There are two types of recognized Tibetan mastiffs that can come from the same litter known as Do-khyi and Tsang-khyi. The Tsang-khyi is heavier, taller, and has more facial wrinkles; they are used for more stationary jobs than the leaner Do-khyi.

Taking into account gender and type, Tibetan mastiffs can grow up to 30 inches tall and weigh up to 160 pounds.

The Tibetan mastiff’s signature coat comes in a variety of colors such as solid black, black and tan, various shades of red, and bluish gray. In 2014, breeders said they made white Tibetan mastiffs but they are more pale gold than truly white.

The Tibetan mastiff originated in the nomadic cultures of Tibet, China, Mongolia, Nepal, and India. They were bred as flock guardians to protect against wolves, leopards, bears, and other large beasts in the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas.

High-quality dry food is suitable for Tibetan mastiffs; however, you will be surprised how little they eat considering their size. Puppies may require more but adults only need 2-4 cups of good food a day. These mastiffs only eat when they’re hungry and it’s not uncommon for them to skip a meal all together. In fact, when mating season is active, males may not eat for a week or more and can lose 10-15% of their body weight!

Tibetan mastiffs have kept a lot of their instinctive manners such as pack behavior, endurance to harsh environments, and like most wild canids, Tibetan mastiffs breed only once a year. Their estrus cycle is late in the year so puppies are born between December and January. The average litter size is between 5-12 puppies with varying growth sizes and weights. Tibetan mastiffs have easy natural births with no recorded cases of C-sections.

Tibetan mastiffs were first documented with King George V bringing them to England in 1906 to be shown at the Crystal Palace. The breed almost died out during the war years but breeders kept the breed steady.

Through over a century of selective breeding, the Tibetan mastiff was bred as a night flock guardian; however, they can still thrive as a domestic family dog. For hundreds of years the Tibetan mastiff has been prized for keeping intruders away so leaving them out all night with neighbors is not ideal. Basic social and obedience training is recommended since this breed is strong-willed and powerful. Even if you are getting a Tibetan mastiff to be a livestock guardian, they are not for novices and you must be ready to assume the leadership position.