Is the Tibetan Mastiff right for you?

The Tibetan Mastiff has several characteristics which are unique in the dog world. This is still a primitive breed, as marked by the fact that the Tibetan Mastiff bitch has a single estrus per year, which normally occurs during the fall months. Tibetan Mastiffs mature slowly, with females reaching fill maturity between three and four years, and males between four to five years of age.

The Tibetan Mastiff keeps its double coat all year, with little shedding until spring/summer (depending on climate). Whelping bitches may "blow" their coats twice a year. Shedding normally lasts about eight weeks. Tibetan Mastiffs retain the longer guard hairs until fall when the undercoat again begins to grow. During shedding, a Tibetan Mastiff requires regular brushing.

The Tibetan Mastiff, being a large dog, does require enough room to romp and exercise properly. While they are an active dog out-of-doors, they are usually fairly quiet when in the house. Because of centuries of being bred for guarding flocks and homesteads, the Tibetan Mastiff does tend to be a "night barker," and this may be a consideration depending on where you live, and whether or not your Tibetan Mastiff will sleep outdoors or indoors at night.

This is a highly intelligent breed which has the ability to adapt to a variety of functions, but it is a breed which has been making its own decisions for thousands of years. The Tibetan Mastiff by nature is a guardian dog, and is used in livestock-predator control by some. Their natural instinctive ability makes them an excellent home protector. They are patient with children, when children and puppy are taught to be
considerate of each other.

They are truly a beautiful sight to behold in the show ring, and can be taught obedience. One should never compare them to the more easily trainable breeds, because they are intelligent and independent. They are aloof and capable of making good judgments.

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