The Tibetan Mastiff is a large, powerful dog that was bred to guard sheep and locals against bears, wolves, and even tigers. Today, it is one of the most loyal and watchful guardians with highly territorial instincts. In fact, these dogs should only be kept by experienced owners who have had large dominant breeds before. Being highly intelligent, these dogs can be trained to fit in a family setting. But one challenging thing about being a dog owner is shedding. There is nothing you can do to keep a canine from shedding as it’s part of their natural process. But understanding a particular breed’s shedding is very important so you know whether it’s the right fit for you.
Do Tibetan Mastiffs shed? Yes, they do. These dogs are known for their thick, double-layered coats. But surprisingly, they are minimal shedders throughout most of the year. However, they will a lot once a year in spring as they get rid of their heavy winter coat. Their short coats require regular grooming to avoid tangles and mats, and also to stay healthy and shed appropriately.
Tibetan Mastiffs make the perfect family pets, especially if they are well socialized and trained. They are intelligent, friendly, loyal, and protective of their owners. In short, don’t let shedding keep you from experiencing such a terrific companion. Finding fur everywhere around your home is part of being a Tibetan Mastiff owner. I get that it can be quite annoying, not to mention risky to those with pet allergies, but I’m going to prepare you for it. Today, I will discuss in detail how much do Tibetan Mastiffs shed, what they are like to groom, how you can manage the molting, and much more. So, let’s jump right in:
How Much Do Tibetan Mastiff Shed?
After knowing that your Tibetan Mastiff can shed, you’re probably wondering how much. Despite their massive coats, these dogs don’t actually shed much. In fact, they are considered light to moderate shedders throughout most of the year.
They leave much of their shedding for one seasonal shed each year. Dogs tend to put on more fur in winter to help keep them warm. But come spring and the beginning of summer, they will get rid of those heavy costs for something much lighter to help keep them cool in hot weather. The Tibetan Mastiff is no exception and will experience a significant amount of molting during this time. That long beautiful hair that looks so amazing on this pooch is a lot less attractive on your carpet, furniture, clothes, and sometimes even food. The good news is it is very possible to keep the shedding under control. Keep reading to find out how.
Why Do Tibetan Mastiff Shed?
To understand why these bred sheds, you must know how their fur grows. The first phase is where they develop new fur from hair follicles. The second phase is where the fur reaches its full length and proper texture. The third and final stage is where resting club hairs eventually fall out for new fur to come through the hair follicle. With this in mind, it’s obvious that your Tibetan Mastiff is continuously going to shed to remove dead hairs to new healthy ones can grow in place.
As mentioned earlier, this pup is going to shed a significant amount during seasonal shedding. This is to keep up with the changing seasons so they can stay warm in winter and cool during hot weather.
Aside from the natural causes of shedding, your Tibetan Mastiff’s shedding could also be a result of underlying issues such as lack of proper diet, illness, lack of or improper grooming, etc.
Shedding Seasons and Frequency
When does Tibetan Mastiff shed? Tibetan Mastiffs don’t shed like other dogs. They are double-coated yet minimal shedders throughout the year. They tend to hold onto that long coat for a long time but once a year, they blow their coat. This usually occurs in spring and for 2-4 weeks, you will notice a lot of molting.
As a new owner, you may wonder where all this fur is coming from, but it’s pretty common for dogs, especially the double-coated ones, to save everything for one or two big hair drops. Your Tibetan Mastiff is simply getting rid of a coat they no longer need to grow something suitable for that particular season. For instance, in fall, they will shed to grow thick, dense hairs that will help keep them warm in winter. But come spring, they will get rid of all those hairs so they have a much lighter coat to keep them cool in summer. Though both are seasonal shedding, the one in spring is so much more than the one in fall as there is more fur to lose.
Unhealthy Shedding
What appears like a lot of shedding can be typical for this breed, especially during the seasonal shedding, but it can also be cause for concern. To be more precise, if the unhealthy shedding is accompanied by other symptoms such as dull coats, dry skin or fur, bald spots, open sores, and skin irritation. If you are concerned that your pup’s shedding is not normal, contact your vet as soon as possible.
It is possible for your Tibetan Mastiff to shed excessively or abnormally due to the following:
Poor diet
Allergies
Parasitic infections
Fungal or bacterial infections
Hormonal changes in a pregnant or bitch in heat
Contact with irritating substances
Kidney, liver, thyroid illnesses
Cancer, etc.
Being a responsible pet owner means understanding your canine’s shedding tendencies, so you can quickly identify when something is wrong and get the right solution as fast as possible.
What Type of Coat Does A Tibetan Mastiff Have?
