Other attributes
Tibetan Mastiff (Tib. དོ་ཁྱི, kit. 藏獒) - a breed of dog.
History of the breed
The Tibetan Mastiff is one of the oldest working dog breeds, which was a guard dog in Tibetan monasteries, and also helped nomads in the Himalayan Mountains. Since the first mention in ancient times, this breed has always been surrounded by myths and legends. Aristotle (384-322 BC) and Marco Polo (in the famous notes about a trip to Asia in 1271), as well as many other authors, praise the natural strength and power of Tibetan mastiffs — both physical and mental. Even the barking of the Tibetan mastiff is considered a unique and highly valuable feature of the breed. The most outstanding dog handlers, such as Martin, Jaatt, Menen, Beckmann, Sieber, as well as Strebel and Bilandt, fascinated by the origin of the Tibetan mastiff and its place in Tibetan culture, intensively studied it. There is an opinion, which at the moment has no grounds, that the Tibetan mastiff is the ancestor of all breeds belonging to the Moloss group. The first known Tibetan mastiff to reach the shores of Western Europe was a dog sent in 1847 by Lord Charles Harding (who later became Viceroy of India) to Queen Victoria. Later, in the 1880s, Edward VII brought two dogs with him to England.
Appearance
The Tibetan mastiff has a thick, even coat, which allows it to be kept all year round in the open air, without even building a kennel. The weight of an adult Tibetan mastiff ranges from 60 to 80 kg. Height — 60-77 cm .
Personality
By nature, a calm, restrained dog, combining the ability to live in a family and flawlessly guard the house. In relationships with other dogs, she is relatively friendly, able to respond adequately to aggression. One of the main distinguishing features of the breed is independence in relation to the owner. Bred for protection, these dogs prefer to stay awake at night, sleeping off in the daytime.
The Tibetan mastiff is very much like a Great Dane in intelligence. Dogs of this breed are intelligent, but often stubborn and require from the owner the ability to show undoubted leadership and an excellent understanding of canine psychology. In the absence of discipline and consistent training, the dog can become unpredictable and dangerous. It is important to pay attention to the socialization of the dog, since its watchdog purpose makes it closed and suspicious of strangers. It is not recommended to get a Tibetan mastiff without having experience with dogs.
