Tibetan Mastiff
Other names: Drog-Khyi, Tsang-khyi

The Tibetan Mastiff is an excellent watchdog. Very attached to his owners without necessarily showing it, his priority is to protect all of his family and his territory. He is unpredictable, and can become aggressive if he deems it necessary. Being as strong and independent as he is, he is not suitable for everyone. Cohabitating with children or the elderly is not advised. Primitive, robust and powerful, he stands out of the lot and requires time to get to know. He needs to be accepted for what he is for the master-dog relationship to be harmonious and respectful.
Key facts about the Tibetan Mastiff
Origins and history
The Tibetan Mastiff, also known as the Drog-Khyi, is a very ancient breed that used to work at the side of Himalayan mountain nomads, and was the Tibetan monasteries’ designated watchdog. Left practically intact over the centuries, he is a direct descendant of the ancient Tibetan Mastiff from which practically all other, currently known Mastiffs, molossians and molossoids sprang. He was once even bigger than he is now. Marco Polo described him as follows: “As big as a donkey, with a voice as powerful as that of a lion”.
Physical characteristics of the Tibetan Mastiff
Adult size
Female : Between 24 and 27 in
Male : Between 26 and 28 in
Weight
Female : Between 121 and 176 lb
Male : Between 121 and 176 lb
Coat colour
The Tibetan Mastiff’s coat can be:
- Deep black, with or without tan patching
- Slate grey, with or without tan patching
- Golden: going from intense fawn to deep red, sable
A little white mark (star-shaped) on the chest is admissible as well as subtle white patching on the paws.
Type of coat
The coat is long.
The coat is thin but coarse, straight, thick and more abundant in males than in females. In the winter, a dense and wooly undercoat helps the dog brave the cold.
The coat should neither be silky, curly nor wavy. On the neck and on the shoulder, the coat is abundant and forms a nice mane.
Eye colour
The eyes are a brown colour, of any possible shade and depending on the animal’s coat. Darker hues are more common.
Description
The Tibetan Mastiff is a potent dog, of massive bone structure. The head is large and very imposing, the muzzle typical of a Mastiff but lighter than that of the English Mastiff, for instance. The eyes are medium-sized. The ears, pendant, are medium-sized, heart-shaped, smooth, close to the cheeks and turned forward when the dog is alert. The limbs are perfectly straight and strong. The tail is imposing, set high and curled over the back- very thick and feathered: covered in long and abundant hair.
Good to know
There are not many specimens in Europe, and he is practically extinct in Tibet, mainly on account of the effort it takes to maintain such a large dog. The current, main source of breeding is actually the UK.
One particularity is that- as is the case of many primitive breeds- the females are only in heat once a year, as opposed to twice a year in the case of breeds that have been more interfered with by Man.