About Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Mastiff is a proud and big dog with age-old tradition from the Himalayan mountains. Its appearance and psyche has not changed much over time. It is an indepencent, intelligent, freedom-loving and headstrong dog. If you choose to live with a Tibetan Mastiff by your side you need to learn about the breed characteristics and live in harmony with it. You do not raise but you learn to understand a Tibetan Mastiff.
It is a TM not an ordinary dog
- The breed has a natural instinct since way back in time to make their own decisions.
- A TM is not always prepared to follow his owners will just to please. A TM can be extremely resolute and go its own way if it feels it is necessary.
- The breed has been used as a cattle and guard dog which makes them excellent to watch our homes.
- It is also patient with children, provided that consideration is mutual.
- A TM can be trained in obedience. But the breed's good intelligence and independence makes him not always want to perfom as other breeds might do.
- A TM learns quickly. But hate repetitive exercises that are repetitive and boring.
- TM is a big dog and needs room to move
Facts
- The bitch comes into heat once a year and often in late autumn.
- The breed matures slowly. Bitches at three, four years of age and males up to a year later.
- The dog has a double coat and sheds the undercoat in the spring or summer. The shedding takes about eight weeks. You need to brush regularily.
- After shedding, the dog still has got its long cover hair for a while. Towards the fall the under wool begins to grow. The dog need to be brushed regularly especially during the shedding.
More facts
- Because the breed has been use for guarding cattle and house it still has got a habit for guarding and barking both outside and indoors.
- When a TM is out of its own territory the willingness to guard is not that pronounced.
- TM is an intelligent breed with a good ability to adapt to different circumstances.
- A TM is often dominant to unknown dogs, but works well together with both animals and people if they are presented properly.
- A TM is a good and loyal family member who needs its pack.
- A TM is more active in evenings and early mornings. More active outdoors than indoors.
- Several TM is known to climb over fences and shows athletic scills when it comes to cross barriers.
- A TM is acting like a cat in the sense he is a free spirit and also in the way he uses his paws.
Not for those who find it annoying with
- You will probably never be able to have your TM off leash during your walks.
- A TM would probably explore the entire world and not just the route you want to walk.
- You will own a dog that will come when called those times hes has not got anything better to do.
- You may never get a TM to obey as other dogs can be trained to obey. It simply has no desire he is a free soul!
- You must always present new visitors to the dog if you want them to enter your house and sphere. Otherwise your TM to take them for intruders.
- You have to be aware of that your TM, especially as a youngster, suddenly gets the idea that something is dangerous and should be avoided. That does not matter if you declare that this is not the fact.
- You have to realize that angry discussion in the family upsets a TM. Therefore you must be able to educate your children and discuss with your partner without your TM thinking it is unpleasant.
- You must be willing to work hard with your dog's socialization from the beginning otherwise the dog after two, three years will be 50 kg strong watchdog and not 50 kg family dog.
- You must be prepared off that the dog, especially as young, until the age of at least 3 years old, can be extremely destructive. In its search for chewing training it can get through the doors, banisters and wooden furniture in a very short time.
- You have a dog that loves to dig tunnels under fences, holes in the garden, hardwood floors and discounts. Digging is fun and a TM dig fast and very short time.
- A TM barking deep and strong and often at night.
- A large dog that sheds all the undercoat of 6-8 weeks will give you a lot of cleaning to do.
- Your dog will fuss with the food and refuse to eat now and then without being sick of feeling bad about it.
TM in Dogshowring
Tibetan Mastiff is not a show dog in the sense that he loves to show. He will follow you and try to please you, but only for your sake and only for a little while. We, at Kennel Bod Khyi do show our TM at dogshows. That is a way for us to see to that our breeding is close to the standard as it is written by the FCI. Dogshows also gives us a chance to meet nice TM - people around the ring. Our dogs get the habit to be petted, checked and touched by the judge and folks around the ring. And sometimes we also have the joy to meet future TM owners as they encounter us at ringside.