Tibetan Mastiffs are known for being great guard dogs with their big build, protective intuition, and agility. The word that best describes this breed would probably be powerful.
Hence, keeping your Tibetan Mastiff in good shape is important for it to be the strong canine guardian it is built to be. You can start by identifying if it has the correct weight according to its age.
Tibetan Mastiff is a large breed weighing 90-150 pounds for males and 70-120 pounds for females. Despite its size, the breed is slow maturing which means growth is not as rapid as breeds of the same size. It may take up to six years for your Tibetan Mastiff to be fully grown.
Want to know more about the Tibetan Mastiff growth curve and average weight? Read on as I share with you all my knowledge about this breed.
Tibetan Mastiff Typical Growth Curve (Weight vs. Age)
During its first weeks, your Tibetan Mastiff pup will grow two to eight ounces a day. Eventually, that growth will turn into one to three pounds a week.
This may differ from one pup to another because of several factors like how big their litter is and the milk intake from their breastfeeding mother.
Tibetan Mastiff puppies typically have a faster growth rate in terms of height and length in their early months. Only when they reach their adolescent age of over one year does their weight start to follow.
You will begin to see muscle mass and their lean parts being filled in. Some parts of their body may start growing before the others so don’t be surprised when your Tibetan Mastiff looks unproportionate.
Below are the growth curve and average weight chart of a female and male Tibetan Mastiff:
One thing you should remember is that the Tibetan Mastiff breed matures slowly. Don’t be in a rush or get too frustrated if it still hasn’t reached its ideal full-grown size which is 90-150 pounds for males and 70-120 pounds for females.
RECOMMENDED: Male vs. Female Tibetan Mastiff: Which Is Better?
At What Age Do Tibetan Mastiffs Stop Growing?
The Tibetan Mastiff is considered a large dog breed similar to Great Danes and Mastiffs. As such, they usually take up to three years for them to reach their full-grown weight.
When it comes to female Tibetan Mastiffs, they reach their ideal size earlier compared to males who grow relatively slower. Females may be fully grown by the age of three to four years, while males, on the other hand, may take four to six years.
Adulthood in the Tibetan Mastiff usually comes at the age of two years, though they still do not stop growing by then. You may even see minimal growth even when they reach their full size!
To have an idea how big a Tibetan Mastiff may get, here is a video of a couple in Colorado who owns 11 Tibetan Mastiffs along with 14 Alpacas:
ALL ABOUT LIVING WITH TIBETAN MASTIFFS<a href="https://youtu.be/Oie6H8YHHi0" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FOie6H8YHHi0%2F0.jpg" alt="ALL ABOUT LIVING WITH TIBETAN MASTIFFS" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
Length and Height of a Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff is called powerful for a reason. It has an athletic build due to its well-developed and muscled body.
Besides their weight, height also differs between male and female Tibetan Mastiffs. Males are taller standing at least 26 inches at the shoulder. In comparison, females stand at least 24 inches at the shoulder.
The overall body length of this breed is estimated to be 35.5 to 44.5 inches with a standing height of 28.5 to 35.5 inches.
Obese and Overgrown Tibetan Mastiffs
The Tibetan Mastiff is considered a well-loved family companion in different countries around the world including America. Though still a guard dog, the Tibetan Mastiff had to undergo some lifestyle changes.
It is a given that your Tibetan Mastiff has to get the proper nutrition and exercise it needs to stay healthy and live longer. This generally healthy breed has a lifespan of 10 to 12 years.
Giving it table food and a diet that is not healthy may lead to an obese and overgrown Tibetan Mastiff, especially without proper exercise.
Tibetan Mastiffs that are beyond the ideal weight and worse, obese, are prone to many diseases which could cut short their lifespan.
Possible health risks of an obese Tibetan Mastiff are the following:
Diabetes: Diabetes in canines is very much similar to diabetes in humans. With diabetes, your dog’s body cannot produce enough insulin to regulate glucose. This disease is a problem obese dogs may face regardless of breed.
Hypertension: Another common health problem brought by obesity, hypertension happens when your dog has high blood pressure. When left untreated, this can cause heart disease, stroke, and a myriad of other health issues.
Hip Dysplasia: Usually affects large dog breeds, hip dysplasia is a result of the thigh bone not fitting the hip joint. Extra weight aggravates hip dysplasia and may cause more pain in your dog’s limbs.
