Mighty Guardians of the Himalayas: Tibetan Mastiff

21 May, 2021 By : Staff Writer

The History of Tibetan Mastiff

The Tibetan mastiff is a large Tibetan dog breed. The name Tibetan mastiff is a misnomer. The term mastiff was assigned by the Europeans who first came to Tibet because that term was used for nearly all large dog breeds in the West.

The breed is so ancient, and Tibet has always been so isolated, that it’s impossible to say how or when Tibetan Mastiffs came to be. For millennia they were the mighty guardians of the Himalayas, and it’s thought that they’re the ancestors to all modern mastiffs. Evidence suggests that early travelers to Tibet were sometimes given these giants as gifts, which were used to create the mastiff breeds of the Middle East and Europe.

The Tibetan mastiff originated as a herding and guarding dog for the nomads of Tibet, and as a watchdog in Tibetan monasteries. In Tibet, the breed is traditionally kept with Lhasa Apsos, who alert them to the appearance of any stranger.

As a socialized, more domestic dog, it can thrive in a spacious, fenced yard with a canine companion, but it is generally not an appropriate dog for apartment living.