Page 282 - Showsight April 2013

and loving with children if introduced to
them when they are puppies.
So, let’s discuss the downside of
Tibetan Mastiff ownership. This inde-
pendent breed simply does not come
when called. No amount of training
will change their fundamental inde-
pendence. TMs are too intelligent to
be left with nothing to do, so they may
become destructive or hyper vigilant on
their home property resulting in aggres-
sion towards strangers. Temperament is
a subject for a separate article all togeth-
er. Objectively the temperament of the
Tibetan Mastiff is one of the primary
reasons that they are not shown more
often. They seldom display a “show atti-
tude” and are generally indifferent to
people other than their family. While
they are usually devoted to the people
they live with, they are frequently aloof
and sometimes will not allow themselves
to be touched or handled by strang-
ers. Their guardian characteristics can
make them unreliable in the show ring
and so many fanciers choose to forego
exhibition of their dogs. It is an impor-
tant part of Tibetan Mastiff ownership
to be actively involved in socializing
puppies and to expose the youngsters to
new situations and new people.
I mentioned that understanding the
people who love the Tibetan Mastiff is a
key to understanding the breed. Having
been involved with TMs for over twen-
ty years I can say that the best owners
for this breed are: sensible, stable, level
headed, patient, consistent and inde-
pendent. Expectations for the Tibetan
Mastiff owner will have to be realistic
given the primitive guardian nature of
the breed. Those of us who love them do
so in spite of the special challenges they
present but also because they are without
parallel as canine companions and natu-
ral guardians and protectors.
BIO
Susan Och-
senbein has
owned Tibetan
Mastiffs since
1992 having
exhibited and
bred only this
breed for more
than twenty
years.
Her old dogs and young dogs share her
secluded farm with herself in Chesapeake,
Virginia. Susan is an AKC Breeder of
Merit, exhibitor, AKC judge and Inter-
national judge for the Tibetan Mastiff.
Since 2008 she has co-bred with world
renowned Saras Tibetan Mastiffs in India
and the United States. They have bred top
winning owner handled Grand Champi-
ons and International Champions.
Susan may be contacted via himala-
yatm@susieo.net.
“While they are usually devoted
to the people they live With,
they are frequently aloof and sometimes will not allow themselves to be
touched or handled by strangers.”
“It is an important part of
Tibetan Mastiff ownership to
be actively
involved in
socializing puppies
and to expose the youngsters
to new situations and new
people.”
282 • ShowSight Magazine, April 2013