Tibetan Mastiff

If there is a breed that, by the mere evocation of its name, opens the door to the long and murky past of our canine companions, it is indeed that of the Tibetan Mastiff. It is an ancient breed that is steeped in legend since its discovery in antiquity. Aristotle made mention of the Tibetan Mastiff in his account 'History of Animals'. Marco Polo was the first European to mention the Tibetan Mastiff in his 'Description of the World.' He describes the Tibetan Mastiff with admiration, speaking of its power, strong personality, and unwavering loyalty, but he also did it the most harm: 'they have mastiff dogs as large as donkeys, which hunt fierce beasts and are themselves fierce.' He describes them in his work as enormous, powerful, fierce, and roaring instead of barking. He also writes that it is a dog 'as large as a donkey and with a voice as powerful as that of a lion,' referring to its size which was then larger, and its characteristic barking. Eminent European cynologists of the past such as Martin and Youatt, Mégnin, Beckmann, Siber, as well as Strebel and Bylandt have dealt with the Tibetan Mastiff intensively, fascinated as they were by its origins and its role in Tibetan culture. Some even considered it to be at the origin of all large mountain dogs and all mastiffs. The breed is native to the high plateaus of the Himalayas; herders use it to protect flocks of goats, yaks, and sheep from predators. Although it has evolved, possible traces of its existence go back more than three thousand years. A description was made approximately 350 years B.C. by Aristotle, then by Marco Polo around 1270. Tibetan dogs are said to have been given to Alexander the Great. It is also given as the probable ancestor of the dogs used by the Roman legions, whose characteristics were diffused throughout Europe. By this intermediary or not, some claim that it is at the origin of all mastiffs and mountain dogs. The Tibetan Mastiff or Tibetan Mastiff originates from Tibet as its name indicates; its history dates back several millennia and is closely linked to the history and culture of Tibet. Until the beginning of the 1800s, Tibet was a mystery to foreigners, with few Westerners being allowed to access its distant splendor. Similarly, little was known about the dogs of the country. For centuries, the Tibetan Mastiff remained relatively isolated, thus preserving its unique genetic heritage. They were and are initially raised by Tibetan nomads. The role of this giant dog is to protect livestock and camps of nomadic herders as well as to protect and guard the entrance to Tibetan monasteries. Tibetan Mastiffs are very often tied at the entrance of doors, hence its Tibetan name, Do-khyi, literally means 'gate dog' but could also mean 'chained dog'. Because of their essential role in preserving flocks and monasteries, and also of the beliefs of the Tibetan people in reincarnation, Tibetan Mastiffs are venerated and considered sacred by Tibetans. The first two Tibetan Mastiffs to reach the shores of the West were given to the King of England George IV by the Danish botanist Nathaniel Wallich in July 1828. Then in 1848, Lord Hardinge personally gave Queen Victoria a male Tibetan Mastiff named 'Bout,' offered by the Maharaja of Kashmir. The history of the Tibetan Mastiff is a reminder of the deep relationship between humans and dogs, as well as the importance of preserving ancestral breeds.

It can be in color: black, black and tan, blue, blue and tan, fawn, or fawn charred (= sable). You can also find a white star on the chest. The Tibetan Mastiff, or Tibetan Mastiff, is a large dog with good bone structure. It presents an imposing, serious, and grave appearance. Its proud bearing majestically combines robustness, resistance, and elegance. It has a powerful and muscular body. Its imposing and fluffy tail is beautifully rolled up on itself. Its ears, medium-sized and triangular in shape, hang discreetly along its head, and its head is surrounded by a beautiful mane of hair that looks like a lion. The Tibetan Mastiff has a semi-long, thick, and abundant coat. It is a dog that builds slowly; its growth is long and can last up to 3 years for a female, 4 for a male.