[2] The term mastiff was assigned by the Europeans who first came to Tibet because that name was used to refer to nearly all large dog breeds in the West.

[3] It typically retains the hardiness which would be required for it to survive in Tibet, Ladakh and other high-altitude Himalayan regions.

Since its estrus usually takes place during late autumn, most Tibetan Mastiff puppies are born between December and January.

The coat of a Tibetan Mastiff lacks the unpleasant big-dog smell that affects many large breeds.

)[5] Tibetan Mastiffs are shown under one standard in the West, but separated by the Indian breed standard into two varieties: Lion Head (smaller; exceptionally long hair from forehead to withers, creating a ruff or mane) and Tiger Head (larger; shorter hair).

The protectiveness of Tibetan Mastiffs requires alertness and planning by the owner, in order to avoid mishaps when the dog is merely reacting as a guardian.

[citation needed] Because the mode of inheritance appears to be as a simple recessive, continued inbreeding can still produce affected puppies.

Vets and owners differ on the relative merits of medicating dogs which test "low", but are completely asymptomatic.

Originally these dogs were used to protect Buddhist monasteries and monks of Tibet from animals such as bears, wolves and snow leopards.

[9][10] Meer Izzut-oollah (1872) wrote of the Tibetan Mastiff: The dogs of Tibet are twice the size of those seen in India, with large heads and hairy bodies.

[11]In the early 20th century, the Prince of Wales, the future George V, introduced a pair of Tibetan Mastiffs to the United Kingdom.

Since AKC recognition, the number of active breeders has skyrocketed, leading to over-breeding of puppies, many of which are highly inbred and of questionable quality.