Tibetan Mastiffs usually make an excellent dog breed for the experienced fur mom or dad. This dog is often a great choice if you’re looking for a companion-style, loyal guard dog that will protect you and your family. Before you rush to add a TM to your home, make sure you fully consider your options. They deserve a place where they can be loved, trained, socialized, and taken care of.
Tibetan Mastiff Characteristics
TMs can be intelligent, protective, and loyal but can also be challenging and stubborn. Although they have the power to protect your family and home, they may not always be suited to families with young children, who at occasion might be harmed by their large size. Continue reading to find out more about the TM breed’s history, personality, and learn how to care for and train this exotic breed.
Tibetan Mastiff Size And Weight
Male TMs can be quite large and may weigh as much as 165 pounds or more. However, the typical Male TM weighs between 85-165 pounds. The average female weight is between 65-125 pounds. One of the largest Tibetan Mastiff known of weighted over 252 pounds.
When measured from the shoulder, male TMs typically measure between 25 and 31 inches high. Female TMs normally measure between 23 and 29 inches tall.
History of the Tibetan Mastiff (Do-Khyi and Tsang-Khyi)
Mastiff-type dogs are said to be originated around five thousand years ago in Tibet, based on DNA evidence. The Do-Khyi was a type of Mastiff that went with nomadic shepherds and lived in villages, and they were flock guardians. Tsang-Khyi was another type, which was usually used as guardians for Tibetan Buddhist monks that lived in the Tibet area.
We know very little about Tibetan Mastiffs prior to 1800 so this is where we will start our timeline.
The 1800th Century
In the 1800s, Captain Samuel Turner described a particular type of dog in his memoir resembling the Tibetan Mastiff. Around 1850, England received the first Tibetan dog as a gift from Lord Harding to Queen Victoria, Viceroy of India.
Toward the end of the 1800th century, England formed a Kennel Club, and in the Stud Book, the breed was officially renamed to Tibetan Mastiff. King Edward VII soon imported a couple of TMs into England, and in 1875, these TMs appeared at the Alexandra Palace Show. As a result, T Mastiffs were occasionally imported from Tibet into England and Europe.
The 1900th Century Until The New Millennia
In the 1930s, the first Tibetan Mastiff breed club was formed. However, the breeding of T Mastiffs ended at the dawn of the 2nd World War. In the late 1950s, Nepal gave two TMs to Eisenhower, President of the United States. The two dogs were taken from the public to a farm and then vanished.
Twenty years later, in the 1970s, T Mastiffs were increasingly imported from Asia to the USA. These imported Mastiffs became the original stock breed for the US line of Tibetan dogs. The American T Mastiff Association (ATMA) was established, the Tibetan Mastiff Club of America was incorporated, and the dog was imported by UK breeders.
Mastiff Cross Breeding
A few years into the new millennia, TMs were recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). However, crossbreeding started to occur and today purebred Tibetan Mastiffs are rare.
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