“First and foremost, THE TIBETAN MASTIFF IS A GUARDIAN BREED.”
I want to make sure that the impor- tant characteristics of the Tibetan Mas- ti ff do not get lost in this article. First and foremost, the Tibetan Masti ff 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. Th e 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 Masti ff will raise their voice to alert their families. Th eir voice is their trademark but can also create havoc in their families. Tibetan Masti ff s 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. Th e Tibetan Masti ff is sometimes mistakenly identified as a flock guardian. While they are wonderful for predator control, they are not trustworthy with livestock or fowl. Th e characteristics that first attracted me to the Tibetan Masti ff were their health and longevity. Typically, well bred Tibetan Masti ff s 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 Masti ff . Of course people con- sidering a Tibetan Masti ff will want to interview breeders and make sure that health checks and socialization are pri- orities. Th e truth is that TMs live a good long life as compared to many other large breeds. Th e Tibetan Masti ff o ff ers some other very desirable traits. Th eir beautiful coat
is comparatively low maintenance and odor free. Th ere is no evidence that they are hypoallergenic despite some claims to that e ff ect. Th e 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 su ffi cient for dogs not entered in shows. Grooming for shows involves bathing and brushing with trimming of the feet only. Tibetan Masti ff s are one of the easiest breeds to house train and leash train. Th ey are naturally clean and one almost never hears of a Tibetan Masti ff that has any issues with house breaking. Leashes should be durable and flexi-leads should be avoided, still Tibetan Masti ff s love a leash walk with their family. With proper socialization Tibetan Masti ff s do not over react to other dogs or people on a walk. Th e TM is generally tolerant
“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.”
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