History and Origins of the Tibetan MastiffThe History and Origins of the Tibetan Mastiff is really interesting. The exact history of the Tibetan Mastiff is unclear, however, the first records of this breed take it back to approximately 1100 BC where it is believed to have been bred in China and worked in the area of Tibet within the Himalayan Mountain Range for centuries. This is how the name of the breed derived as it is a Mastiff originating from Tibet. This dog was primarily used to protect and guard its family, livestock, property and its village. The dogs remained very isolated in the Himalayas until Queen Victoria received a Tibetan Mastiff as a gift during the mid 1800s and the dogs were introduced to Great Britain where breeding continued. America saw the arrival of this breed in the 1970s and its popularity has since increased. The breed is quite rare in this day and age in its place of origin, Tibet. The American Kennel Club formally recognized the breed in 2004. It is sometimes known by the name Do-Khyi. | |