The Tibetan Mastiff or Do Khyi, which means tethered dog, was developed centuries ago in Tibet. Hence its name! This is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. However, about these giants was known before 19. Century not much known.
Middle of the 19. The first Great Danes were imported to England at the beginning of the twentieth century. came to the USA only at the end of the 1950s as a gift for the president. Even though this is a very old breed, they were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club only in 2007.
Well, the Tibetan Mastiff is huge, and many people are afraid of them. But these dogs are quite sweet to their family. There are a lot of peculiarities and a lot we can tell about these dogs, but the most important thing is that they are not for everyone.
First, such large dogs also need a lot of space and eat. Secondly, they require a lot of care.
Besides, they are quite expensive. The average price of a puppy is between 2000 and 4000 US dollars, which is between 1700 and 3500 euros. In fact, the most expensive dog in the world is a golden-haired Do Khyi puppy. This puppy was sold in China for an incredible 2 million dollars.
So, in this article we will talk more about this breed and how they are so and what they need.
Where does the Do Khyi originally come from?
Due to the isolation of its country of origin and the lack of written breeding records, the history and origin of the Tibetan Mastiff is shrouded in mystery. We know that the Tibetan Mastiff is an ancient breed that has existed in Central Asia for thousands of years. But the rest of the history of the Tibetan Mastiff is not really known.
What we know about the Tibetan Mastiff, that the Do Khyi originally comes from Tibet. As mentioned before, like so many breeds, it has little documented history dating back to before the late 19. The breed dates back to the nineteenth century, but it is believed that it has been around for many centuries.
The Tibetan Mastiff originated in Tibet
DNA evidence tells us that dogs of the Mastiff type originated about 5 years ago.000 years ago in Tibet, and the Tibetan Mastiff is undoubtedly a descendant of these dogs. The Tibetan Mastiff today looks like a lion. But, their coat used to be nowhere near as lush as today's dogs.
We also know that the Do Khyi is a significantly original dog, whose genetics have hardly been influenced by other dogs even in the past centuries.
The Tibetan Mastiff breed was first introduced to the Western world in 1847, when a Tibetan Mastiff was brought to England and entered into the Kennel Club's first studbook.
More than 100 years later, the breed finally arrived in the United States in the 1950s. The American Tibetan Mastiff Association, the national club for the breed in the United States, was founded in 1974, and the breed received full recognition by the American Kennel Club in 2006. In1979 his official breeding began on the basis of only a dozen dogs from the outskirts of Tibet.
Old Do Khyi – New Do Khyi
The ancient Do Khyi was a large, defensible dog that no wolf or snow leopard would want to mess with. Its protective fur gives it a bear or lion-like appearance. In the past, however, it was not nearly as luxuriant as today's show dogs.
The Do Khyi has been the subject of legends since ancient times. There was talk about an Indian mastiff, which was supposed to be half dog and half lion. Later it was amed that the Do Khyi was the ancestor of the Molossians and Great Danes. This is disproved in the meantime.
The real Do Khyi embodied an independent Asian line and is not genetically more closely related to the Molossians. This is confirmed by a comprehensive gene analysis from 2017. There have been more than 100 dog breeds with more than 13.000 dogs analyzed by a team of geneticists led by Heidi Parker.
The new Do Khyi, on the other hand, is a crossbreed. It has been pumped up to a real monster especially in China and the USA by crossbreeding with Mastiffs and Great Danes.
What the Tibetan Mastiff looks like – breed characteristics
The official FCI standard describes its appearance: powerful, heavy, well-built, with good bone strength. The American Kennel Clubt describes him like this:
"Noble and imposing: a large, but not a giant breed. An athletic and strong dog of serious but friendly appearance. The Tibetan Mastiff stands well on its pasterns, with strong, narrow feet that give a wary appearance. The body is slightly longer than high. The characteristics of the breed are the head and the tail. The head is broad and impressive, with a strong hind skull, the eyes deep-set and almond-shaped, slightly slanted, the muzzle broad and well-padded, giving a square appearance. Alertness is the typical expression of the breed."
Lion-like mane
What makes the Do Khyi are his lion-like mane and his massive stature. The Tibetan Mastiff has a double coat. This dog has a long stick coat that is coarse textured. Under the top coat, they have a heavy, soft, woolly and dense undercoat. The undercoat is thinner in the warmer months. The hair is hard and straight, never curly, wavy or silky. His protective fur, and especially thick fur gives him a bear-like or lion-like appearance. His coat perfectly adapted to the harsh climate of his homeland so that they are never cold.
A heavy mane covers the neck and shoulders, and the tail and pants (the thighs) have a heavy coat and feathers. Males generally have more fur than females, including a thicker mane around the neck and shoulders.
Tibetan Mastiffs have broad heads with strong hind skulls, deep-set, almond-shaped eyes and full, square muzzles. Their tails are well feathered. Curls over their backs. This surprisingly agile breed also has "cat feet," which are large and strong and may have feathers between the toes.
Color-wise, it comes in the following varieties:
– Jet black – Black with tan markings – Blue/slate gray – Blue/slate gray with tan markings – Gold in all shades from a rich golden yellow to a darker red gold
Size of the Tibetan Mastiff
It is a large dog, the minimum height of males is between 66 and 76 centimeters, while their weight is between 41 kg and 68 kilograms. On the other hand, the minimum height of bitches is 61 centimeters and they can grow up to 71 centimeters, while their weight ranges from 32 kilograms to 54 kilograms.
– Height: males 66-76 cm; females 61-71 cm – Weight: males 41-73 kg; females 32-54kg – Coat length: double coat, long, hard, dense – Coat colors: black, blue/grey, gold – Country of origin: Tibet
Tiber Great Dane traits and characteristics
There are many things we love about this breed, but they have many drawbacks as well. The Tibetan Mastiff is affectionate, gentle and patient. It is a dog that rests in itself, first of all observing everything. His centuries of close cooperation with humans have taught him to understand us very well.
