These are large and formidable guard dogs taking the guarding and protecting job seriously and with a lot of attentiveness. 

They were bred a long (very long) time ago (around 5000 years ago) in the Himalayas to protect the home and the livestock and they continue to do that today – protect our homes with their lives.

Tibetan Mastiff Size

This is an imposing dog. They are naturally large guard dogs, but their fur makes them look even larger. Both males and females have a “mane” around their necks which protects them from attacks and keeps them warm.

• Male Height: 26 inches and up
• Male Weight: 100 to 150 pounds
• Female height: 24 inches and up
• Female weight: 70 to 120 pounds

Because of their medium double coat, people often think they are around 200 pounds. That’s how big of a difference can fur make.

Tibetan Mastiff Color

Tibetan Mastiffs can have 10 possible coat colors. Of those ten coat colors, 8 are considered standard colors according to the American Kennel Club. The standard coat colors are:

• Black
• Brown
• Black and tan
• Brown and tan
• Blue-gray
• Blue-gray and tan
• Red gold
• Red gold sable 

The non-standard colors that can be registered are cream and cream sable. As for the markings and masks, Tibetan Mastiffs can have one type of markings: white markings.

Tibetan Mastiff Social traits

I am going to be honest with you right away – Tibetan Mastiff is not suitable for first-time dog owners. These are strong and willful dogs that will easily take over as the “alpha dog” if you let them. 

They need a firm hand to guide them and train them from an early age. Also, early socialization is the key to having a well-balanced, calm, and confident dog no matter the breed, especially with Tibetan Mastiffs.

Once properly socialized, the Tibetan Mastiff becomes an amazing family dog that is very gentle and protective with young children.

They are natural-born protectors but that doesn’t mean they are offensively aggressive. For example, Cane Corso is a dog that is likely to attack unprovoked just because a stranger is on or close to their property.

On the other hand, Tibetan Mastiff will not do that. They are stationary defensive guard dogs. They simply guard and they do not attack unprovoked.

Tibetan Mastiff Trainability

Even though Tibetan Mastiffs were not tested (and listed) in Stanley Corren’s The Intelligence Of Dogs book, that does not mean they are not “worthy” of the book or that they are not intelligent. This is a rare breed and as such not easy to test.

Those who have worked with Tibetan Mastiffs and those who have them as guard dogs or pets say the same thing: they are smart but independent dogs.

That means they will learn and adapt, but will often do as they think is the best, especially when it comes to deciding how to defend a property.

Training them to guard your home will not be a difficult task. It’s written in their DNA. However, training them to heel, stay, lay down, don’t bark, etc. might be a problem for inexperienced dog owners/trainers.

It doesn’t mean you won’t be able to do it, it will just take some more time.

Tip: They are not food-driven, so don’t bother too much with buying different treats. Also, starting early is important. If a puppy is healthy, start as early as 7 to 8 weeks. 

Tibetan Mastiff Activity needs

Tibetan Mastiffs are not an overly energetic dog breed, but they do need their daily walks and mental stimulation to keep them healthy and happy. 

If you don’t have a yard where you can run around and play with your Tibetan Mastiff, then you will need to take him on a daily walk of up to one hour. 

Adding chewing toys or a ball they can chase around is a nice way to keep them fit and happy. Because they don’t need too much exercise every day, they can be kept in an apartment, but it is not recommended.

A yard is the best option, no matter how big it is.

Tibetan Mastiff Feeding Requirements 

This is another surprising fact about Tibetan Mastiffs. They don’t need too much food. What does that mean? It means they will need2 to 3 cups of kibble daily. Of course, this is the case if it’s a high-quality dog food that is rich in proteins and low in carbohydrates.

You can also feed your dog homemade food or canned food. Although I recommend a mix of homemade and kibble; the best option is to consult a vet.

This is the best option because feeding does not simply depend on the size or breed of the dog. It depends on a dog’s health, activity, and age. 

Tibetan Mastiff Grooming Needs

This is yet another interesting fact about this ancient breed. Tibetan Mastiffs do have a double coat with medium-length hair, but they don’t require a lot of grooming and it’s certainly not complicated.

You will need a long pin brush to brush your dog once a week and a de-shedding tool during the shedding season (late spring or summer).

You can try out Ryan’s Pet Supplies long pin brush or a Bamboo hand brush.  

Tibetan Mastiff Possible Health Issues

If the breeding is regulated and done by a responsible breeder, Tibetan Mastiffs are generally healthy dogs.

They can develop bloat, a serious and acute disease that affects all large dog breeds. Other than that, some other usual health problems are:

• Eye problems (entropion and ectropion)
• Heart problems
• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia

Besides these possible health issues, if you want to own a Tibetan Mastiff as your guard dog or a family dog, you have to be careful of the climate of the place you live.

The hot and humid climate is bad for them. On the other hand, they do best in colder climates. It all comes from the fact that they were originally bred to work in a cold climate. Tibetan Mastiffs have a thick double coat suitable for colder weather.

To sum it up

Tibetan Mastiff is a choice for dog owners who’ve had some experience with large dog breeds before. They need a firm hand, but they won’t cause you too much trouble in dealing with the instinctual actions of a guard dog.

These dogs are defenders and not attackers. They bark quite often using it as a technique to chase away any possible threats. Think about that if you’re going to keep the dog in a neighborhood where a barking dog is a problem.

Overall, you can’t go wrong with choosing a Tibetan Mastiff as your guard dog. They are trainable, confident dogs of great beauty.