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The Full Tibetan Mastiff Description

Large and powerful, the Tibetan Mastiff has thick bones and a large bear-like head with a wide blunt muzzle. Marco Polo described the Tibetan mastiff as "tall as a donkey with a voice as powerful as that of a lion." The Tibetan Mastiff has a mane and some adult males have dewlaps around the neck, while the feathered tail curls around its back.
A natural family and guard dog, the Tibetan Mastiff is calm but highly protective and territorial. Tibetan Mastiffs should be trained to be mutually respectful of their owners. If another dog is to be introduced into the house, it should be of the opposite sex, non-dominant and spayed or neutered.

Indicative Breed Standard

General Appearance

Powerful, heavy, well built, with good bone. Impressive; of solemn but kindly appearance.

Characteristics

A companion, watch and guard dog, slow to mature, only reaching its best at 2-3 years in females and at least 4 years in males.

Temperament

Aloof and protective.

Head and Skull

Fairly broad, heavy and strong. Skull massive, with strongly defined occiput and stop. Proportions from occiput to stop and stop to end of nose equal, but nose may be a little shorter. Muzzle fairly broad, well filled and square, viewed from all sides. Broad nose, well pigmented, well opened nostrils. Lips well developed with moderate flews. Some wrinkling, in maturity, on head, extends from above eyes, down to corner of mouth.

Eyes

Very expressive, medium size, any shade of brown. Set well apart, oval and slightly slanting.

Ears

Medium size, triangular, pendant, carried low, dropping forward and hanging close to head. Raised when alert. Ear leathers covered with soft, short hair.

Mouth

Scissor bite – jaws strong, with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Level acceptable. Essential that dentition fits tightly, to maintain square form of muzzle.

Neck

Strong, well muscled, arched. Not too much dewlap. Shrouded by thick upstanding mane.

Forequarters

Well laid shoulders, muscular, strongly boned. Straight legs with strong, slightly sloping pasterns, and well covered all over with strong hair.

Body

Strong, with straight back, muscular, almost imperceptible croup. Chest rather deep of moderate breadth, with reasonable spring of rib, to give heart-shaped ribcage. Brisket reaching to below elbows. Body slightly longer than height at withers.

Hindquarters

Powerful, muscular, with good angulation from well bent stifle and strong low set hocks. Hindlegs, seen from behind, parallel. Removal of dewclaws (single or double) optional.

Feet

Fairly large, strong, compact. Cat feet having good feathering between toes.

Tail

Medium to long, but not reaching below hock joint. Set high on line with top of back. Curled over back to one side. Well feathered.

Gait/Movement

Powerful, free, always light and elastic. At speed will tend to single-track. When walking appears slow and very deliberate.

Coat

Males carry noticeably more than females. Quality of greater importance than quantity. Mainly fairly long, thick, with heavy undercoat in cold weather which becomes rather sparse in warmer months. Hair fine but hard, straight and stand-off. Never silky, curly or wavy. Heavy undercoat, when present, rather woolly. Neck and shoulders heavily coated, giving mane-like appearance. Tail bushy, densely coated, hindlegs well feathered on upper rear parts.

Colour

Rich black, black and tan, brown, various shades of gold, grey and blue; grey and blue and tan. Tan ranges from a very rich shade, through to a lighter colour. White star on breast permissible. Minimal white markings on feet acceptable. Tan markings appear above eyes, on chest, lower part of legs and under side of tail. Tan markings on muzzle; spectacle markings around eyes.

Size

Height: dogs: 66 cms (26 ins) minimum; bitches: 61 cms (24 ins).

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