It characterizes Highest alertness combined with the willingness to defend his family at any time. This dog is not afraid of anything and will do anything to protect his family. So loyal they are. But, even though all this sounds great, he also has other not so great features that make him a challenge to own.
For example, they do not do well in households with small children. Sometimes they may take the shouting and playing of children as a sign of aggression.
Clever, Loyal, Attentive
The Tibet is a smart, loyal and attentive dog. However, these dogs are also stubborn. Will not always listen to you. They are great watchdogs, always alert and distant to strangers.
Therefore, this dog is not a good choice if a lot of friends come to your home. Especially if they also have small children. The Do Khyi is also not a good choice for people with small children, as they do not tolerate maltreatment. However, they can get along with children if raised with them. When it comes to other pets, we can say that the Do Khyi is compatible with other pets.
The word "challenging" is often used to describe this breed. He is intelligent and has a strong sense of self-worth, he expects to be treated as an equal, not a pet. We always say the socialization. Good education of dogs is very important. And that is also so. But with the Do Khyi it is even more important because they are so stubborn. Early socialization throughout his life will help prevent him from becoming territorially aggressive. It is not a bad idea to enroll your dog in a nursery for puppies.
Training should begin the same day they bring their dog home. This breed is very smart and learns quickly, but its independent and stubborn nature means that strict and formal training does not give the best results.
Be patient, firm and consistent to build the strongest bond with your Tibetan Mastiff. Always look for behaviors that can reward instead of punishing him for violations.
Regular training practice and social interaction will help keep your dog happy. A bored or lonely Tibetan Mastiff is more destructive and noisy than you can imagine. The good thing about this dog breed is that the Do Khyi is highly intelligent and despite its stubbornness, with the necessary portion of loving consistency and a lot of dog sense, very trainable.
Outlet
Tibetan Mastiffs require moderate exercise. Although this breed is not usually interested in organized activities such as fetch or flyball, it likes to patrol its territory. A large, fenced yard is the ideal place for a Tibetan Mastiff.
Not known for their endurance, Tibetan Mastiffs prefer a short, brisk walk to a long, slow walk. And they tend to be most active in cooler weather. Tibetan Mastiffs are generally healthy. Resilient dogs. They are suitable for work in all climatic conditions. Nevertheless they are susceptible to certain diseases and health problems.
The most common health problems in this breed are:
Panostitis – an inflammation of the bone tie of unknown cause. It occurs in growing dogs of medium and large breeds and heals spontaneously. Hip dysplasia – a genetic malformation of the hip joints. The hip joints do not grow properly and are unnaturally deformed. Elbow dysplasia – a disease of the elbow joint during the growth phase of the dog. Symptoms range from mild lameness to very painful elbow arthritis. Dogs of larger breeds are affected. Autoimmune Hypothyroidism – It is the Hashimoto's disease of dogs. Too little selenium or zinc and too much or too little iodine in the diet, as well as an age-related atrophy can lead to this disease.
The life expectancy of the Tibetan Mastiff is between 10 and 12 years.
The health of a dog also depends on its diet. It is very important that you give your dog a balanced diet and feed only high quality food. But, in general the Do Khyi, if healthy, does not make any special demands on its diet.
Care of the Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff loses little and may or may not shed seasonally depending on the climate in which he lives. Brush him once to three times a week with a wire brush to remove dead or loose hair. But in general, regular brushing of the coat is sufficient.
Watch for tangles or matting in the mane where the coat is thickest. Bathe your Do Khyi as needed. This breed has little odor, so he usually does not need to be bathed more than once a month.
Other care needs include dental hygiene and nail care. Brush your Tibetan Mastiff's teeth at least two or three times a week to remove tartar and the accompanying bacteria. Daily is better.
Nails and ears
Cut his nails once or twice a month or as needed. If the nails hear clicking on the floor, they are too long.
Short nails keep the feet in good condition and do not get caught in the carpet and tear. If the feet need to be put in order by trimming, the best time to do it is when you cut the nails.
Check ears weekly to make sure there is no debris, redness or inflammation present. Clean the ears with a cotton ball as needed. A cleaning product recommended by your dog's breeder or your veterinarian. Wipe around the outer edge of the ear canal. Do not insert the cotton swab deeper than the first knuckle.
Start getting your Tibetan Mastiff used to being brushed and examined when he is a puppy. Touch his paws frequently – dogs are sensitive around their paws – and look into his mouth and ears.
Make grooming a positive experience full of praise and reward, and lay the groundwork for simple veterinary exams and other treatments when he is fully grown.
Conclusion – Tibet Great Dane
The Do Khyi or Tibetan Mastiff is a great dog, but belongs exclusively in a very experienced hand. These dogs are not for first time owners.
You need a consistent master who always remains fair and enjoys working with his strong character. To do justice to this intelligent dog and to train it to become the good-natured and loyal roommate it can be, experience and understanding are needed. Ideally, a unique relationship is created.
The Tibetan Mastiff is loyal and caring with its family and patient with children. Even though we would never advise you to leave a child alone with a dog. Strangers tend to see them as potential attackers -. Do not let them intimidate you. Tibetan Mastiff males can also be extremely dominant towards strange dogs.
In addition, these dogs should be kept on larger estates because they need a lot of space. They are definitely not suitable for apartments, they will only feel comfortable on a large property. Large estates should also be fenced so that the Do Khyi does not run away.
But, in itself, the Do Khyi group is not demanding, he does not need much except space and the close connection with his family. They need the human-dog relationship very much to be happy.