Working group · Tibet
Tibetan Mastiff
Also called Do-Khyi, Tsang-khyi.
What makes them remarkable
This Himalayan guardian was developed to protect livestock from predators, including wolves and leopards.
- Independent
- Reserved
- Intelligent
- Protective
- Strong-willed
- Size
- Giant
- Weight
- 32 to 68 kg70 to 150 lb
- Lives
- 10 to 12 years
- Energy
- Moderate
- Trains
- Low
- Barks
- High
Training
Training a Tibetan Mastiff
Working breeds. Calm structure beats force every time. These dogs shut down under pressure and thrive on predictability.
Not a Typical Dog
Start here
Tibetan Mastiffs are independent thinkers bred to make decisions without human guidance. Expect them to question every command.
Secure Fencing is Mandatory
Territorial and will patrol and protect. Six-foot fencing minimum; they can climb.
Night Barking is Genetic
Bred to bark at night to warn of predators. Training can minimise but rarely eliminate this behaviour.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Tibetan Mastiff and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, one step at a time.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred to guard, pull and rescue. Big, strong, and serious about their people and their patch.
Gets on with
- ChildrenModerate
- Other dogsLow
- StrangersVery Low
- CatsModerate
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 45-60 minutes daily. Moderate walks; more active in cooler weather.
- Grooming
- Heavy shedding once yearly ("blowing coat"). Weekly brushing normally, daily during shed.
- Drool
- Low
- Coat
- Double coat, Long, Dense undercoatBlack, Black and Tan, Blue-Grey, Brown, Red Gold
- In a flat
- Needs more space than a flat gives.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Hip Dysplasia
Moderate
Joint malformation common in large breeds
Hypothyroidism
Mild
Underactive thyroid causing weight gain and lethargy
Canine Inherited Demyelinative Neuropathy
Severe
Inherited nerve disorder affecting puppies; responsible breeders test for this
Where they come from
History
Ancient guardian breed from the Himalayan mountains, used for centuries to protect livestock from wolves, leopards, and bears. Considered one of the most ancient and primitive dog breeds still in existence.
- Big Splash · Red Tibetan Mastiff sold for $1.5 million in China in 2011, the most expensive dog ever sold
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