How to Buy or Adopt a Tibetan Mastiff
Things To Know To Make The Process Easier

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by Ken Alden

If you're considering whether to buy or adopt a Tibetan Mastiff as a pet there's certain things to be made aware of which will make the process easier.

How To Buy Or Adopt A Tibetan Mastiff...

• To adopt a Tibetan Mastiff: Contact a rescue specializing in this breed. An inspection will be done to ensure you can maintain this large dog.

• To buy a Tibetan Mastiff: Contact a breeder that specializes in this breed. Though costlier than adopting, you’ll be ensured a healthy dog with pure bloodlines.

Read on as we discuss how to buy or adopt a Tibetan Mastiff and which of the two is a better option. Ready? Then let's get down to business. Read More Below...

Pro-tip: Ever try lifting a Tibetan Mastiff? Their weight can hurt not only your back but their joints when they hop down from cars, sofas or even your bed. To protect your back and theirs check out the best Mastiff ramps on Amazon.com now.

How to Adopt a Tibetan Mastiff

The easiest and most effective way to adopt a Tibetan Mastiff is by consulting shelters and rescue groups in your area. Luckily, several trusted sites focus on Tibetan Mastiffs. For instance, an agency like Tibetan Mastiff Rescue focuses solely on Tibetan Mastiffs and although they're probably not in your area they can surely direct you to a local rescue.

Besides dog rescue groups, you can also try out public animal shelters and humane societies to see if they have a puppy or adult Tibetan mastiff in their ranks.

Buying a Tibetan Mastiff

If you prefer to buy a Tibetan Mastiff from a breeder, then it's best to do your due diligence. Remember, there are hundreds if not thousands of unqualified breeders who are in it for the money. 

A responsible breeder should have all the relevant documentation. Be on the lookout for the following certificates.

• A Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) certificate as proof the Tibetan Mastiff is free of eye diseases. Please check on the date of the certificate to ensure it's valid.
• An Orthopedic Foundation of America certificate to ascertain the dog has normal hips and thyroid.

Try as much as possible to buy from a trusted breeder with all the documentation. Failure to do so means you might end up buying a Tibetan puppy with underlying medical conditions.

You can also consider buying one today from a reputable breeder by using the American Kennel Club’s Mastiff Marketplace Organization of reputable breeders

Should I Buy or Adopt a Tibetan Mastiff?

The decision to buy or adopt a Tibetan Mastiff should hinge on your preferences. Buying gives you more control in that you can choose the age you want. However, be prepared to part with a considerable amount of cash if you buy a Tibetan Mastiff puppy from a responsible breeder.

Adopting a Tibetan Mastiff is an amazing opportunity to help a dog in need. The adoption option is ideal if you don't mind bringing in an adult dog home. Even better, you get to skip the training phase since you'll be adopting a grown dog. Please note that you'll need to train a puppy if you're lucky enough to find one in a shelter.

Pro-tip: Tibetan Mastiff anxiety, aggression, destructive chewing, jumping up, fearfulness, and other behaviors can be controlled with the right training program.

Here’s a great course that addresses these issues along with many other dog training basics: Check it out now!

Tips for Buying a Tibetan Mastiff From a Dog Breeder

• Meet the breeder. It's advisable to meet the Tibetan Mastiff breeder in person, allowing you to inspect the premises and take notes on how the puppy, their littermates, and their mother are treated. Ideally, the breeding area should be clean, odor-free, and spacious enough to accommodate the bred dogs' needs.
• Request to view the Tibetan Mastiff's medical history. A responsible breeder should have all the relevant documents on standby. Besides the CERF and OFA certificates, a good breeder should also inform you about underlying medical conditions. You should think twice about buying a Tibetan Mastiff pup if the breeder isn't willing to avail all documents.
• Request to meet the parents. The importance of viewing the parents of the litter cannot be overstated. Seeing the pup's parents will give you a glimpse of how your pup will develop. Check on whether the parents appear healthy and well-groomed as this will tell you more about the breeder and whether they are trustworthy. 
  

How to Prepare for a New Tibetan Mastiff

• Prepare their area well in advance. Tibetan Mastiffs are dominant and love their space. While a puppy might not need too much space at first, having their own fortress might make them acclimate to the new environment faster. The whole idea is to set up a nice space or sleeping area that your pup will call home. If you have other pets, try your best to introduce them gradually to reduce the risks of unwarranted aggression. 
  
