Tibetan Mastiffs, anymore on the forum? General Chat

Anyone got one?

I am smitten...and very, very tempted to get one, after working with one recently.

I've almost convinced myself that I need a Tibetan Mastiff and a Bernese Mountain Dog to complete my family.

Yup - got one. If you're prepared to have your house and garden wrecked, and a dog that always thinks they know best, welcome to the club. What makes you want a TM and a Bernese?

Did the one you worked with lull you into a false sense of security by apprearing to be placid and easy going all the time? That's how most people see my male, but they don't see the turn of speed they can have, how high they can jump, how physically strong they are and what recalcitrant gits they can be when they get an idea in their heads.

He definitely wasn't easy! Hes in training to be a guide dog. Unfortunately I don't think it'll be successful because he is so stubborn, but I am completely in love with him. Im bringing him home for next weekend, as he doesn't like the kennels, do hopefully I'll see more of him then.

Would you recommend them? I know they are a hard work, but they seem very worth it!

We've been looking at BMDs for a whole too. We wouldn't get them at the same time, but I hope they would give each other some canine company. I work from home so they would have a full time human slave!

Thanks for replying

With the Bernese be prepared for stubborn loads of hair and sometimes slobber many don't slobber but some do. Whether they are of a slobbering nature or not they will always leave your nice clean clothes with a lovely slobber mark on them whether trying to give you a kiss or mouth you when teething.

You cannot be house proud with Bernese around. But if you want love and loyalty go for it.

I have owned a TM too, Ben, sadly we lost him to cancer just before Christmas at 8 years. I only had him for 2 years as he came to me from owners who could no longer meet his needs.

They are truly unique and magnificent dogs and as long as you don't mind a dog who acts like a cat, then they may be the breed for you. The only downside for me was not being able to trust him off lead, I have read of them that they love being with their owners, it's just that they think if they are in the same country, then they are with their owners . They are incredibly loyal despite the bogging off, that may seem a contradiction in terms, but I think you have to own one to understand. They are always watchful and miss nothing, I used to think Ben was the self appointed solo neighbourhood watch rep, he certainly let you know if anyone dared walk down his pavement, yet was very welcoming to visitors, he just needed to let you know someone was about.
They are also ( well Ben was ) quietly protective, he had a way of standing in front of me side on, if I happened to speak to any strange men. If the OH and I had an argument he would rise up from lying down in one smooth movement and stand and stare at the OH, he never growled or showed any aggression but he let it be known he was not amused .

I found him to be a very private dog, most of my friends and family just didn't get why I was so smitten, they didn't see MY Ben, the dog who would roll on his back for a kiss and cuddle when no one was looking, or the Ben who could tell me with a glance and a huffing noise, exactly what he wanted .
So if you can live with a dog who will always think they know better than you ( and quite often they do ) will always want to know whats over the next hill and will walk off in the middle of training, and require three proofs of ID a recent utility bill and a note from your Mum before they will do as you've asked, they just might be the dog for you.

Have been on my dream list for a number of years ..

Well, if he fails as a guide dog (who's idea was that?) do you think you'd be allowed to dognap him pernamently? In fact, if you whisper in his ear about a home with a willing slave and a future ladyfriend in the shape of a Bernese, he would definitely fail training on purpose.

I think they have too much of a mind of their own to be a successful guide dog. I trust my lad to stop if I fall so I can use him to hold onto to get to my feet, but no blinking way would I trust him to lead me to the bus stop or library. He'd lead me straight into the nearest cafe or butchers to do a bit of schmoozing off his adoring public. TMs really are a talking point when you're out in public and strangers find it hard to resist asking quiestions and hoping to pet a real live teddy bear.

If you know exactly what you are letting yourself in for and don't go in with rose tinted spectacles, they are more than worth the hard work.

p.s. Everything celli said is very true.

I'm so sorry that you only had 2 years with your lovely Ben. My lad is 7 years old and that time has literally flown with him. He sounded exactly like my boy in every way and was a very handsome dog from his photo. I reckon the cat they are like isn't a little pet moggy. There's something in their walk and the way they bristle their whiskers forward when they are not pleased that is distinctly tiger like. Not to mention that lion's mane and an annoying propensity to be able to jump straight up like a leopard.