Elbow Dysplasia: Another orthopedic problem to look out for in obese Tibetan Mastiffs is elbow dysplasia which affects your dog’s elbow joint.
Think your Tibetan Mastiff is overweight? Go bring it to a veterinarian to have it checked before complications arise.
How to Tell If Your Tibetan Mastiff Is Overweight or Underweight?
Keeping track of your Tibetan Mastiff’s weight is a good practice to ensure that you have a healthy dog. On top of that, you should also take note of tell-tale signs which may indicate if your dog is underweight, overweight, or just the right size. Here they are:
Underweight Tibetan Mastiff
Undernutrition in dogs is as alarming as obesity. Underweight dogs are definitely unhealthy and should be given the right diet for them to gain the needed pounds.
Being underweight affects not only your dog’s physical appearance but its overall health and well-being.
What are the indicators of an underweight Tibetan Mastiff? Here are some you should note:
Prominent Waist Indentation: When looking down on your dog, check how prominent its waist is. It is normal for dogs to have an hourglass shape, but when the waist is exaggerated and very obvious, you should take it as a sign of undernutrition.
Visible Ribs: This may not be an obvious sign because of the thick coat that Tibetan Mastiffs carry. Beneath all the hair, if you can see and easily feel your dog’s ribs, then it is most likely underweight. You should be able to feel a layer of fat that separates the coat from the rib cage.
Less Food Intake: Is your dog unable to finish the food you prepared? Less appetite is a sign of undernutrition.
Lethargy: Dogs with no energy do nothing all day and would rather sleep and stay put. Lethargy is one indicator that your dog is underweight.
The mentioned signs are checked through sight and touch. If you are still unsure about your dog’s weight, the best action to take is to measure its weight and see if it falls under the ideal range.
Ideal Weight Tibetan Mastiff
A healthy Tibetan Mastiff is one whose weight matches the average range for its age. You can also tell if your dog falls under the ideal size through several indicators.
Below are signs of a healthy Tibetan Mastiff with an ideal weight:
Enough Waist Indentation: As mentioned earlier, a dog with an hourglass figure is okay as long as it is not too exaggerated. You should be able to see your Tibetan Mastiff’s waist.
Fat Between the Fur and Ribs: By feeling your dog’s ribs, you can tell it is healthy when there is enough fat between its fur and ribs.
Good Energy: Tibetan Mastiffs aren’t playful dogs and would rather stay put. However, they have short bursts of energy and enjoy work-related exercise such as patrolling their territory as guard dogs do. If your Tibetan Mastiff is always up for a good stroll and goes on defense mode when needed, then it is healthy.
Overweight Tibetan Mastiff
Chubby dogs are very cute and the overweight Tibetan Mastiff is no exception. An overweight Tibetan Mastiff looks like a giant teddy bear that you would love to cuddle. No matter how cute it is, though, you should remember that extra weight is a red flag.
Go over these indicators of an overweight Tibetan Mastiff and if these are present in your dog, know that it is the right time for your intervention:
No Body Shape: Overweight dogs have an abundance of fat in their body. One look at your dog and you can already tell it is overweight when there is no trace of body shape, especially on its waist.
Inability to Feel the Ribs: Visible ribs are a sign of undernutrition, while the opposite is the sign of extra weight. You are unable to feel the ribs of an overweight dog because its fatty layer is thicker than usual.
Overeating: Every fur parent wants to see their dog enjoying and finishing their meal. However, eating excessively is a cause of alarm.
Easily Tired: As a guardian breed, Tibetan Mastiffs like strolling around their territory especially in the morning and at night. If a short stroll drains the energy of your dog and it needs more sleep than usual, it may be overweight.
Difficulty Breathing: Extra weight may lead to breathing problems. Overweight dogs tend to pant more and have to catch their breath after short physical activities.
Older dogs are more prone to being overweight than pups so you shouldn’t be complacent when your dog reaches adulthood. When speaking about extra weight, also note that not all overweight Tibetan Mastiffs are obese.
Overweight Tibetan Mastiff: How to Help Your Tibetan Mastiff Lose Weight?
Dogs are just like children. The task of keeping them healthy and ensuring they are in the best of health is in our hands as fur parents.
When our dogs are over the ideal weight, it is our responsibility to help them lose the excess pounds and keep them in shape.
As a Tibetan Mastiff parent, there are a lot of things you can do to help your dog lose weight. If you are constant and consistent with these practices, your Tibetan Mastiff will be able to hit its ideal weight in no time!