  
• Get his essentials. As a new member of the family, your Tibetan Mastiff will need their personal supplies to settle in fully. The types of toys or supplies you buy should depend on their age. Either way, you'll need to get them a collar, pet bed, leash, feeding bowls, and a couple of toys. Again, if you have cats and other household pets, be sure to allow for a gradual introduction. Try as much as you can to separate the pets at first.
  
  
• Start training immediately. Tibetan Mastiffs are territorial and can easily harm visitors if not socialized early enough. Start training them days after they come home. If you're planning to adopt a fully-grown Mastiff, it's best to tie them on a leash when you have guests if untrained. Training must be consistent to establish yourself as the leader of the pack. But if you're not the hands-on type during training, adopt an adult instead.
  
  

Pro-tip: Tibetan Mastiff's (and their owners) love dog crates…and for good reasons. Crates keep dogs from mischief while you're away, are perfect for house training, for traveling by car, and provide the dog a place to de-stress. Check out the best Mastiff crates on Amazon.com now.

Other Things To Consider About This Breed Before You Commit...

Exercising Needs of a Tibetan Mastiff

Tibetan Mastiffs require moderate exercise. However, these large-sized dogs prefer an organized activity than playing fetch. You'll mostly find them walking outside the house, carefully patrolling their territory. Tibetan Mastiffs also make great walk buddies. It's best to time their exercise to avoid overexerting them.

Grooming Needs of a Tibetan Mastiff

These double-coated gentle giants require regular grooming to remain neat and healthy. You'll need to brush his coat with a long enough pin brush or a slicker at least once a week. If your adult Tibetan Mastiff isn't too active, then you won't need to bathe them regularly. However, a good bath once a week should suffice.

Learn More...This article of ours discusses grooming this dog in greater detail

Nutrition Needs of a Tibetan Mastiff

Although huge, Tibetan Mastiffs don't eat a lot. These giants only feed when hungry, so don't get too concerned if your newly adopted pet skips one or two meals.

Tibetan Mastiffs are known to have sensitive tummies, which means you'll need to be extra careful with what you feed them. Buying high-quality dog food is advisable. Therefore, you should steer clear of foods that contain additives and preservatives as they're likely to react with your four-legged best friend.

Is the Tibetan Mastiff Prone to Health Issues?

Generally, the Tibetan Mastiff is a healthy breed. If you buy a Tibetan pup from a trusted breeder, chances are you won't need to visit the vet often. Eye anomalies, hypothyroidism, and hip dysplasia are some of the common health conditions affecting this breed as well as other issues common to large dogs.

It's advisable to visit the vet for hip, thyroid, and elbow tests to keep your Tibetan Mastiff in tip-top condition. An ophthalmologist evaluation will also come in handy every once in a while. 

Some Friendly Closing Advice…

Before committing to bringing a Tibetan Mastiff home we highly recommend that you learn as much about this breed (or any breed your interested in) as possible to avoid buyers remorse later.

Years ago there was a popular Disney film that came out called 101 Dalmatians. This movie portrayed that breed as warm and loving and fun to be around. Soon breeders found that the demand for this dog went up quite a bit because everyone wanted one.

Then 1-2 years after this surge Dalmatians started turning up in shelters all over the place because as puppies matured, owners found out that this dog breed had nowhere near the warm temperament shown in the movie and were downright hard to get along with at times so they dumped them at shelters...very sad indeed.

We’re not saying that Tibetan Mastiffs can’t make for a great pet...they can be, we just want all future owners to know what they’re getting when they acquire one so their Mastiff doesn’t end up in a shelter as well

How To Buy Or Adopt A Tibetan Mastiff...Conclusion

Tibetan Mastiffs aren't among the most common breed, meaning finding one might take some time. Adopting a Tibetan Mastiff is a great option if you want an already trained, mature pet. 

However, if you want to start from scratch and raise a Tibetan Mastiff puppy, buying from a breeder is the best option. Disclaimer, you'll need to be extra careful when buying from breeders due to the increase in uncertified breeders who are after just the money. how to buy or adopt a tibetan mastiff

If you opt to buy, ask to view the relevant certifications. Doing so will ensure that you're aware of underlying medical conditions that might need immediate or future attention. 

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I’m Ken Alden. This website
is a labor of love from years of research and personal experiences with Mastiffs.

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