DESCRIPTION OF THE TM

T H E T I B E T A N M A S TI F F - APPEARANCE AND TEMPERAMENT  

The Tibetan Mastiff is a powerful, well-built dog with good bone and a solemn but kindly appearance. The coat is heavy with a thick ruff around neck and shoulders and a thick well-feathered tail, but no professional grooming is needed to keep it in order. It is shed once a year, usually in late spring or early summer, and the undercoat comes out in large tufts of wool.

The Tibetan Mastiff is a companion dog as well as being a good watch and guard. It should deter strangers with its impressive presence and aloof air; it is protective of its own people and property. It likes being a member of the family but also enjoys the outdoor life. It must be sound and active and it should be totally reliable in temperament. When young it is often high spirited and headstrong and it needs sympathetic but firm handling. There is a big difference between a bouncing puppy and a determined adolescent weighing in at 9 stone, and ground rules need to be established as soon as the puppy reaches its new home.

The Tibetan Mastiff is usually calm and unobtrusive in the house except at the approach of strangers. It is an excellent family dog being loyal and adaptable, and it is gentle, protective and patient with small children (provided they return the compliment). It is intelligent, able to think for itself, to assess the situation and to take appropriate action. It can be subject to bouts of uncontrollable barking, the reason for which is obvious to the dog but not always to the owner. 

Colours: Rich black; black and tan; various shades of gold; and various shades of grey. All the said colours except gold, can also appear with tan markings above the eyes, on the front of the chest, lower parts and front and back legs and underside of tail. 

Statistics: Minimum height at shoulder: Dogs: 26 ins.; 65 cms. Bitches 24 ins.; 61 cms.

Weight when mature: Dogs: 110-130 lb.; 60 kgs. Bitches: 75-100 lb.; 35 kgs.

Life Span: about 10 to 14 years. 

Food: The most sensible course is to follow the advice of the breeder. Basically puppies need to be fed little and often, while adult dogs should be fed twice a day avoiding exercise immediately before and after meals. 

Exercise: Puppies require a lot of sleep and very little exercise. Please remember that a Tibetan Mastiff is still a puppy at 6 months even though it may appear large in comparison with many other dogs. It should not be taken on long walks nor allowed excessive free exercise until it is at least 12 months old. Too much exercise at too early an age can lead to structural damage and the possibility of problems in years to come.

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