Tibetan Mastiff puppies

About the Tibetan Mastiff

The Tibetan Mastiff guarded villages, monasteries and flocks across the Himalayan plateau, working through the night and resting by day. This is a heavy, imposing dog, 61 to 66 cm tall and 31.8 to 68 kg, with a thick double coat, a mane around the neck and shoulders, and a tail curled over the back. The temperament is that of a night guardian: aloof, independent, strongly territorial, calm and affectionate with their own family, and disinclined to take instructions on trust.

Exercise is moderate and largely self directed. Patrolling and walking suit the breed better than fetch, and they are far more active in cold weather than in heat. The coat is low effort most of the year, then blows the entire undercoat once a year and needs daily raking. Night barking and roaming are real issues without secure fencing. Training should be built on respect and reward, and started very young. This is a breed for experienced owners with space, not a first dog.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Tibetan Mastiff puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed and scored for
• Hypothyroidism, detected by a blood test of thyroid hormone levels
• Entropion and ectropion, eyelid faults found on veterinary eye examination
• Canine inherited demyelinative neuropathy, detectable by DNA test on both parents
• Seizures, reported in the breed and diagnosed by ruling out other causes

Your Tibetan Mastiff puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Tibetan Mastiff.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 31.8 to 68 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 48 inch (48 x 30 x 32 in, 122 x 76 x 81 cm) for an adult of up to 68 kg, the largest size in the chart, which tops out at 49.9 kg, so measure the dog before you buy; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other large breeds

Previous: Thai Ridgeback · Next: Tibetan Spaniel

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Tibetan Mastiff breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/tibetan-mastiff/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: timquijano from Peking, People's Republic, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.