Unleashing the ferocious power of the Tibetan Mastiff!

Part One: The Legendary Tibetan Mastiff

The literal meaning of "Tibetan Mastiff" is "the great dog of the Tibetan land," also known as "Tibetan Dog." Originally bred for herding sheep, it is thus also referred to as the "Tibetan Sheepdog." In the hearts of the Tibetan people, the Tibetan Mastiff holds an extraordinary status. There is an ageold legend that speaks of a winter when snow and ice blanketed the land, leaving people in dire need of warmth and food, and wild beasts and plagues were widespread. At this time, many living Buddhas, clad in robes and holding prayer bells, descended from heaven to save the people. The mount of these saviors was the Tibetan Mastiff. After saving the people, the living Buddhas left the Mastiffs to guard Tibet, thus, the Mastiffs are revered as messengers from heaven.

The domestication of the Tibetan Mastiff has a long history. In the Tang Dynasty, it was known as "Fan Dog," and in the Qing Dynasty, it was called "Fan Dog." As the Tibetan people originated from the Qiang people, the Mastiff is also known as the "Qiang Dog," illustrating its ancient roots. However, some believe that the Tibetan Mastiff has been domesticated since the beginning as the "Himalayan Dog," an "ancient species." This claim is questionable, as scientists have yet to confirm what might happen in the future. They have named a newly unearthed ancient creature the "Himalayan Wolf," but no such fossils have been found yet. Compared to canids, the "wolf" or African spotted hyena is vastly different and almost impossible to compare. Like ordinary domestic dogs, the Tibetan Mastiff is a domesticated wolf.

The reproductive capacity of the Tibetan Mastiff is low, and historically, their numbers have been few. However, there are also records stating that Genghis Khan once assembled an army of 30,000 Tibetan Mastiffs to conquer Europe, feeding on the dead, and even exclaiming, "After a hundred battles, the brave are like tens of thousands, and the mighty Mastiffs help me, they are gods!" These Mastiffs are believed to be the ancestors of many large dogs in Europe. This claim is still under debate. As a breed that primarily consumes meat and requires stringent feeding conditions, even during the era of low productivity, it is questionable whether Genghis Khan could have gathered so many Mastiffs.

Part Two: The Combat Power of the Tibetan Mastiff

For a long time, the work of herding sheep in Tibet was not simple. Not only did it involve managing cattle and sheep, but also dealing with wolves and other wild beasts, which has honed the character of the Tibetan Mastiff into a fearless breed. The Tibetan Mastiff is large in size, brave, and cunning, making it a formidable breed with strong combat power. There is even a saying that "one Mastiff can fight three wolves, and two snakes can challenge a tiger." But does the Tibetan Mastiff really possess such combat power?

Without a doubt, ordinary domestic dogs cannot compete with the Tibetan Mastiff, let alone humans. Some fierce Mastiffs may pretend not to see you and then pounce from behind once you pass by. However, whether the Mastiff can outdo a wolf is debatable. Perhaps it depends on the size of the Mastiff and the type of wolf it faces. There are dozens of subspecies of gray wolves, with some weighing as little as 20 kilograms. Compared to a Tibetan Mastiff weighing over 50 kilograms, they would indeed lose. However, if the sizes are the same, the advantage may not necessarily be with the Mastiff. Firstly, the Mastiff's canine teeth are shorter than those of the wolf, and its bite force is smaller. For example, a North American gray wolf of the same size is more than twice as large as a Tibetan Mastiff. The wolf populations in the QinghaiTibet Plateau are generally small, and large Tibetan Mastiffs can effectively drive away wolves, and wild wolves usually do not linger. However, when two Tibetan Mastiffs challenge a wild tiger, it becomes somewhat comical. According to a report in the "Yunnan Daily," eight Tibetan Mastiffs challenged a leopard that roamed the pastures, resulting in three deaths and five injuries. Their accomplishment was merely to drive away the leopard and cause it to sustain injuries. After all, from the perspective of combat and fighting experience, domestic dogs and large feline animals are not on the same level.

In fact, the Tibetan Mastiff is not the most combateffective breed among canines. Breeds like the Caucasian Shepherd and Dogo Argentino may be slightly stronger than the Mastiff, while breeds like the American Pit Bull Terrier may be slightly stronger than the Caucasian Shepherd.

Part Three: The Chaotic Market and Breeding Issues of Tibetan Mastiffs

The cost of raising a Tibetan Mastiff is still relatively high. Unlike ordinary domestic dogs, Mastiffs require meat to be fed, and they are not wellsuited to high temperatures. Although they can withstand temperatures as low as 40°C, they are not very adaptable in hot weather. Moreover, the lungs of a Mastiff are onethird larger than those of an ordinary domestic dog, making them better adapted to lowoxygen environments. Therefore, raising Mastiffs in the interior regions is more challenging and more prone to diseases. For Mastiffs, "purity" is the main criterion, with most Mastiffs having two yellow spots on their eyes, and their paws and chins are also yellow. Of course, there are other colors, such as pure black, apricot yellow, reddishbrown, pure white, and wolf gray.

However, in practice, the genetic stability of purebred Tibetan Mastiffs has never been scientifically proven, or rather, there is still no definitive standard to determine whether a Mastiff is purebred. In the interior regions, Mastiffs are kept as pets, and appearance has become the criterion for judging the "purity" of Mastiffs, leading to the emergence of expensive "purebred" Mastiffs. These massive numbers, even up to tens of millions, of Mastiffs are mostly bought for breeding purposes. Of course, the number that meets this standard is very small, let alone all Mastiffs being affordable and usable. This has led to a market filled with Mastiffs that are closely related and crossbred with other dogs, causing the breed to degenerate. Some even mix them with other dogs for appearance's sake... coupled with exorbitant prices, this has disrupted the market and deterred buyers.

Tip: Click "How to Raise a Tibetan Mastiff: Raising Methods" to learn more about Tibetan Mastiffs.