Is it true that Tibetan Mastiffs make a perfect livestock guardian?

Big Dog | July 22nd, 2010

Well, there are some other breeds for which this sentence is more true: Kuvasz, Anatolian Shepherd or the Great Pyrenees. However, the Tibetan Mastiff protects all possessions of the owner very carefully. This is the reason why a Tibetan Mastiff will the protect the livestock very well. This breed protects all properties, not necessarily the livestock. We can also rely on him as a personal body guard… we can be sure that he’ll protect us no matter what.

Tibetan Mastiff

How to avoid my Tibetan Mastiff being jealous of my new born baby?

Big Dog | June 21st, 2010

Is it normal, anyway?!

Yes, it is. Just imagine the situation from the point of view of your Mastiff. He is part of the family, often treated as “the kid”, and then, suddenly, a new creature arrives and takes all the attention of his beloved family. It is quite similar to what older children feel, when a little brother/sister arrives. One of the differences is just that the dog can’t speak English :)

Actually, if we are aware of this ‘problem’ in advance, the situation can be handled, but it needs consciousness and to be started in time, long before the baby’s arrival. Let’s see how we can prepare our Tibetan Mastiff for the new family member.

If your dog’s daily routine has to be changed with the baby’s arrival (it probably will), you should start changing the rules much earlier, giving him plenty of time to get used to the new set up. This way it isn’t going to be so sudden and shocking. If your Tibetan Mastiff hasn’t really been trained before, it’s high time to start. He should learn at least a few commands, like sit, stay, etc. This way, he’ll be easier to handle.

Many families worry about their dog endangering the health of the child, so the best thing to do is to take your pet to the vet, get him checked and get some advice. Get your Tibetan Mastiff used to the new smells, sounds in advance (blankets, lotions, toys). It’s also a good idea, that just after your baby was born, send home a blanket that the baby had been in, so your dog can experience the child’s smell in advance. It is very important to know that your  Mastiff will get a lot less attention from the mother, so when taking the baby home for the first time, the mother should greet the dog, so it is better if someone else is carrying the baby.

It is also a good idea not to leave them alone together at the first times, until your Tibetan Mastiff feels comfortable with the baby, because, for example, it is very possible that the dog won’t tolerate the child’s crying very well in the beginning. You have to teach him that this is a normal sound, and you should motivate him not to bark (with treats, for example).

And the most important rule for last, maybe it seems too obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning: try to give as much attention to your Tibetan Mastiff as you can. The point is that he has to feel that you do care about him. If you keep this in mind, most probably there will be no problem. You could also try Preparing Fido, which is an amazing collection of Baby sounds designed especially to get your dog ready for the arrival of the new Baby!

How to train your Tibetan Mastiff? Common Mistakes.

Big Dog | June 21st, 2010

The narrow line between training and abuse

Many dog owners think that their Tibetan Mastiff is the smartest in the world. There’s no problem with this, up to certain a point. This point is when the owner expects as much from the dog as if it really was the most intelligent creature the world has ever seen. They expect them to learn everything right away, whereas dogs need time to learn things, the same way as we, humans do. Just in a different way :) Well, the point is, that training requires time and patience. It can be different for all dogs, but we do have to keep this in mind and take the time and energy to train our Tibetan Mastiff.

Another common mistake (also because of the lack of patience) is to give up. Many people think that they have already tried everything but the dog doesn’t want to learn. In this case, maybe the methods are not the best, or they need more time. There are no dogs who wouldn’t be able to learn at least a few commands. Giving up is never a solution.

So, if we have the time and the patience we can avoid the next, and maybe the biggest mistake: to turn training into abuse. Probably you expect me to tell you where this line is. I can’t. This is something the owner should know. Training is all about communication. If you know your Tibetan Mastiff, if you pay attention to him, you see how he feels. Unfortunately many dog owners don’t have this ability, because they only keep pets for entertainment, while a dog is much more than that.

Going back to training, a very important rule is that your goal should be that your Tibetan Mastiff obeys to commands because he is keen to do so. NOT BECAUSE HE IS AFRAID. Many-many owners forget about this, and feel the training successful, but actually they are making their dog unhappy. How can someone live happily in fear? No way. These owners are only keeping a dog to make themselves happy, and don’t feel the responsibility they should.

So the point is, that ‘positive training’ is possible. Actually, that’s the only way.

The first difficulties most Tibetan Mastiff owners face is potty training their puppy. As with general training, the main principles remain the same: a positive, rewarding approach and a lot of patience is required. There are, however a few tips and tricks that will make the whole process faster and easier for both puppy and owner. Find out what Sharda Baker has to say on the topic, who has developed her best practices by years of trial and error.

Please comment if you have something to add.

Beautiful Do-khyi

Big Dog | May 3rd, 2010

The origins of this ancient dog are from Central Asia, as we could guess from the name.  As this breed used to have a nomad lifestyle, it needs a lot of training and exercise throughout its life. Very smart, pretty dog. Check here how to buy a Tibetan Mastiff puppy.

Great gift for Tibetan Mastiff lovers!

Big Dog | April 11th, 2010

Show off your love for your Tibetan Mastiff with this Tibetan Mastiff T-Shirt, made of 100% heavyweight cotton with authentic silk-screen and a relaxed fit with non-fading colors. This is the best gift any Tibetan Mastiff could possibly have.

Tibetan Mastiffs are very protective and territorial, brave and fearless especially when they are properly socialized. This breed is aloof and dignified, very noble, and is very gentle with their family. Tibetan Mastiffs can be good companions to children, only when they are raised with them since puppyhood. They are very wary of strangers and are highly protective. This breed may be somewhat difficult to train so you have to be very patient especially if you want to keep it as a family pet. Tibetan Mastiffs are fairly independent and has a very high tendency of being dominant over territory and over other dogs. Although Tibetan mastiffs need supervision when introduced to other animals or children, they will do well if they are raised with them. So if you want to adopt a Tibetan Mastiff, make sure that the ones you got are not yet of 1 year old.