This is a big and ancient dog breed, coming all the way from the Himalayas where they were bred to protect the animals, people, and property throughout the night (and day).

Tibetan Mastiffs are easily recognized with their huge thick coats, especially those that live in cold regions or high altitudes. We know they are great guard dogs and that they go great with children from the family when properly socialized from an early age.

But, did you know these 6 facts about them? 

1. They Don’t Eat A Lot

An adult Tibetan Mastiff can weigh more than 150 pounds (90kg). Females are usually smaller and weigh around 130 pounds (60kg). Still, that is a large dog! Combined with their fur they look formidable. 

But, they don’t have a big appetite. Actually, they might skip a meal completely! It is a normal thing you can experience. They are not big eaters and they can go with one medium meal a day with no problems.

Owners say they usually feed their adult Tibetan Mastiffs 2 to 3 cups of kibble a day. That is not a lot, considering that other big dogs, such as an adult English Mastiff or a Presa Canario need 4 cups a day.

So, yes, they are big dogs but no they don’t eat a lot! We’re guessing the reason is the way they were bred for thousands of years. They were on their own for the majority of the day, getting fed once a day with scraps from what people had to eat. 

The dogs would also occasionally hunt and look for water on their own. This is something that definitely had a huge impact on their eating habits even today. Food was scarce for people as well, but they still took care of their dogs.

2. Females In Heat Lose Weight

That’s right, when they are in heat female Tibetan Mastiffs can lose weight because they completely refuse to eat. They can skip meals for two weeks. Not entirely, but eat just a very small amount of food.

The consequence of these actions is losing weight. They could lose about 10% to 15% of their body weight. Of course, once the heat is over, they come back to their usual low appetite.

This is very important information you should know about before getting a female Tibetan Mastiff. It can be quite scary to see your dog refuse to eat normally for weeks during the heat. Of course, if you’re not sure what is happening, taking your dog to the vet is always a good thing to do.

3. Forget The Treats

As you might have guessed, training a Tibetan Mastiff with a regular positive reward system called treats will not work. They are not food-driven and will not respond to your usual training methods.

They will need interesting ways to train them which means giving them something to do. Repetitive training methods followed by a treat will either not work on them at all or will quickly prove futile. 

They thrive doing what they were bred to do – guard. So, giving them a yard to patrol is something that will come naturally to them and you won’t even need those treats to begin with.

Of course, training obedience is something else. You’ll need to find what makes your Tibetan Dog Mastiff excited and willing to learn. Maybe a toy? Or a huge stick they can carry around proudly?

4. One litter a year

There are a few reasons why Tibetan Mastiffs are one of the most expensive dogs in the world, and one of the reasons might be the fact they only have one litter a year. Females usually give birth from November to late spring. 

So, if you are looking for a puppy, not every breeder will have puppies available for adoption/buying at the moment. Most other female dogs get into heat in February/March or August/September, with puppies available for buying throughout the year. 

Be prepared to wait if you want a Tibetan Mastiff.

5. One of the most expensive dogs

If we are talking about buying a Tibetan Mastiff puppy from a breeder who takes great care of his or her dogs, the price can be very high. From lowest $2.400 to over $10.000.

In 2014 in China, a “golden” Tibetan Mastiff was sold for $1.95 million! This might be one of the most expensive dogs ever in the world.

Of course, not every Tibetan Mastiff is sold for this whopping amount of money, but they are very expensive and not very common which further fuels the price. You can see the almost $2 million dog in the picture below. 

6. They Have A Big Role In Tibetan Society 

It’s more than just a place of origin. Tibetan Mastiff dogs have a very big role in Tibetan society, mythology, and everyday lives even today. The lives of these dogs are not the most exhilarating lives we might come across but don’t forget where these dogs live. 

The Himalayas are unforgiving. It’s cold, food is not available all year round in the same quantities, and there are wild animals that can eat not just the farm animals (yaks) but people too. People and animals fight to survive. 

People of Tibet made special bonds with these dogs. The dogs help them survive and they help their dogs. Tibetan Mastiffs make special bonds with the weakest in the village, especially the children, protecting them from wildlife.

These dogs are in their stories. For example, one teaching says Buddha descended from the skies on the back of a giant Tibetan Mastiff. That is a great honor.

Tibetan people make special pink collars and put them around their dogs’ necks to celebrate the dogs but also to help protect them from wild animals. (picture below)

Susan M. Smith wrote a wonderful and heartbreaking article on Tibetan Mastiffs for the magazine Modern Molosser. These dogs are celebrated but they also live a harsh life, just like people they live side by side. We should not blindly judge these people, but make room for understanding different cultures and customs. 

Final thoughts

I hope these facts made you realize how special these dogs are. I also hope they made you double-think whether you’re ready for such a big dog! They might not eat a lot, but they are not for indoor life with an occasional walk to the park.

There will always be those people who say they are great for apartments. But, I have to doubt those people truly know what a big, guardian dog is and needs. Don’t listen to those people. 

The Tibetan Mastiff needs space and something to do. They are not for lying around and doing nothing all day long.

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