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Whys and Wherefores© Kathleen McDaniel and Lyse Stormont 2009
“It's what you learn after you know it all
that counts.”
Our Goals & ObjectivesWe do get email and comments from people about information contained on the site and we are occasionally asked whether or not a certain recommendation is really necessary. Some people wonder if our information is meant to “scare people off” from the breed. Some people comment that many recommendations can’t be meant for “them” because they have had dogs before and know everything there is to know about dog behavior and training. Surely some of these recommendations only apply to “others” and certainly not to “them”. First and foremost, just as every page on this site proclaims ‘For the Love of the Breed’ we LOVE the Tibetan Mastiff. There is no other breed we would rather share our lives and homes with. And because we do love the TM so much we are equally excited for you when you discover this beautiful and wonderful breed. However, we need to be realistic about the fundamental truths of the breed and these realities must be considered and acknowledged by breeder and potential owner alike. Nowhere on our site do we promote scare tactics. We are simply stating reasonable, foreseeable management, containment and training techniques that the AVERAGE DOG OWNER may employ based on the known characteristics of the Tibetan Mastiff breed. These facts are simply not in question:
Therefore, keeping just these four of many facts in mind, it is merely common sense for the AVERAGE TIBETAN MASTIFF OWNER to assume the following:
A safely fenced yard will prevent your headstrong TM from running off and getting lost, scaring someone because of size or behavior or being hit by a car. A safely fenced yard will prevent your protective TM from charging and possibly biting a stranger or delivery person. A safely fenced yard will prevent your TM from getting involved in fights with or being attacked by stray dogs. Are you a typical one or two-person working household? Are you generally gone for 4-8 hours a day? Crate training will help safeguard your furniture and belongings from your TM who typically loves to chew wood, fabric and plastic. Crate training also protects your dog or puppy from getting into something that can harm him. How about the TM that is intelligent enough to open your patio doors? On more than one occasion we have heard of TMs escaping through a window that is only slightly cracked to allow for air circulation. One dog was up three stories high! This TM was lucky to come away without a broken bone or worse but, as an owner, why subject yourself or your dog to the possibilities that such behavior can bring? A kennel, utility room or a bathroom may also suffice to serve as your dog’s crate but the key here is still SAFE CONTAINMENT. Any recommendations you find on our site are given with the express purpose of educating you about the realities of what it means to own a large, protective, headstrong breed like the Tibetan Mastiff. A Tibetan Mastiff that has had rudimentary obedience training and one that is well-socialized is less likely to become shy, aggressive or a bite risk. It is unfortunate but all of these negative aspects can be typical of non-socialized, untrained guardian breeds. Tibetan Mastiffs that are surrendered or given up often lose their homes for the following and common reasons:
• destruction of property
Our logic also holds true when it comes to pointing out the recommendations for finding an ethical breeder. MOST caring, ethical breeders will share common characteristics and MOST profit-driven, unethical breeders will do the same. We can only give you the TYPICAL characteristics to look for so that you can tell one from the other but it is up to you to question and investigate the breeder of your choice. Rewarding poor breeders with puppy sales is detrimental to the entire Tibetan Mastiff breed. Are you still wondering whether anything you find on our site is directed toward you? You can be sure that it is. We absolutely admit that there are exceptions to every rule. It may be that you are able to keep your TM without a fence, without a crate and without a moment spent on basic obedience training or proper socialization. Yet, with percentages being what they are, we strive to do our best to stack the odds in your favor and provide you with factual, common sense guidance on successfully caring for your Tibetan Mastiff. The intended goal of this site is meant to educate, inspire and entertain you about ALL aspects of this beautiful breed. Visit Our Tibetan Mastiff FAQ
Other Helpful Articles About the BreedFacts About the Tibetan MastiffTibetan Mastiff Puppy to AdultTibetan Mastiff After 6 MonthsProper Containment for the Tibetan MastiffInvisible Fencing and the Tibetan MastiffTibetan Mastiff and Growth Rates
TMBRN Brochure / Hand OutTibetan Mastiff Info Brochure in PDF format
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