Provide a healthy diet
Your dog’s diet is one of the major factors that contribute to its excess weight. A healthy diet keeps the extra pounds away.
Feed your Tibetan Mastiff high-quality dog food, preferably one that is approved by your veterinarian. The nutrients in the food must be right for your dog’s age. Puppies have different nutrition requirements compared to adults and seniors.
Quality should always be considered when choosing dog food because it can make a huge difference. Don’t just settle with what is readily available. Consider the choices you have at hand and get recommendations from fellow Tibetan Mastiff owners.
Control food intake
Aside from managing the quality of food, also manage the quantity or amount your dog eats.
Tibetan Mastiffs may be big but adults only need two to four cups of good dog food daily. This may come as a surprise because they eat less than what you would expect from a big breed.
Not all dogs are the same so also consider your dog’s age, level of physical activity, and metabolism when deciding the amount of food you will give. Don’t feed your less active dog the same amount of food you are giving your active dog, and vice versa.
Note that this breed only eats when hungry. Instead of feeding them all at once, split it into two meals. Giving their meal of the day all at once and leaving it may force them to consume it even when they are not hungry, thus, leading to being overweight.
If you are planning to decrease their food intake, do it gradually so as not to upset your dog’s stomach. Sudden changes in their diet may lead to more health problems.
Prepare home-cooked meals
Dogs can eat home-cooked meals, too! In fact, home-cooked meals are better than some dog food brands in the market that have little to no nutrition.
When preparing cooked meals for your Tibetan Mastiff, bear in mind the human food they may or may not consume.
Home-cooked meals do not mean table food or you sharing your dinner with your Tibetan Mastiff. These meals are prepared especially for them with ingredients that are good for them such as those rich in protein.
More physical activities
Daily moderate exercise is needed to keep Tibetan Mastiffs in shape. However, this breed isn’t a fan of games such as fetch or playing with flying discs. They are highly intelligent but may get stubborn at times.
Instead of playtime, do physical activities that are related to their instincts as guardian dogs. Take your dog on walks but also change the route from time to time to avoid them being too territorial.
Don’t keep them cooped up indoors and let them roam free in your backyard from time to time. Just be sure to put up a high fence because Tibetan Mastiffs sometimes love to escape.
Underweight Tibetan Mastiff: How to Help Your Tibetan Mastiff Gain Weight?
Do you think your Tibetan Mastiff is underweight? Prepare to do intervention through a lifestyle change.
A dog below the ideal weight is a sign that there is something wrong with its lifestyle. Doing some changes can yield good results and add more pounds to your Tibetan Mastiff.
Serve good and nutritious dog food
As I mentioned earlier, the quality of food is important. If your dog has been eating much but still looks undernourished, there must be a problem with what it is eating.
A lot of dog food offerings in the market are empty. They look packed and chunky but actually have fillers that offer poor nutrition to dogs. This probably explains why your dog still looks unhealthy even when it is consuming much dog food already.
It pays to check the label and see the nutritional facts of the dog food you are considering. Your Tibetan Mastiff needs protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Recommendations from veterinarians and fellow breed owners can help you trim down your choices.
Give more meals
The recommended meal plan for Tibetan Mastiffs is to serve their food twice a day. However, you may need to add more if you have an underweight dog.
Try adding more frequent but smaller meals, still taking into account the recommended diet of two to four cups a day for the breed. Avoid changing your dog’s diet in one day. Your canine’s tummy needs time to adjust so apply changes gradually.
Make home-cooked meals
While there are highly nutritious dog food products in the market, giving your underweight Tibetan Mastiff home-cooked meals from time to time can also do wonders for its health. There are nutrients that only natural food can provide.
Make a mix of meat, vegetables, and other natural ingredients for your Tibetan Mastiff’s meal. If your Tibetan Mastiff also enjoys processed dog food, you can alternate between the two kinds of diet.
Check for dental problems
Did you know that dental problems also contribute to undernutrition in dogs?
Dogs that are suffering from teeth and mouth issues may find it difficult to eat, thus, the loss of appetite. This may be one reason why your Tibetan Mastiff isn’t eating enough.
Bring your dog to a vet and see if there are dental problems. Detecting and addressing these problems early will help your dog in its weight-gain journey.
Examine for worms
Parasites are nasty because they get the nutrition meant for your dogs. Dogs of all breeds may get worms, especially pups. The usual parasites are hookworms and roundworms.