They certainly cast a spell on you. Try explaining to someone, even other dog owners, the appeal of a selectively deaf, destructive, beyonde stubborn know it all of a dog that from the outside appears to be either an unresponsive lump or a wild bearliondogthing intent on testing your patience to breaking point. But if you don't 'get it', you are not the right owner for one of these noble animals anyway.

Pass on who suggested it was a good idea for him to be a guide dog!

I am very much hoping that I will get to take him home. Usually, the trainer gets first refusal, so I am hopeful that will be the case - but I know his breeder did ask to be told first if he fails, so he might go back to her.

Does anyone know if you can see them at Crufts? I was planning to go to the Working Dogs Discover Dogs bit because I love big breeds, and can get in free from work...and any chance to drool over them

I'm really sorry about Ben, too. That must have been heart-breaking. He sounds like a lovely dog!

Now who wants to share pictures with me?

Fingers crossed you get to keep him. Hopefully all his breeder wants is to be kept in the loop. Most breeders in a similar position would just be happy he has a good home to go to and unless they think he'd make a spectacular showdog would be pleased that they didn't have to take him back and find him a home themselves.

Yes, they have classes at Crufts. There's usually a good entry as they are a breed with one of the highest proportion of owners that show them. There are 45 of them entered this year, so you should get to see lots of them.

Have to run now, but here's one of my lad.

Oh my gosh he is a stunner

I can't wait for Crufts. I've spent all day looking for breeders. I can't wait to have a big fluffy stubborn dog to care for

Awww, handsome boy !

Dokhyi, your post did make me smile, most certainly a breed you either get or you don't, being a silly sentimental sod I have a song for each of my dogs, Ben's was Secret Smile by Semisonic.
He used to make me laugh so much when he would blank people as if they didn't exist, some friends got really quite offended when he wouldn't let them touch him, but others he would take to straight away...funny boy.
Unfortunatly I lost a lot of my photo's of him when my old pooter got corrupted, had some stunning ones of him too.



Playing with Spud, poor Ben had been bullied by his previous house mate, but he and Spud hit it off and became very close friends, this was the first time Ben had truly played with another dog.

Addicted to the snow, he would have stayed out all day if I'd let him

Play time !!

being a silly sod.

I miss my boy

Do be careful if you go for a puppy, they are rare(ish) but even so there are bad breeders out there. I know of one breeder local to me who's dogs have terrible health issues, yet they keep on breeding.
Have a look at the Sobarna web site, Andy was Ben's breeder, he doesn't breed any more but he's a lovely chap and would be more than happy to steer you in the right direction.
Ben's dad Khan just recently died at the age of 13 !, and his mum got to 11, I was just very unlucky with Ben.

would you class a TM as a giant breed?

Personally I wouldn't class them as giant, but vet's do, anything over 40 K and they say it's a giant breed.

Was his mum Hannah? He reminds me a lot of my boy where he's playing with Spud. Hannah was the litter sister of my boy's sire.

Aren't they incredibly flexible.


I often find him fast asleep with his legs twisted in a knot and up against the wall and wonder how he doesn't wake up with cramp. How can that be comfy?


Doing a yeti impression after a walk in freezing fog.

They're so funny, great photo's, he is a stunner

Yes, Hannah was Ben's mum !

Oh he is gorgeous. I am very jealous

I will contact the breeders you mentioned and see if they can suggest anything, I want a healthy dog! My boyfriends mum isn't keen, she's trying to convince me to get a toy poodle instead. As if

So excited to be going to Crufts next weekend, I can't wait to play with some up close. I've been off work this week and missed my trainee so much!

Hope you have a great time

Once you've spoken to a few breeders they will be able to give you an idea if a TM would suit, they're by no means an easy breed, especially as puppy's ( so I'm told ).
Ben's old owners had to get new windows put in their house because of Ben when he was young, he chewed through the wooden frames when he'd been left for an hour , and from what I've read, that's not unusual for an unsupervised pup.

Yup - destruction is to be expected. Here's my post from the thread of destruction as a little taster of what it's like having a TM puppy/young dog. http://www.dogsey.com/showthread.php?p=2347731#post2347731

He still has his moments now if he doesn't want to be ignored. They also need a huge amount of socialisation and a varied schedule of walks because if they go on the same route every day they can think that's their area to guard.