Tibetan mastiff is a large, thickly furred guarding dog noted for its intelligence and strong will. It has a sturdy body, a bushy tail, and a broad, almost bearlike head. The dog’s coarse hair can be black, brown, gold, or gray, with or without tan markings. Male Tibetan mastiffs generally weigh from 100 to 140 pounds (45 to 64 kilograms) and stand from 24 to 28 inches (61 to 71 centimeters) high at the shoulder. Females are smaller and generally have thinner coats than males.
The hardy breed originated in the cold, windswept plateau of Tibet, which has an average elevation of 16,000 feet (4,880 meters). There, people have traditionally kept the dogs tied outside tents, monastery gates, and homes. For this reason, people sometimes call the breed do-khyi, Tibetan for tied dog. Some scholars think the Tibetan mastiff is the ancestor of numerous other mastiffs and large dogs.
Tibetan mastiffs are loyal but somewhat distant companions. The dogs may be wary of strangers and can become bored easily, destroying furniture and even doors and walls to occupy themselves.
