The Tibetan Mastiff.

A rare and ancient breed credited with being the founding stock of many of today's giant breeds such as the Newfoundland and St. Bernard. It is also believed to be the foundation of many guardian breeds. First Western records of the breed are dated back to Marco Polo in 1270's. So taken was Polo with the breed that he had his own Tibetan Mastiff to accompany him on his travels. Unlike man made breeds, the Tibetan Mastiff seems largely unchanged from those accounts recorded by Marco Polo. The bitches cycle annually, unlike the majority of the modern breeds. Survival in native Tibet meant only the hardy and robust dogs lived to breed, ensuring a sound structure. The Tibetan Mastiff has strong religious and cultural significance to the Tibetans. They believe, among other things, that the melon pips over the dog's eyes are the spirit eyes of the dog, which protect the owner from evil even as the dog sleeps. Tibetans revere the breed for their devotion to their master and his family and their defence of home and property. These dogs have a thick, free coat, which, while looking very impressive, requires very little grooming. Their thick undercoat is shed each Spring, which requires grooming. The Tibetan Mastiff has no "doggy" smell. They are hypoallergenic, making it a wonderful pet for those who are allergic to dogs. The tail, carried curled over the back, is heavily plumed. In the cold weather, the dogs will lie down and curl their tail around them to cover and protect their noses.

 The TM also has a dry mouth which avoids freezing of any secretions and subsequent damage to the lips and mouth in Tibet. Tibetan Mastiffs come in a wide colour range. Blacks and black and tan are the most common colours spotted by visitors to the Tibet. The size of this breed is quite a contentious subject, with so much being said of the massive size and ferocious capability of the breed. These dogs can weigh from 70 - 100kg, although this is by no means common. The temperament of this breed is as important as any physical characteristics. Intelligence, courage, self-confidence, self-awareness, curiosity, and a sense of fun characterize the TM. Tibetan Mastiffs can live between 12 to 14 years, unusual for a large breed.
The Tibetan Mastiff should possess "power without lumbar, majesty without coarseness and agility without raciness". The breed's natural reserve with strangers heightens their majesty and dignity. In their native Tibet, these dogs are employed for different purposes. Consideration would be given to the body type of the different pups before choosing the best use for a given dog. Some dogs would be left to guard flocks of llama, yak or sheep from such formidable predators as wolves and snow leopards. The terrain was often mountainous and so the Tibetan Mastiff had to be agile and sure-footed to work in this environment. Traders, travelling through villages, would sometimes sit a dog on top of particularly valuable cargo, to further ensure its protection, or the dogs would walk with the caravan. In Tibet, villages and monasteries had a Tibetan Mastiff as protection. TM�s were sometimes kept on a short chain in doorways of homes during the day and were seen at entrances to monasteries also. For this reason, the Tibetans refer to the dogs as do-kyi, gate dogs. In Tibet it is recorded that children much smaller than the dogs were easily in control of the Tibetan Mastiffs. At night, they were released to roam, forage and protect the village. The TM is sometimes credited with a trait of night barking. While this trait is by no means universal perhaps this is the origin of the trait? They are also credited with very good night vision, which would enable them to see predators or prowlers. Many Thanks To Jim Burke of Bravura Tibetan Mastiffs for the photos and information provided.       Hand Drawn Artwork By Sharron Hulley

Breeders.

Bravura..0419 336 435.  Temzin. (03) 5599 6226. 

Tibetan Mastiff Breed Delegate:  Jim Burke.