How Much Does a Tibetan Mastiff Cost? Detailed Guide to Selection and Feeding

The Tibetan Mastiff, also known as the Tibetan Dog, Fan Dog, or Qiang Dog, was called the Cangni Dog in ancient times. It originated on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China and is a tall, fierce, drop-eared, short-haired domestic dog.So how much does a Tibetan Mastiff cost? How do you select one? How do you feed it?Let's keep reading!

1. How Much Does a Tibetan Mastiff Cost?

Puppies cost between 5,000-15,000 yuan, purebred Tibetan Mastiff puppies cost between 15,000-20,000 yuan, and show-grade Tibetan Mastiff puppies cost more than 20,000 yuan. Tibetan Mastiffs priced too low are generally not recommended for purchase. There is currently no standard market rate for the price of a Tibetan Mastiff, which is to say no one can say for sure roughly how much one is worth. Locally, a puppy sells for two or three thousand, four or five thousand, ten or twenty or thirty thousand, all depending on the deal. When trading with merchants from other regions, some are willing to pay seventy or eighty thousand, and some even two or three hundred thousand. It is said that in inland Tibetan Mastiff transactions, prices reach several million. In terms of bloodline, if a Tibetan Mastiff's parents have show-grade qualifications, the puppy's price increases by about 500 yuan; sex is also a factor causing price differences, for example, in Beijing a female Tibetan Mastiff costs about 300 yuan more than a male; the dog's age also affects its price, with puppies at 2-3 months costing 500 yuan less than adult dogs; coat volume and bone volume are also factors affecting price, especially when selecting a breeding dog, as coat volume and bone volume are very important reference indicators of a pet dog's quality. Often a dog with good coat volume and large bone volume costs about 500 yuan more than one with average coat and bone volume.

2. How Do You Select One?

First, when choosing a Tibetan Mastiff we must observe carefully and not rush. When observing, note the following: the coat should be glossy, the nose should be black and moist, the gums and tongue should be red, and any that look pale should be avoided. Check whether the upper and lower teeth bite together correctly. The ears and eyes are very important, and you should look carefully for any problems. The ears should move flexibly, the ear canals should be clean with no odor, and pink on the inside of the ear indicates health. The eyes should be bright and spirited. The skin should be soft and elastic, not hard, knotted, or thickened, and you should check whether the skin has fleas, mange, or other parasites or skin diseases. A dog with a skin disease or parasites will certainly be unable to hold back in the short term, scratching the affected area with its claws, and not just once but repeatedly. You should look clearly at where it scratches, whether there is reddening, and after a careful check you will discover whether the skin has problems.

Second, pay special attention to the area below the Tibetan Mastiff's tail. If there is a “yellow mark” it is a sign of recent diarrhea or dysentery, and the dog should not be purchased. Also check whether the anus is red, swollen, or ulcerated. Check the Tibetan Mastiff's paw pads. Soft and not cracked indicates a healthy dog. Observe whether the Tibetan Mastiff likes to be near people and interact with them, and do not choose a dog that is nervous, timid, or emotionally unstable. Pay attention to the Tibetan Mastiff's skeleton, for example whether the skull is deformed, whether the spine is curved, whether the jawbone has cracks, and whether the hip and knee joints are dislocated. Let the Tibetan Mastiff move, and see whether its gait and running and jumping are graceful or whether it limps. It is best, when the puppy's attention is focused, to throw a paper ball or toy a short distance in front of it, guiding it to run forward or pounce, and see whether its reaction is quick and its movement nimble, which will let you judge whether there are problems with the bones of the limbs. Tibetan Mastiffs with skeletal problems are often the result of inbreeding and heredity, and are not suitable to raise.

Third, after choosing a dog, if it has not been vaccinated, wait until your pet has adjusted well before going. Pay attention to the Tibetan Mastiff's hereditary diseases. When buying a puppy, you must observe whether the puppy's genetic makeup carries infectious diseases; otherwise, a puppy bought for a high price may pose no small danger to your family. Missing teeth, take the Dalmatian as an example: many Dalmatians are missing teeth, which is the result of inbreeding. Some puppies have extremely unstable tempers and moods and will bite people; if the previous generation of dogs has bitten people, then the next generation is also prone to this phenomenon. Eyelashes that grow “inward” will stab the puppy's eyes, and after one year of age it becomes more serious, in severe cases causing a white film over the eyeball and degeneration. This is more common in Shar-Peis and Chow Chows.

3. How Do You Feed It?

First, if you want to feed a Tibetan Mastiff treats, it is best to do so when training it. Feeding treats at other times easily leads the dog to develop the bad habit of being picky, not eating properly, and thereby affecting the Tibetan Mastiff's health. If you want to change the Tibetan Mastiff's food, do so gradually and do not switch suddenly, otherwise the dog may easily vomit and have diarrhea.

Second, a Tibetan Mastiff must develop good eating habits from a young age in order to grow up healthy. From weaning to 5 months of age, the Tibetan Mastiff should eat 3~5 meals a day; from 5 months of age until the dog is fully grown, it should eat 3 meals a day; after the dog is fully grown, 1~2 meals a day is enough. The dog's good habits are formed during this period.

Third, feed the Tibetan Mastiff at fixed times and in fixed amounts, always in the same place, and after the family has finished eating, so the dog can learn the hierarchy. The portion table on the food packaging gives the optimal feeding amount, but it should be adjusted according to your dog's age, so as to ensure the weight does not increase too quickly; early obesity will cause skeletal deformities in puppyhood and lead to obesity later on.

Fourth, everyone should feed the Tibetan Mastiff at fixed times. The Tibetan Mastiff's health is of special importance to us, and we should help the dog develop good living habits so that it does not overeat when eating. Also let the dog know the number of feedings per day and do not change them arbitrarily, as this will leave the Tibetan Mastiff at a loss. This is the meaning of raising a Tibetan Mastiff well.