Tibetan Mastiffs as Livestock Guardians

ATMA does NOT recommend that the Tibetan Mastiff be used as a full-time Livestock Guardian Dog. There is little evidence that the TM has ever been used as such in Tibet (for a good description of Tibetan Nomad life and use of Do-Khyi's, we highly recommend Robert B. Ekvall's book entitled Fields on the Hoof: Nexus of Tibetan Nomadic Pastoralism, which describes his almost eight years spent with Tibetan nomads in the 1920's and 1930's), and in the modern, Western world, ATMA believes that there is too great a potential for danger with a TM raised without human interaction and socialization.

TMs are a guardian breed and without proper socialization, may become unacceptably protective of their property for modern society. ATMA recommends that people interested in using a TM as a LSG, should plan on having the TM live with them in their house, AND have access to the livestock. In addition, ATMA does NOT recommend that a TM ever be kept in an unfenced area.

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