What determines the qualities of a Tibetan Mastiff's "mane"?

[arknd]

What determines the qualities of a Tibetan Mastiff's "mane"?

This is my first post here, and I have always wanted to own one of these dogs. I would pride myself in accepting the challenge of trying to train a dog as independant and strong willed as a Tibetan Mastiff. I have no experience formally training dogs as I have only raised 2 greyhounds, and your typical American family golden retriever and yellow lab.

Anyways, while searching across google images, I noticed a huge variation in the size of the mane of TM's. Some have almost no mane, other have small and others have large manes. Appearance wise, that is my favorite part of the dog. Are there certain sub-breeds that determine the size of the mane, or is it just random among all TM's?

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Re: What determines the qualities of a Tibetan Mastiff's "mane"?

IMO the male tends to have more of a mane than the females. The 'true' tibetan mastiff, from Tibet, is not overly abundant in mane, and certainly not like the Chinese are breeding them now...this picture is a Google image of a so called Tibetan Mastiff from China. As you can see it looks nothing like a TM from Tibet. If you have a look at Ruthcatrin's TM called Apollo he is what I would deem to be a very good example of a male, with the right amount of mane. If you want to have a look at my photo's you will see a European bred female, with much less mane than Apollo but still a good amount for a female. This is a photo of a TM from Tibet, the difference is clear (IMO) between the Chinese bred animals and the originals. I hope this helps.

 

[mx5055]

Re: What determines the qualities of a Tibetan Mastiff's "mane"?

Welcome to the forum

 

[ruthcatrin]

Re: What determines the qualities of a Tibetan Mastiff's "mane"?

Mostly what Mooshi's Mummy said. Males almost always have more mane that the females first off. Younger dogs have less too. Also yes, the Chinese are breeding for a HUGELY maned dog, thats just rediculous IMO. Having said that the Chinese DO recognize 3 different sub-types of TM, I don't know much about the differences, but I can try to get info if you're really interested.

In the USA and most of Europe, other that the male/female/young differences you're also going to see the "normal" coat and the "lion coat" For a quick example, this is my Apollo, he turned 2 back in Dec and hasn't finished filling out yet, he's got a normal coat:





And here is his brother and littermate Aslan, who has a lion coat:

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Re: What determines the qualities of a Tibetan Mastiff's "mane"?

Ruth I am interested in the 3 sub groups if you have a moment one day. personally i hate what 'I think' the chinese are doing to the TM at the moment, and it makes me wonder just how long it will be until the west get ahold of their breeding idea's and this ancient breed gets completely ruined.

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Re: What determines the qualities of a Tibetan Mastiff's "mane"?

and this is my Mooshi, a grey and tan female.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Re: What determines the qualities of a Tibetan Mastiff's "mane"?

My understanding is that its a combination of size and coat type with some possible head shape differences, but I'll pester a couple folks and see if I can get a better explantion! I do recall being told that the majority of hte US and European bred dogs (like Apollo and Mooshi) fall into one sub group (the middle sized one I think) and the dogs like Aslan fall into the largest sub group, but its been a while, I'll ask!

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Re: What determines the qualities of a Tibetan Mastiff's "mane"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_Mastiff interesting little read under 'Temperment' where the Chinese are said to be breeding the TM with the Chow and Neo for example. THIS drives me nuts!

 

[ruthcatrin]

Re: What determines the qualities of a Tibetan Mastiff's "mane"?

Drives me nuts too. I know several folks here in the US who'd love to go up into the mountains to the actual working dogs and get pups, but I can't think of any who seriously want those giant puff-balls. Unfortunetly they are dramatic looking and "people" like dramatic.....

 

[DennasMom]

Re: What determines the qualities of a Tibetan Mastiff's "mane"?

I thought that Chinese TM looked more Chow that TM!

I saw another photo where there were spots on a TM's tongue, too... which I thought was a Chow thing.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Re: What determines the qualities of a Tibetan Mastiff's "mane"?

Tongue spots can happen in alot of dogs actually, though the Asian breeds are more likely to in general.