Page 281 - Showsight April 2013

I want to make sure that the impor-
tant characteristics of the Tibetan Mas-
tiff do not get lost in this article. First
and foremost, the Tibetan Mastiff is a
guardian breed. Puppies have such natu-
ral instincts that they will bark and alert
in their whelping box when they have
only just opened their eyes. Watchful
and attentive of everything and everyone
around them, they are an ideal property
guardian. The relaxed demeanor of the
TM belies the fact that they are ever vig-
ilant to each and every change in their
territory. When there is a change, howev-
er benign, the Tibetan Mastiff will raise
their voice to alert their families. Their
voice is their trademark but can also
create havoc in their families. Tibetan
Mastiffs that live in urban settings can
pose special challenges for their owners.
Simply put, the breed can be destructive
if left unsupervised in the home and they
can be a barking nuisance if left outside
in a setting where they are stimulated to
guard. The Tibetan Mastiff is sometimes
mistakenly identified as a flock guardian.
While they are wonderful for predator
control, they are not trustworthy with
livestock or fowl.
The characteristics that first attracted
me to the Tibetan Mastiff were their
health and longevity. Typically, well
bred Tibetan Mastiffs will live 12-15
years, with females generally being
slightly longer lived. While it is true in
every breed that there are health con-
cerns, they are relatively minimal in the
Tibetan Mastiff. Of course people con-
sidering a Tibetan Mastiff will want to
interview breeders and make sure that
health checks and socialization are pri-
orities. The truth is that TMs live a good
long life as compared to many other
large breeds.
The Tibetan Mastiff offers some other
very desirable traits. Their beautiful coat
is comparatively low maintenance and
odor free. There is no evidence that they
are hypoallergenic despite some claims to
that effect. The breed loses its undercoat
usually in the spring in large manage-
able clumps and then shedding is almost
non-existent the rest of the year. Simply
wiping the TM down with a damp towel
and blowing the coat to remove dust/dirt
is usually sufficient for dogs not entered
in shows. Grooming for shows involves
bathing and brushing with trimming of
the feet only. Tibetan Mastiffs are one of
the easiest breeds to house train and leash
train. They are naturally clean and one
almost never hears of a Tibetan Mastiff
that has any issues with house breaking.
Leashes should be durable and flexi-leads
should be avoided, still Tibetan Mastiffs
love a leash walk with their family. With
proper socialization Tibetan Mastiffs do
not over react to other dogs or people
on a walk. The TM is generally tolerant
“First and foremost,
the tibetan
Mastiff is
a guardian
breed.”
“Simply put, the breed can be destructive if left
unsupervised in the home and they can be a
barking nuisance if left outside in
a setting Where they are
stiMulated to guard.”
ShowSight Magazine, April 2013 • 281