Tibetan
mastiff is the most expensive dog breed in the world. This giant looking teddy
has gained immense popularity due to the record breaking price at which it is
being sold. Tibetan mastiffs may look like they are lazy when they just sit and
watch you playing, but it is not true. They are not much playful dogs and they
do love you incredibly.
History
and Origin
Tibetan
mastiff is an ancient dog breed which was developed centuries ago in Tibet.
Tibetan Mastiff was originally bred as guard dogs to guard livestock and
property. Mastiff means a large dog and this breed originated from Tibetan
Plateau and that is how it got the name Tibetan mastiff.
They are
also known as the ‘Divine Hound of the Orient’ and are one of the furriest dogs
in the world. They are independent dogs with a reserved personality. This breed
has many other names such as Bhote Kukur, Zang ao, Tzong ngou etc. People from
different regions have given them different names as per their locality.
About
Tibetan mastiff
As per AKC
grouping they are categorised in working dogs group and ranks 131st in the
popularity rankings. Tibetan mastiff may not be more popular in the AKC
rankings; however it has been popular for being the most expensive breed in the
world. Today in China owning a Tibetan mastiff is considered as a status
symbol.
The average
weight of a male Tibetan mastiff can vary between 45 to 73 kg and of a female
it can be between 34-54 kg. The minimum height of a male Tibetan mastiff is 26
inches and minimum height of a female Tibetan mastiff is 24 inches. The average
lifespan of a Tibetan mastiff is between 10 to 14 years.
Tibetan
mastiff is a massive bulky furry dog. Due to their long coat they can easily
adjust to cold weather, although they might not be able to adjust in hot
weather they need cool and dry climate. Tibetan mastiff comes in various coat
colours such as black, blue, gray, black and tan, brown, and red.
Interesting
Facts and stories
In China a
11 month old Red Tibetan mastiff puppy named ‘Big Splash’ holds the record for
being sold for $1.5 million to a Chinese businessman named Hong Dong in the
year 2014. Earlier this record was held by a Chinese lady who had spent
$500,000 on a mastiff named Yangzte.
The breeder
of the Big Splash Lu Liang had said that this dog has the blood of a lion and
it was the perfect specimen and was worth the price he had received. He had
also said that the Tibetan mastiffs with lion blood are rare in the world.
According to him this breed is of the best quality and their height can grow up
to 31 inches and their weight can be around 90 kg or even more.
The owner
however had said that he himself wanted to breed these dogs and that was the
reason he had purchased a top quality breed.
Tibetan
mastiff is all weather dogs; their coat gets adjusted to the climate easily.
During the warm weather Tibetan mastiffs blow their undercoat outer layer to
protect them from hot weather. However since their fur is extremely thick too
hot weather may not be for them. They can easily adjust to a moderate climate.
As
a Family Companion
Tibetan
mastiff can be a best companion and a family dog and guard the family. They are
incredibly affectionate with family and kids. They can also socialise with
other dogs and animals easily. They are loved by dog lovers not only for their
size but also for their barks. Tibetan mastiff barks to a great extent and is
too loud. It is their way of announcing their presence and keeping the
predators away. If you are a person that prefers calm atmosphere then Tibetan
mastiff is not the dog for you.
Tibetan
mastiff is huge in size and hence they cannot adapt to apartment and small
house living. They are extremely protective and loyal to their people. They are
muscular and have the strength to protect their families in any situation. This
large guard dog loves and cares about their families and will always be alert
towards any strangers. They do not behave friendly towards strangers and can
even attack them.
They like to
follow a particular routine for the things they do and if there are any changes
with their routine they do not like that and it makes them difficult as a pet
dog. This breed is also stubborn and will not change if they set their mind to
something. Hence it is important to make them realise that they are not the
leaders of the pack and you are the leader.
They like to
spend their time during the day in the house with their owners, which will look
like they are lazy, but they save their energy during the day so they can guard
their families at night.
This breed
might look like a teddy bear with his long fur but they stand on top of the
guard dog list. They are so powerful and strong that two mastiffs can even kill
a lion. Even though they are dangerous they are incredibly loyal towards their
families. If you look at this dog from far you will definitely get the feeling
of looking at a lion.
Grooming
Tibetan
mastiff have double and heavy coat especially on their neck and shoulders and it
gives him appearance like a lion. They shed heavily during shedding season and
require regular grooming. Even though they have long coat they are easy to
groom. Since their coat is long and thick it should be brushed at least once a
week.
They also need
occasional bath and trimming of nails and cleaning ears and keeping them dry.
Brushing their teeth is also important as a part of their basic hygiene needs.
Training
This breed
dogs are always high in energy and active, hence training them can be difficult
and thus training Tibetan mastiff should start at an early age. Tibetan mastiff
is a dominant breed and hence they need to be socialised from a young age.
Tibetan mastiff breed is naturally born leader and to have control over them
needs lot of patience and energy.
It is
important to socialise them and make them familiar with different places and
with different people to avoid their aggressive behaviours. The male dogs in
this breed are not as aggressive as the female dogs. They need to be trained
from a young age and if you are not the person who has enough time to train and
socialise them then this dog is not for you.
Health
It is
generally a healthy breed but there may be some common health issues that can
occur. Some of which are eye diseases, ectropionise, skin problems, auto immune
problems, cardiac, cataract problems, hip dysplasia, ear infections, epilepsy.
However a regular check-up from specialists can help to detect these problems
early.
Buy
a Tibetan mastiff?
The price of
a Tibetan mastiff can range from $ 1500 to $ 5000. As per Google searches
Tibetan mastiff is the world’s most expensive breed.
Fun
Facts
Dogs are the
direct descendants of wolves.
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