: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about Tibetan Mastiff personality and behavior. |
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My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the Tibetan Mastiff, including these excerpts:
"This powerful, rugged breed with the solemn expression is not inclined to play fetch or Frisbee.
The Tibetan Mastiff was developed strictly for working purposes and his instincts to perform that work are ingrained. Livestock guardians bond with flock animals, as well as their own families, with fierce possessiveness, making their own decisions about who is a friend and who is a foe, what is a threat and what is not.
These strong-willed, self-reliant dogs will take control of every situation unless you are an assertive leader who demands respect.
The Tibetan Mastiff is serious and dignified, calm and quiet -- unless provoked. Aloof with strangers, he will remain watchful every moment they are on his property.
He is patient with his own children and other family pets, but requires careful introduction to those outside the family.
Despite his bulk, the Tibetan Mastiff is remarkably agile, skilled at climbing and jumping, and requires a six-foot-high fence.
He often prefers to be outdoors where he can view and patrol his territory. However, Tibetan Mastiffs have a deep, impressive bark which they tend to use freely, especially at night when they are most attentive. They sometimes dig deep holes to lie in."
History
Thought by many to be the ancestor of most other mastiff and mountain dog breeds, the Tibetan Mastiff has been protecting flocks and guarding villages for thousands of years.
Size
24-30 inches and 80-140 lbs |
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Tibetan Mastiffs
What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- There are energetic Tibetan Mastiffs, and placid Tibetan Mastiffs.
- Hard-headed Tibetan Mastiffs, and sweet-natured Tibetan Mastiffs.
- Serious Tibetan Mastiffs, and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted Tibetan Mastiffs, and Tibetan Mastiffs who love everyone.
| If you acquire a Tibetan Mastiff puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." |
Now let's look at some common characteristics for this breed...
- Is large, rugged, and powerful, with a thick coat that comes in a variety of colors
- Has a solemn expression, carries himself with a dignified presence, and is not inclined to play fetch or Frisbee
- Is calm and quiet indoors (as an adult)
- Loves the great outdoors, especially in cold climates, and needs some room to romp
- Looks imposing, so makes an effective deterrent, but is not usually aggressive unless provoked
A Tibetan Mastiff may be right for you.
| If you don't want to deal with... |
- A large dog who takes up a lot of space in your house and car
- A heavy dog who wants to sit on your feet, lie on your lap, and lean his weight against your leg
- Rowdiness and exuberant jumping when young
- Protective instincts that are firmly ingrained, requiring ongoing socialization, supervision, and control to prevent excessive suspiciousness or aggression toward other people
- Aggression toward other animals
- Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge
- Barking
- Slobbering water
- Heavy shedding
A Tibetan Mastiff may not be right for you.
| If I were considering a Tibetan Mastiff... |
My major concerns would be:
- Providing the proper balance of exercise. Young Tibetan Mastiffs need enough exercise to keep them lean and healthy, but not so much that their soft growing bones, joints, and ligaments become over-stressed and damaged. Adult Tibetan Mastiffs need more exercise to keep them in shape, but not in hot or humid weather for fear of overheating.
Since you have to minimize their exercise, young Tibetan Mastiffs can be very rambunctious. They will romp with uncoordinated gawkiness all over your house. You need to substitute extra quantities of companionship and supervision. Otherwise, left alone, young Tibetan Mastiffs become bored and destructive -- and their powerful jaws can literally destroy your living room.
- Providing enough socialization. Tibetan Mastiffs have ingrained protective instincts and are very watchful with other people. They need extensive exposure to friendly people so they learn to recognize the normal behaviors of "good guys." Then they can recognize the difference when someone acts abnormally. Without careful socialization, they may be suspicious of everyone, which could lead to aggression and biting. Some Tibetan Mastiffs go in the opposite direction -- without enough socialization, they become fearful of strangers, which can lead to defensive biting.
| If you have children, I do not recommend a Tibetan Mastiff. Young Tibetan Mastiffs (up to about three years old) romp and jump with great vigor, and things can go flying, including people. In addition, Tibetan Mastiffs may try to protect their own children from other children, which could lead to tragedy if kids are simply roughhousing and your Tibetan Mastiff decides to stop it. With such a massive dog, I wouldn't take the risk. |
- Animal aggression. Tibetan Mastiffs were bred to keep strange animals away from "their" flock and property. Some Tibetan Mastiffs will not tolerate another dog of the same sex, and some won't tolerate the opposite sex either. Many Tibetan Mastiffs have strong instincts to chase and seize cats and other fleeing creatures. If anything goes wrong in the breeding, socializing, training, handling, or management of this breed, it is capable of seriously injuring or killing other animals.
- The strong temperament. Tibetan Mastiffs are not Golden Retrievers. They have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. Some Tibetan Mastiffs are willful, obstinate, and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
- Barking. Tibetan Mastiffs are guardian dogs and they are often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. Tibetan Mastiffs should NEVER be left outside in your yard, unsupervised, unless you have no neighbors for miles around. The time for "outside guard dogs" has passed in our crowded society. They annoy everyone within earshot.
- Heavy shedding. Tibetan Mastiffs shed a LOT. At least once a year, for several weeks, you'll find hair and fur all over your clothing, upholstery, carpeting, under your furniture -- even in your food. Make sure you're REALLY up for this.
- Slobbering. Some Tibetan Mastiffs, especially those with loose jowls, tend to slobber or drool, especially after eating and drinking.
- Finding one and paying the price. Tibetan Mastiffs can be hard to find, and many breeders are charging $1200 and up.
| Frankly, most Tibetan Mastiffs are "too much dog" for the average household. Very few people really have the knowledge, facilities, or skills necessary to manage this breed. And in this day and age, the legal liabilities of owning any breed that looks intimidating and has a history as a guard dog should be seriously considered. People are quicker to sue if such a dog does anything even remotely questionable. |
| If you're considering an adult Tibetan Mastiff... |
There are plenty of adult Tibetan Mastiffs who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
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Copyright © 2000-2006 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author. |
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