Tibetan Mastiff Puppies Blog

When seeing a Tibetan Mastiff pounce into action when defending its flock, one may conclude that the dog has developed a bond between the livestock under its watch. Sound very heroic. But the truth is that the Tibetan Mastiff guards the livestock because they belong to their owner. There isn’t much bonding that goes around.

The livestock would also need to be in a fenced area for the instinct of this breed is to be more of a property guardian and less of a livestock one.  These dogs would rather spend their time laying down on the porch or patio and even the couch as it would simply respond to any intrusion or threats as it comes in the restricted area. So you expect these dogs to be ever so watchful and staying on guard as the livestock sleeps, then guess again. But if its property you need guarded, then these dogs are perfect.

The Tibetan Mastiff is an ancient breed native to Tibet. They were bred with the primal instinct to survive the freezing cold in the mountains. Being humungous in size, it would take a whole lot of food to sustain their nutritional needs. The Tibetan Mastiff goes by several names. One name is the “Do-khyi” which translates to “tied dog”. This refers to the breed that is placed on guard duty to protect the home from intruders.

They are not necessarily “tied” or leashed but are let loose to roam the grounds in the evenings. In Nepali they are called “Bhote Kukur” and in Madarin, “Zang ‘Ao”. Both are direct translations of Tibetan Mastiff. Known as the “Bankhar” in Mongolia, they are prized for their ferocious guard dog abilities. There is also the name “Tsang-khyi” meaning that the particular breed is from Tsang. This breed is considered to be the true Tibetan Mastiff.

This dog is not for everyone. You may appreciate its teddy-bear appearance, but that holds little ground for you being the best possible owner of this independent breed. Yes, that’s right. Although a Tibetan Mastiff is considered to be calm and thoughtful, he is reserved towards strangers, and can be both stubborn and of its own mind. It is also domi?nant and self-confident. It comes naturally to a Mastiff to guard its family and the property. Therefore it is not surprising that its dignified nature holds a very loyal character for its family. When it comes to social behavior, the Tibetan Mastiff is quite good with children but he will be very aloof with strangers. If it has gained confidence in contact with other animals when young, it will accept them. Contact with other dogs is also usually hassle-free.

The latent aggressiveness has been taken out of this breed in the Western world. The few individuals that remain in Tibet are ferocious and aggressive, unpredictable in their behavior, and very difficult to train. But the dogs bred by the English are obedient and attached to their masters. Like all flock guardian breeds, the Tibetan Mastiff is also intelligent and stubborn to a fault. Therefore, obedience classes are recommended since this is a strong-willed, powerful breed with great size potential. Socialization is critical with this breed because of their reserved nature with strangers as well as their guarding instincts.