This breed is double-coated with two layers of fur, and both of them have different jobs to do. The undercoat is soft and wooly in texture and acts as an insulator, keeping the canine warm in cold weather and cool in summer. The outer coat has thick, coarse-textured fur that’s usually pretty long. It is known as guard hair as it protects the animal from elements such as sun and rain.
The fur is medium to long, depending on the climate and environment of the dog. Additionally, the fur is smooth and straight, which makes it look like human hair.
The coat is noticeably heavier in males than bitches while also being thick and fairly long, especially around the neck and shoulders.
But all in all, these coats will require regular care and maintenance to ensure a good look and good overall health.
How to Manage and Reduce Tibetan Mastiff Shedding?
After understanding why and when do Tibetan Mastiff shed, it only makes sense that you learn how to manage the situation. Nobody likes fur everywhere on their furniture, floors, clothes, etc. There’s no way to magically stop molting because this is a natural process that all dogs undergo to get rid of old hairs and grow new, healthy fur. However, you can minimize the quantity of fur in your home in two basic steps: grooming and providing a proper diet. If you’re concerned that your dog’s shedding is beyond what is normal, first visit your vet.
Tibetan Mastiff Grooming
Regular grooming is one area you simply cannot afford to neglect when you own a Tibetan Mastiff. Not only do they have fluffy, dense coats, they are also large dogs with a lot of surface area, hence more fur to shed. This breed is high maintenance and will require brushing at least once a week to prevent mats, which can be painful and irritate the skin underneath. This will cause the area to become dry and inflamed, which can lead to excessive shedding.
Some Mastiffs will require more frequent brushing, such as those who are active outdoors as they tend to collect dirt and debris in their fur. During seasonal shedding, you should consider brushing your doggy daily to keep up with the increased shedding.
Brushing is by far the most effective and easy way to manage and reduce shedding. It catches dead fur before it fills your home and spreads the animal’s natural skin oils, thus encouraging healthy hair growth that only sheds when necessary.
Tibetan Mastiff Diet
As with any dog, your Tibetan Mastiff will require a high-quality diet to stay healthy. As mentioned earlier, an underlying health issue is one of the causes of unhealthy/excessive shedding. Needless to say, a healthy pup will also shed in a healthy manner.
Baths, Supplements…
Your Mastiff might dislike baths but they are another great way of managing and reducing shedding. Like brushing, it captures loose, dead hairs from the source before they get a chance to fall off during shedding and spread all over your house.
This double-coated large dog with lots of furs tends to pick a lot of dirt and debris, thus becoming smelly pretty fast. Bathing once per month should be enough to keep them clean, although you may have to do it more often if you have an outdoor Tibetan Mastiff and during seasonal shedding. Remember overbathing your pup will strip his skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry and susceptible to excessive shedding. Be sure to use a good-quality canine shampoo.
I said earlier that a proper diet is necessary for keeping healthy coats that only shed when necessary. But perhaps your doggy is not getting all the nutrients they need for that from their current diet. You can consult with your vet about the right supplements to provide the necessary nutrients for optimal health and fur growth.
Are Tibetan Mastiff Hypoallergenic?
Dogs produce a certain protein that is responsible for disturbing one’s immune system if inhaled. This protein can be found in their fur, dander, urine, and even saliva. It’s understandable to mistake the fur as the cause of pet allergies because it’s the major transmitter of the protein. For instance, dander attaches itself to the fur and when the pup grooms themselves, their saliva sticks to the fur. These elements are all released into the environment during shedding, which is why people mistake fur as the culprit.
The answer to do Tibetan Mastiff shed is usually related to whether or not they are allergy-friendly. Unfortunately, these dogs are not considered to be hypoallergenic due to the mere fact that they shed, and more so during seasonal shedding. Secondly, they tend to drool a lot due to their loose jowls and as we’ve seen, saliva is one of the elements that contain the allergen-triggering protein.
Though they are not classified as hypoallergenic, this breed is a low shedder, which makes them more suitable to allergy sufferers than heavy shedders. You can further reduce allergens by regularly grooming your pup and providing a proper diet that encourages healthy coats. Other things you can do to prevent or minimize the likelihood of an allergic reaction include:
Wash your hands and arms after direct contact with the dog
Groom the animal outside and be sure to wear protective gear while doing so
If possible, ask someone else to do the grooming
Keep your Tibetan Mastiff away from areas you spend a lot of time in like the bedroom
Create boundaries so you can keep their shedding to a few places
Keep the dog off the couch.
Avoid carpets or fabrics where fur can easily stick on.
Vacuum your house at all times.
Invest in high-quality air filters
Ask your doctor for some allergy medication to help manage symptoms