The Tibetan Mastiff, also known as the Do-Khyi, was originally used as a herd and guard dog in Tibet. Today this Mastiff is used primarily as a companion dog though it is still a great guard dog.
History: The Tibetan Mastiff is believed to be the originator of most of the European mastiff breeds. It has remained unchanged for centuries. A fierce guard dog, it was used by nomadic Tibetan people. Marco Polo reported seeing this dog during his travels but it remained relatively unknown outside of Tibet until the 1970’s. At this time they were imported to the United States, Germany and Switzerland.
Appearance: Noble and impressive: a large, powerful, heavy, well built dog, well muscled, with much substance and bone, and of solemn but kindly appearance. The body is slightly longer than tall. The bear-like head is wedged-shaped with a wide, blunt muzzle. The upper lip usually covers the lower lip. The nose is large and generally black. The teeth form a scissors or level bite. The v-shaped, thick-leathered ears hang down. The eyes are very expressive, medium size, any shade of brown. The Tibetan Mastiff is double coated, with long and thick guard hair that should be coarse to the touch. The undercoat should be soft and heavy making him resistant to cold weather, however the undercoat will be sparser in warmer climates. Accepted colors are black, brown and bluish gray, with or without tan markings.


Size: Height: 25-28 inches (61-71 cm)
Weight: 140-170 pounds (64-78 kg).
Some European owners claim the dogs can weigh up to 220 pounds (99 kg), but the vast majority of these dogs have a weigh that fall in the range stated above.
Temperament: The Tibetan Mastiff is even-tempered, calm and thoughtful. Tibetan Mastiff is a very intelligent and independent dog leading them to sometimes do what they want instead of what they are told. They are very protective of their family and property and should be watched closely when meeting new people or animals. The Tibetan Mastiff is not for everyone, but is very affectionate, loving, and loyal. An intelligent breed, he can also be very stubborn and has a short attention span so proper handling is a must. This special dog has to be raised to adulthood in a careful well-balanced manner. Strong words and readiness to hit the dog will only cause it to ignore its handler even more. The objective in training this dog is to achieve a bond of mutual respect, which can only be accomplished by showing respect.
Health: The breed has a higher incidence than normal of hypothyroidism, entropion or ectropion, skin problems including allergies, missing teeth, malocclusion (overbite or underbite), cardiac problems, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), and small ear canals with a tendency for infection.
Life expectancy: About 15 or more years.
Grooming: The Tibetan Mastiff has very little dog odor, but does blow his undercoat once a year making grooming a chore. Regular brushing should be performed during this stage. Weekly brushing otherwise should be sufficient.
Puppy price: $500.00 - $200.000.00