The Tibetan Mastiff is a massive dog with a thick double coat, a heavy mane around the neck and a bushy tail that curls over its back. Coat colours of this breed include black, brown, black and tan and various shades of grey or gold. It can also have tan or white markings.

Tibetan Mastiffs grow to a height of about 66 cm (61 cm or more for females) and generally weigh between 60-80 kg.

Originally used to guard villages and monasteries in Tibet, these intelligent dogs have been kept as companion dogs in the western world for over a century and are good guard dogs for family homes. Tibetan Mastiffs are calm, fearless dogs that are very loyal to and protective of their own family and loving with children, but distrustful of strangers.

To get a well-behaved, properly socialised dog that knows its place in the family, the Tibetan Mastiff needs to be trained firmly and consistently by a committed owner who asserts leadership in a calm but resolute way.

As a natural guard dog, this breed does have a high tendency to bark, particularly if left outside at night. Tibetan Mastiffs thrive on routine, enjoy exercise and need to be taken on daily walks, but are not very active indoors.

The Tibetan Mastiff is a slow-maturing breed with a life expectancy of 11-14 years. They shed once a year (6-8 weeks in spring) and like cool climates. They do not typically do well in very hot and humid conditions.