T Mastiff Common Myths About Tibetan Dogs

The TM is a strong, intelligent breed. They are trainable, but not hyper-obedient, and they do not always engage or respond to training with a trainer in the same way that many other working dogs do. A Tibetan Mastiff is unlikely to excel at agility, search and rescue, tracking, or protection work because all of these tasks necessitate a breed that is very dependent and responsive to its owner/trainer.

This is the most dangerous myth of them all.

With this breed, you must have a securely fenced yard.

If a securely fenced yard is not provided, most responsible breeders will not consider any home for one of their puppies. This isn’t simply an idea; it’s a firm recommendation. There can be no exceptions, according to the TMBRN. While you may locate a breeder ready to sell you a TM pup without the fencing requirement, his or her motivation is most certainly profit-driven, and the decision is rarely made in the best interests of the dog or the breed.

Allowing a guardian breed to run uncontrolled on your property, whether it’s a wide-open yard or acreage, is neither smart nor responsible. These dogs are not just prone to roaming, but they are also fiercely protective of their house, yard, and family. No breeder likes to hear that a puppy he or she bred was hit by a car, went missing, was attacked by a stray dog or wild creature, or attacked a stranger or UPS driver.

The cost and effort involved in installing a fence are simply a part of caring for a Tibetan Mastiff. Please choose another breed if this is not something you are prepared to undertake.

While many breeders across the world want to “grow” the TM, the normal healthy weight for females is 90 to 120 lbs and for males is 100 to 140 lbs. Check the Breed Standard for your chosen country.

False! The T Mastiff might be cautious of new people and objects because they are a guardian breed. They’ll be instinctively protective of your belongings and you.

Only the most well-known members of the family are allowed to enter without being greeted. Casual guests cannot be expected to simply “walk in” without being escorted.

Despite the fact that this is a breed trait, it is the owner’s obligation to introduce and socialize their dog to visitors in their home. Giving a Tibetan Mastiff a lot of early and good exposure to people and children that come into the house is a big step.

Puppy socialization and good dog manners begin at a young age. Visitors in your home should have no trouble with a well-behaved, well-socialized Mastiff!

While it’s crucial to choose and breed for the right temperament, you should also contact your breeder for “at home” ideas and methods to ensure early socialization success.

In situations where toddlers have been trained to RESPECT dogs, the Tibetan Mastiff is an excellent choice.

At all times, children (of any age) and dogs (of any age or breed) must be supervised by parents or adults.

No dog should be a “Cujo,” but Tibetan Mastiffs can be possessive of their food and toys as a guardian breed, thus children must be taught to respect “dog space.” It is essential for parents to understand that ALL canines do not view the world in the same way as humans or children do. Children’s hands in dog food bowls, for example, may be interpreted as a threat to take food away; food carried by children at eye level for dogs may be interpreted as a “free-for-all” treat, and it may not appear or sound like play to a dog if children are allowed to roughhouse or run screaming/laughing through the house.

Tibetan Mastiffs require patience and guidance, but kids must also be aware of and respectful of what they do when they are around an animal, even if it is a treasured pet.

This is certainly false! Hip and joint problems can affect any dog breed, large or small. It’s for this reason that you should look into if your preferred breeder has properly analyzed his or her breeding animals by having their dogs tested for hip and elbow dysplasia. Make sure breeders can supply you with age-appropriate and valid certification (i.e. OFA/OVC/Penn Hip findings), and don’t be happy if they only “say” they have these health test results. While this does not guarantee that the offspring will not have hip/elbow dysplasia, it does demonstrate that an individual breeder is doing his or her best to breed from clear stock. For more information about hip/elbow dysplasia, visit the OFA site here.

For dogs used in a breeding program, proof of OFA, Penn Hip, or equivalent verified evaluation scores is ALWAYS REQUIRED, so be wary of breeders who can’t or won’t supply these. Hip dysplasia is a multi-gene hereditary illness that has yet to be eliminated. Other health conditions to address, such as spondylosis or transitional vertebrae, may be shown by radiograph examinations.

There are several additional breeds that are significantly better suited to guarding animals. In this aspect, breeds such as the Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd, and Kuvasz excel.

The Tibetan Mastiff will guard livestock merely because it is on the owner’s property, but they do not always bond or become one with the flock, and they will not feel obligated to stay on the property with the flock if they are not limited by a fence. The Tibetan Mastiff is a good PROPERTY protector, but it isn’t particularly suited to herding cattle. They will guard your property against predators in general, but not generally the flock. The majority of T Mastiffs would rather be curled up on the couch or patrolling the house and yard.

When raised with other household pets from a puppy or intensively socialized from puppyhood, Tibetan Mastiffs generally get along seamlessly with cats, birds, rabbits, and small canines. However, T Mastiffs are known to have a healthy prey drive outdoors and have also been known to go after smaller livestock such as chickens, goats, and other unknown small animals. Even TMs raised with chickens and/or goats have been known to have tried to eat them. Tibetan dogs appear to like chasing, catching, and killing all kinds of birds.

The TM dog is NOT a herding breed.

False! Compliance and learning rate are two totally different things. Although the TM is smart and learns commands fast, obedience and compliance are not always assured. They are extremely self-reliant, having been bred for centuries to think for themselves and work without the assistance of a trainer. When it comes to this breed, don’t mistake stubbornness for a lack of intelligence.