I recently talked to a group of my Tibetan friends about Tibetan dogs. I told them that I was going to write an article on them and needed some of their expert opinions. What you are about to read is coming from my personal experience with Tibetan dogs and from 20 of my closest Tibetan friends.
Nearly every family in Tibet has a dog. From Lhasa to Amdo, Kham to Ngari most Tibetan families will have at least one Tibetan Mastiff. These are huge dogs. It is not uncommon for them to weigh between 60 and 70 kg (132 to 154 lbs) or more. The dog pictured above weighed about 40 kg (88 lbs) and was only 7 months old! A pure bred Tibetan Mastiff is not cheap. I have seen 1 year old dogs selling for over $50,000! About the cheapest you will see them is for around $1200.
Tibetan Mastiffs are used by nomads to protect their sheep, horses and yaks. Wolves prowl around Tibet trying to steal sheep. Tibetan Mastiffs are fearless and will fight with wolves in order to protect the livestock and family. These dogs also scare away thieves who come trying to steal yaks. Some nomads keep their dogs chained to a pole that is hammered into the ground, but many nomads let their dogs roam free. If you ever come up to a nomad family, you must be careful of the dog. The dog will attack anyone that it is not familair with. The dog will not stop attacking until the owner calls it off.
Tibetans love their dogs. It is basically a member of the family. Tibetan children love playing with their dog like in many other cultures. Tibetan dogs are familiar with everyone in the family. If anyone who the dog doesn't know comes to a nomad tent or to a Tibetan house, the dog will bark loudly and try to attack them. The owner only needs to say one word and the dog will back down. Tibetan dogs are very smart and obedient. If a family member leaves for a long period of time, the dog will never forget them.
Tibetan Mastiffs are usually fed beef and tsamba (roasted barley flour that is made into a dough). They also eat whatever leftovers need to be thrown out. It is not uncommon to see Tibetan dogs eating noodles or butter. Tibetan dogs have thick fur to protect from the extreme cold of Tibet. Most dogs sleep outside. Tibetans who live in houses will build a small dog house for their dog, but dogs belonging to nomads sleep on the open Plateau. Most dogs are given a name, but the names are different than the names given to people. Often the name will be a description of what the dog looks like. Many Tibetan Mastiffs are black with patches of brown around the neck and feet. We don't have a dog now, but we hope to buy one in the future.
Good work,thanks for sharing this information!!!
Posted by: Buy Viagra | July 25, 2009 at 03:52 AM
Hello, I am almost 50 years between dogs, GSD and BMD were my first dogs, now I have three TM's father, Mother and daughter. this is one of the last pure breeds.
The character, behaviour and friendship is unique, soft and gentle with pets and children and fierless against strangers, the will to please is not for the dog but for the owner.
Greetings, Wim
Posted by: Wim Tegelaar | October 16, 2008 at 11:42 PM
Hello, I am almost 50 years between dogs, GSD and BMD were my first dogs, now I have three TM's father, Mother and daughter. this is one of the last pure breeds.
The character, behaviour and friendship is unique, soft and gentle with pets and children and fierless against strangers, the will to please is not for the dog but for the owner.
Greetings, Wim
Posted by: Wim Tegelaar | October 16, 2008 at 11:41 PM
Thanks for the info and the useful comments, guys! Greetings from Sweden:
a proud TM-owner.
Posted by: Judit | April 15, 2008 at 03:15 PM
I share my life with 3 Tibetan Mastiffs and I am very interested, how they are kept in their home country. Are they bred or do find their partners themselves? Is it true that Tibetans feed them with beef? I thought that tsamba is all they get. And one last remark - I just cannot believe that they can be obedient. Loyal, intelligent and watchful - yes, but obedient?...
Barbara from Austria
Posted by: Barbara Niederreiter | October 31, 2007 at 04:01 AM
Amazing pictures and descriptions of Tibet. Really brings me back. Thank you.
Love the Mastiffs. I remember one in Hebu, about a day's walk from Ganden monastery. Honestly, my initial reaction was, "Oh my, what is that scary beast chained in the corner?" Like any dog trained to be a guard, they can be fierce.
Thanks Bindi, for finding this site.
Posted by: Matt Tyson | October 01, 2007 at 01:25 AM
The Tibetan Mastiff is a beautiful dog. Along with Yaks, they could almost be considered the "national animal". I was a little sad to see so many of them tied up on a chain virtually all of the time. Actually, it would take a real brave/foolish person to walk up an pet one of those dogs, especially since they will be sure to show you their fangs before you even get within 10 feet of them.
The Tibetans I met have lots of pride about the Tibetan Mastiff. One monk I am friends with explained to me once how these dogs are disappearing, and they are not as big as they used to be. Many of them are being bought up by foreigners and Chinese tourists. He was very sad when he explained it to me. It was one of those explanations that comes along with "there is no way you (as a foreigner) could understand how this feels."
There was only one place I went where these dogs were roaming around freely, unchained. If you see one of them come your way, just pick up a rock or pretend that you are picking up a rock...they will probably avoid you.
Posted by: Jacob | May 11, 2007 at 08:13 AM
Hi,
I am from Brazil and I am writing an article on Tibetan Spaniel. I need some information about the breed. Is it true that they were watched dogs in monastaries?
Please, help me"
Posted by: Tania Regina Leite | April 12, 2007 at 09:49 PM
i like your article and phot on the tibetan mastiff and i really enjoy it. i am very much interested in tibetan mastiff and more than years i am unable to find it pups.kindly you help me to find it's pups .please tell me some of it's breederor contact number who can help me to find it's pups .For this i will be very greatful to u
Posted by: kunal shukal | February 14, 2007 at 05:53 PM
Thanks for this, Losang. In early November I was travelling north of Aba when I was attacked and bitten by one of these fellas while he was protecting his herd. Can't be to careful in this area.
Posted by: Martin Newman | December 25, 2006 at 04:14 AM
Fascinating! Glad you mentioned about not going up and petting them. You've saved me my limbs as I'd for sure have gone all soft and ventured forth! Living in Japan, one learns not to touch the local dogs, either. Even Golden Retrievers can turn into furry Godzillas over here.
Sigh. Wish I lived in Tibet. Can't wait to visit!
Posted by: Maria | November 25, 2006 at 08:00 AM
They are magnificent dogs! I particularly like the rather longish muzzle, somewhat unusual for dogs of this size, no? I am a dog lover myself. Thank you for having this blog, and a big thank you to Maria for leading me here!
Posted by: Eternally Curious | November 23, 2006 at 10:30 PM