Be sure that your Tibetan Mastiff gets the deworming it needs. It is a must for puppies to get dewormed for better health.
Tips for Weighing and Measuring Your Tibetan Mastiff
The best way to check if your dog is the right size is to check its weight. You can go to your vet to have your dog’s weight measured.
If you want to do this at home, you may do so. However, it may be a struggle especially with how big the Tibetan Mastiff may get.
The usual practice in weighing dogs is either putting them on a bathroom scale on their own or carrying them. This is a good practice in monitoring your dog’s weight. Such weighing practice, however, is best for small dogs.
If your Tibetan Mastiff is a pup, you can try this procedure. The first step is to measure your weight. Afterward, carry your pup and measure your weight together.
When you already have the two figures, subtract your weight from the second weight and that will be the estimated weight of your pup.
Full-grown Tibetan Mastiffs may grow as heavy as a hundred pounds and more. Your dog’s size may make it hard to weigh it through a bathroom scale.
For medium to large breeds, including adult Tibetan Mastiffs, a floor scale is recommended. You can get this from your vet or local dog supplies store.
If you plan to weigh your Tibetan Mastiff pup at home, you may check out this video:
How To Weigh Your Dog At Home: PDSA Petwise Pet Health Hub<a href="https://youtu.be/0Hh24Tuc26A" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F0Hh24Tuc26A%2F0.jpg" alt="How To Weigh Your Dog At Home: PDSA Petwise Pet Health Hub" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
In terms of your dog’s measurement, there are three core areas of their body that you should focus on. Here they are:
Topline or Back: Measure along your Tibetan Mastiff’s top spine to the base of their tail.
Chest Girth: Measure around your dog’s chest (usually on the largest area of their ribcage) when standing up.
Neck Girth: Measure from your dog’s withers to the area above their chest.
Check out the video below to see how to get the exact measurement of your Tibetan Mastiff:
How To Measure The Size Of Your Dog<a href="https://youtu.be/zcnWsiUthks" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FzcnWsiUthks%2F0.jpg" alt="How To Measure The Size Of Your Dog" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
Commonly Asked Questions
Can You Weigh Your Tibetan Mastiff on a Human Scale?
Tibetan Mastiffs are huge. Weighing them using a human scale may be a challenge because of their size.
Bathroom scales are best for weighing small dogs only. Dog owners who want to weigh their medium or large breed dogs may opt for a floor scale that can accommodate the size of their dogs.
How to Determine Your Tibetan Mastiff’s Ideal Weight?
No dogs are completely alike. Different factors have a say in your dog’s weight and growth. The growth chart I indicated above is a good reference material in monitoring your Tibetan Mastiff’s age as it grows.
If you have a litter of Tibetan Mastiffs, one fact you should know is that the biggest pup may not turn out to be the biggest when they are full-grown.
At What Age Is a Tibetan Mastiff No Longer a Puppy?
When a dog transitions from puppyhood to adulthood differs from one breed to another. Small dogs are typically called puppies until nine months while bigger ones become adults at about 15 months.
Being a large breed, the Tibetan Mastiff may no longer be a puppy by 15 to 18 months. This breed reaches its full size between three to six years of age which may vary if they are female or male.
Does Neutering or Spaying Affect the Growth and Development of a Tibetan Mastiff?
Neutering or spaying is a common practice of dog owners who have no plans of breeding their dogs. A common concern is if the procedure affects the dog’s growth.
Neutering or spaying your dog, regardless of breed, does not affect nor hinder its growth and development. The result of the procedure, however, varies among breeds and the age at which the dog undergoes it.
Having your Tibetan Mastiff neutered or spayed at the right age, as recommended by your vet, can in fact result in many health benefits. They’ll probably be less prone to cancers and other diseases.
Final Thoughts: Monitor Your Tibetan Mastiff’s Weight
A healthy Tibetan Mastiff is a happy Tibetan Mastiff. We all want our dogs to be happy and healthy so we should do our part as fur parents to monitor their weight regularly and provide them with the best diet, exercise, love, and care they deserve.
The Tibetan Mastiff is a big breed that is perfect for being guard dogs and family companions. They can do what they are built for properly when they are in great shape and perfect health. You can help them by being observant, attentive, and caring.
If you think your Tibetan Mastiff looks undernourished or too big for its age, immediately assess and run to your vet for help. The first step to addressing the problem is to acknowledge that it exists.
Remember that with love, care, and attention, you can give your Tibetan Mastiff the long and healthy life it deserves!
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