In our illustrated series presenting the development history of different dog breeds, we first deal with the oldest breed that knows no fear, the Tibetan Mastiff.
These large, extremely strong and resilient dogs were brought to Europe by our Hun king, Attila. They were bred to produce today’s molosser breeds, mastiffs, boxers, and Saint Bernards.
In ancient times, this breed functioned as guard dogs protecting cities; protective work is in their blood, as they were specifically bred for this purpose by nomads living on the slopes of the Himalayas. Due to their extraordinary strength and intelligence, they have retained their ancient characteristics even today, suitable for true guarding work.
They are very muscular and strong-bodied dogs with a double coat, similar to the chow-chow breed. They shed their thick coat in spring and autumn, so they require regular grooming.
They are special not only because of their giant size but also due to their deep bark. The breed is considered a status symbol in the most populous country, present-day China, so it is quite a rare sight on the streets.
Proper socialization from an early age is important for the breed, which, with such application, can also be a great companion as a family dog. The Tibetan Mastiff loves and protects its owners but is distrustful of strangers. The breed prefers cool, dry environments the most.
More information about the Tibetan Mastiff breed can be viewed>>.
Archival photos, drawings, and paintings faithfully illustrate the breed's changes from the mid-1700s to the late 1900s.
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- 1930 Tibetan
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- 1929 Photo of Tibetan Mastiff made in Sichuan Province
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- 1950 Tangri Tibetan Mastiff with owner
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- 1920 Tibetan Mastiff from the 1920s
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- 1940 Dsama Tibetan
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- 1895 Tibetan Mastiff named Dsamee
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- 1750 Tibetan Mastiff by Giuseppe Castiglione
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- 1895 D Samu Tibetan Mastiff, who is 61 cm and 45 kg
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- 1958 Tibetan Mastiffs
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- 1897 Tibetan Mastiff
