Tibetan Mastiff

Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff is an ancient breed of working dog, pastoral nomads of the Himalayas.

Do-khyi its Tibetan name, literally means "dog door", it was indeed the traditional guardian of the Tibetan monasteries.

History
Although the race has changed since we found possible traces of its existence dating back over three thousand years, and a description was made about 350 years BC by Aristotle and later by Marco Polo in 1270. We also know of him he has been given to Alexander the Great who made them fight wild beasts in the arena.

It is also given as probable ancestor of dogs used by the Roman legions, whose characteristics have spread across Europe. By these means or not, some say it is the source of all the dogs and mountain dogs.

However, the species of origin (not cross) has been introduced in Europe in the nineteenth century (we know the story of a gift to Queen Victoria), and only in 1978 in France.

See also Azawakh

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