The Tibetan Mastiff boasts having a thick, double coat with the hair around their necks being quite a bit longer than on the rest of their body which gives these dogs their lion-like looks. Although their coats are quite heavy, it is not that hard to keep these dogs looking tidy because they are not prone to matting. A twice weekly brush would be enough to take out any dead or loose hair and keep things tidy.
Unlike many other breeds, the Tibetan Mastiff loses their coat once a year between the months of April and July when more frequent brushing would be necessary. It's at this time of the year that dogs blow their undercoat and it comes out in large lumps. However, they do not shed constantly throughout the year like other Mastiff-types and dogs.
It's important to check their ears on a regular basis and to clean them when necessary. If too much wax is allowed to build up in a dog's ears it provides the perfect environment for an infection to flare up which can be very hard to treat.
Tibetan Mastiffs need to be given at least an hour's exercise every day and they also need to be given a lot of mental stimulation for them to be truly happy, well-rounded characters. However, because they have such thick, dense coats it's important not to over-exercise them when the weather is hot because these dogs feel the heat and are prone to overheat extremely quickly. It's best to take them out first thing in the morning for a short walk and then again late in the afternoon when the sun is lower in the sky and the temperature is cooler.
Young Tibetan Mastiff puppies should not be given too much exercise because their joints and bones are still growing and too much pressure on them could result in causing a dog a few problems later on in their lives.
If you get a Tibetan Mastiff puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do, it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.
Some adolescent dogs can be a little fussy about their food, but it is important to persevere and not to spoil them which could make it harder to find a suitable diet they would eat as adult, mature dogs. It's also important to keep an eye on the protein levels in a Tibetan Mastiff's diet which should not be anything above 20 - 22%.
Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters, but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature dog twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening, making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years so it's important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.
Because they are prone to suffer from bloat, it is really important that they be fed twice a day instead of giving them just one larger meal a day. It's also a good idea to invest in a stand to place their feed bowl which makes it easier for these large dogs to eat comfortably without having to stretch their necks down low to reach their food. You should never feed a Tibetan Mastiff just before or just after they have eaten either because this puts them more a risk of suffering from bloat.
