| For centuries Tibetans have believed that one breed | | | | animal. The owners feed the Mastiffs several small |
| of dog, the Tibetan Mastiff, is sacred. Tibetan Mastiffs | | | | pieces of meat everyday. Sometimes wolves will howl |
| have large heads and long hair.. Their large bodies give | | | | and stand at the top of the well and try to take the |
| them the appearance of a lion. The Tibetan Mastiff is | | | | Mastiff's food. In the beginning, the Mastiff buries his |
| the most dangerous and aggressive dog in the world. | | | | head under his paws and tries to hide from the |
| The Tibetan people were nomadic for centuries, and | | | | wolves. Finally, it will begin to bark at the wolves to |
| dogs play an important part in nomadic societies. Dogs | | | | protect itself and food. The Mastiff will scratch the |
| guard the animal herds and guard private property, and | | | | stone ground very hard and try to get out of the well |
| also predict earthquakes and avalanches. Tibetans | | | | to attack the wolves. Its personality becomes very |
| also believe that the Mastiff carried Buddha to | | | | aggressive and cruel because of the bitter |
| reincarnation. | | | | environment. The Mastiff begins to have the will to |
| The Tibetan Mastiff is known for its loyalty, large body, | | | | attack and conquer. When the Mastiff is released |
| and aggressive personality. But the Mastiff was not | | | | from the stone well, the owner will release it to a |
| born aggressive. When baby Mastiffs are born, they | | | | group of other dogs. The foreign look and character of |
| are cute and sweet like other puppies. When Tibetan | | | | the Mastiff alienates it from other dogs. They attack |
| Mastiff's are weaned, they are placed outside in a | | | | the mastiff. The mastiff uses its strong pawns from |
| rectangular ditch made by stone. The ditch is deep | | | | digging in the stone well and their sharp teeth to fight |
| enough that the Mastiff will never be able to jump out. | | | | back. By now the Mastiff's character is much closer to |
| The painful weather coupled with the torture of hunger | | | | a wolf. The owner feeds the Mastiff some wolf meat |
| torture these dogs. The Mastiff will be fed only a small | | | | when it is really hungry. Wolves are the biggest enemy |
| piece of raw meat. The only pleasure is that the ditch | | | | of the herding animals in Tibet. By feeding training the |
| is big enough for them to walk around. However, the | | | | Mastiff to be angry and feeding it wolf meat the |
| ditch becomes smaller and smaller for the Mastiff as | | | | Mastiff treats wolves as the natural enemy in the wild. |
| their body grows bigger and bigger. Their character | | | | The Mastiff becomes a fierce guard-dog who will |
| becomes more and more aggressive. The Mastiff's | | | | protect the herd. |
| paws become stronger as they scratch the stone | | | | The pure breed of mastiff becomes scarce today. |
| ground in frustration and anger toward their bitter | | | | There are only about 20 pure breed Mastiffs in the |
| environment. | | | | states and 10 in Taiwan today. Mastiffs are very loyal |
| Finally, the owner will take them out of the stone ditch. | | | | to their owners. They can be dangerous to strangers. |
| The Mastiff by then has become very grumpy. Then | | | | In Tibet, a lot of mixed breeds Mastiffs live in temples |
| the owner.brings the Mastiff to the mountains and | | | | or even on the street. They are not as aggressive as |
| leaves it in a small well. At this time, the owner does | | | | trained, pure breed Mastiffs. The training process of |
| not need to protect them from wolves and other wild | | | | Tibetan Mastiffs is very unique and philosophical. |