The Tibetan Mastiff is a rare, very large breed of dog.
Appearance
The Tibetan Mastiff is among the largest breeds. Its sturdy bone structure and large, wide head makes it appear considerably more massive than other dogs of a similar height. It can reach heights up to 31 inches (80 cm) at the withers, although the standard English breed is typically in the 25 to 28 inch (61 to 71 cm) range. The largest of the breed weighs nearly 220 pounds (100 kg), but the English standard dogs are more typically between 140 to 180 pounds (64-82 kg). Its double coat is long and usually all black, although it can also have areas of tan or gold, and coat colors of Gray, gold, and brown are also possible.
Unlike many other Mastiffs, it has a smooth rather than wrinkled brow and lacks their large jowls.
Temperament
The native strain of dog, which still exists in Tibet (though sparsely), and the English breed are very different in temperament. Elizabeth Schuler states, "The few individuals that remain in Tibet are ferocious and aggressive, unpredictable in their behavior, and very difficult to train. But the dogs bred by the English are obedient and attached to their masters."
As a sheepdog and guard dog, it is ferocious in its ability to tackle even wolves and leopards. As a domestic dog, it requires at least a yard; it is not an appropriate dog for an apartment. Still, the modern English breed is generally easy-going although mildly aloof around strangers. Through hundreds of years as a guard dog, the breed has developed a tendency to bark at sounds during the night, so leaving it outside at night with nearby neighbors is not usually recommended. The Tibetan Mastiff is usually good with children in a family home.
Like most herding breeds, they are intelligent and learn quickly. Obedience training is imperative, since this is also a strong-willed dog with powerful jaws, strong muscles, and a tremendous body. Socialization is also critical with this breed because of their natural caution around strangers and guarding instincts.
Health
Like most very large breeds, its life expectancy is relatively short, usually not more than 10 or 11 years. The breed has a higher incidence than normal of hypothyroidism, entropion or ectropion, skin problems including allergies, missing teeth, maloclusion (overbite or underbite), cardiac problems, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), and small ear canals with a tendency for infection. As do most giant breeds, some suffer from elbow or hip dysplasia, although this has not been a major problem in the Tibetan Mastiff. Canine inherited demyelinative neuropathy (CIDN), a rare inherited neural disease, appeared in one genetic line in the early 1980s but it is believed that this problem has been eliminated and appeared in no other breeding lines.
History
The history of the Tibetan Mastiff - the large guardian dog of Tibet - is hidden in the mists of legend, along with the people of the high Himalayan Mountains and the plains of Central Asia. Accurate records of the genetic heritage of the dogs are non-existent.
Even so, history has reserved a special place for the Tibetan Mastiff. They are considered by many to be the basic stock from which most modern large working breeds have developed. Even though a great deal has been written about them since the mid-1880's there are few specific details available. Some Tibetan Mastiffs evolved as lighter "mountain" dog types and others as "Tsang Kyi", heavier mastiff types.
Earliest written accounts place a large dog around 1100 BC in China. Skulls of large dogs date from the stone and bronze ages. Ancestors of today's Mastiff breeds are believed to have accompanied the armies of the Assyrians, Persians, Greeks and Romans and later, traveled with Attilla the Hun and Genghis Khan as far west as Europe. During these centuries, it is believed that the Tibetan Mastiff remained isolated in the mountain valleys of the Himalayas to develop into the magnificent animal so highly prized by the people of Tibet.
Today in Tibet, Nepal, and other Himalayan regions, a pure Tibetan Mastiff is hard to find. However, when available, they are mostly used as livestock guardians well adapted to the rigors of high mountain living. Traveling with the caravans of the Tibetan sheepherders and traders, the dogs are expected to defend the herds and tents of their masters against predators such as wolves and snow leopards. Others are used as homestead guardians, chained to gates and rooftops.
Prior to the early 1800's, few Westerners were allowed into Tibet so little was known about Tibetan dogs. In accounts of visits to Tibet by early travelers, very little mention was made of the dogs they encountered. In 1800 Captain Samuel Turner, in his "An account of an Embassy to the Court of the Teshoo Lama in Tibet" mentioned his experience with huge dogs. Unfortunately he did not offer a description of the dogs.
In 1847, Lord Hardinge, Viceroy of India, sent a "large dog from Tibet" called "Siring" to Queen Victoria. England had its first dog show in 1859; and in 1873, The Kennel Club was formed with the first Stud Book containing pedigrees of 4027 dogs. In the official classification made by The Kennel Club (England), the "large dog from Tibet" was officially designated the "Tibetan Mastiff" for the first time.
Two more Tibetan Mastiffs were brought into England in 1874 by the then Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) and they were exhibited at the Alexandra Palace Show, December 1875. From then until 1928, there was a trickle of imports into England and Europe. In 1928, the Hon. Colonel and Mrs. Bailey imported four Tibetan Mastiffs which they obtained while Colonel Bailey was on duty as Political Officer in Sikkim, Nepal, and Tibet. In 1931 Mrs. Bailey formed the Tibetan Breeds Association in England and the first official standard for the breed was adopted by The Kennel Club. It was also the standard used by the Federation Cynological International (FCI) - the umbrella organization for all dog clubs in the world with the exception of The Kennel Club in England and the American Kennel Club.
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