How Big Do Tibetan Mastiffs Get? [Average Height, Weight & Size]

Contemplating the Tibetan Mastiff? Then you’re going to want to know how big this breed typically gets. Besides, if you have seen any pictures of these dogs already – you’ll certainly know that this is not your typical lap dog! Far from it. Intrigued about the breed, I spent some time researching the average size; both in terms of height and weight. I’d like to share what I found here with you today.

So, how big do Tibetan Mastiffs get? Tibetan Mastiffs typically reach between 24-26″ height, weighing between 75 to 160 pounds, on average. Generally, Tibetan Mastiffs will reach their full adult size and frame between 12 to 18 months of age. However, this is not always the case. Tibetan Mastiffs have been known to continue growing slowly until they are five years old. Nevertheless, when they reach their final size, these working dogs are very large.

The Tibetan Mastiff is a primitive dog breed developed centuries ago. You can probably guess where they came from. (spoiler – it’s Tibet!)

This dog was initially bred to work- and due to its sheer size, was primarily used to guard property and livestock. In fact, many still perform this role today.

They have since, however, become more commonly kept as pets. This is due in part to their loving, gentle, patient, and understanding temperament and nature.

They develop strong bonds with their families, and are equally good with children and other dogs.

Beyond just their physicality, these dogs possess a thick long double coat – contributing to their size.

Let us now take a closer look at their size, including whether they are considered the biggest dog in the world.

We’ll also be looking at the kind of space you will need if you are serious about taking one of the gentle giants on.

So, be sure to keep reading to set your expectations and be able to plan accordingly!

How Big Is A Full Grown Tibetan Mastiff?

Tibetan Mastiffs are classified as large dogs, and they are of an intimidating size.

They typically reach 24-26″ in height and weigh 75 to 160 pounds when they stop growing. Like many other dog breeds, males are normally bigger than the females.

Keep in mind that while many owners and vets expect their Tibetan Mastiff to reach their full weight and height by 12 to 18 months, it can take longer for some breed lines.

It’s not uncommon for some Tibetan Mastiff to take a few years to reach their final size.

There are specific factors that do influence their final size, and why we can see a range between dogs.

The main ones include genetics and hereditary (which is influenced by their lineage and the dogs they come from), their general health, and then those that you are responsible for and can influence, such as diet and nutrition.

Either way, this dog breed is majestic in appearance; due to their long coat, beautiful tail, and attractive colors. This dog is a head-turner.

They are also considered to be a real gentle giant around people they know and can trust, especially with their owners.

While equally, they make an excellent guard dog due to their large size, wariness of strangers, and willingness to protect their family.

These dogs are hard workers and will go above and beyond for their humans.

With that said, you must be willing to provide the right environment for such a breed.

You must also consider that they are highly independent with their own minds, obedience training is going to be required to get the best out of them and ensure they listen to your commands.

This is perhaps even more important, when you consider their size.

Furthermore, you must have a well-fenced yard as these dogs like to climb fences to escape.

They should never be left out for long as they will start digging; they have also been known to become aggressive and territorial in these contexts.

Tibetan Mastiffs are small and cute as puppies, but they do need socialization early in life.

Be aware that these dogs need quite a bit of space to accommodate their large size and cannot live in apartments.

Is The Tibetan Mastiff The Biggest Dog In The World?

The Tibetan Mastiff is undoubtedly one of the biggest dogs; however they are not considered to be the biggest dog in the world.

Instead, the biggest appears to be the English Mastiff; which range from 27 to 35 inches in height and weigh between 200 to 230 pounds.

One thing to consider however, is that the term ‘biggest’ can be misleading, as it could refer to height and not the general size.

The current Guinness Record title holder for the tallest dog is a Dane called Freddy, who measures 40.75 inches tall and lives in Leigh-on-sea, Essex, England.

One puppy, an American Molossus, weighed over 180 pounds and measured at 6 feet on her hind legs in March 2018. Perhaps she could be a contender for the largest dog in the future?

So, while the Tibetan Mastiff is not the biggest dog, they are certainly one of them.

Those whom exceed the average can also come pretty close.

And while this may put some off this breed, there are actually many benefits to owning a larger dog.

Ironically, they do tend to be more gentle and patient. They don’t require as much exercise as people think, even though they need a lot of space.

Large dogs often have great restraint while also being protective of their families.

These are all generalizations of course; each dog will have their own temperament and personality. It also depends on how they were bred and raised too.

At What Age Is A Tibetan Mastiff Full Grown?

Tibetan Mastiffs generally reach their full adult size at around 12 to 18 months of age. However, this is just an average and some Tibetan Mastiffs continue to grow more slowly until they reach around the age of five.

Female Tibetans typically reach their full size before males, and for the slower growers, this is usually by 3 to 4 years of age, whereas in males it can take up to 1 to 2 years longer.

Let us now take a closer look at the expected growth rates of this breed:

Typical Growth Of A Male Tibetan Mastiff

• The weight of a male Tibetan Mastiff at 3 months will likely be between 33 and 48 pounds.
• At 6 months, they will likely weigh between 63 and 91 lbs (pounds).
• At 1 year, a male Tibetan Mastiff will likely weigh between 92 and 140 lbs (pounds).

Age	Weight – Low Average (lbs)	Weight – High Average (lbs)
3 Months	33	48
4 Months	44	66
5 Months	52	77
6 Months	63	91
7 Months	66	103
8 Months	74	110
9 Months	81	119
10 Months	85	129
11 Months	88	135
12 Months	92	140
13 Months	94	142
14 Months	95	144
15 Months	95	147
16 Months	95	153
17 Months	96	155
18 Months	98	158

Growth Of A Female Tibetan Mastiff

• The weight of a female Tibetan Mastiff at 3 months will likely be between 27 and 40 lbs (pounds).
• At 6 months, they will likely weigh between 72 and 73 lbs (pounds).
• At 1 year, a female Tibetan Mastiff will likely be weigh between 75 and 78 lbs (pounds).

Age	Weight – Low Average (lbs)	Weight – High Average (lbs)
3 Months	27	40
4 Months	37	51
5 Months	44	63
6 Months	52	73
7 Months	55	85
8 Months	61	89
9 Months	66	94
10 Months	68	102
11 Months	70	107
12 Months	71	109
13 Months	72	110
14 Months	72	111
15 Months	73	112
16 Months	74	113
17 Months	75	114
18 Months	75	114

As you can see, there is quite the range between dogs of this breed.

And, this dog certainly has quite some growing to do.

So, when you first bring your Tibetan Mastiff puppy, it will seem almost incredulous that they will grow to be so large, but they will.

Consider this; a healthy newborn puppy usually weighs anywhere between 13 to 22 ounces (0.5-1 lbs!)

The growth rate in the initial weeks can be anywhere between 1-2 pounds per day!

In contrast, older puppies may put on 1 to 3 pounds per week; this growth rate relies on several different factors, including the litter size, the quantity of the mother’s milk supply, and each puppy’s daily intake and if the litter is being supplemented.

Interestingly, the largest puppy of the litter does not often grow to become the largest dog.

Several factors also will impact their final size, such as their liking to food, general health, and fast or slow growth rate.

Dogs that love food tend to pack on weight quite quickly, while grazers remain slim. Both can be an issue if they are too much of extreme.

For this particular dog, weight gain should be expected to be between 5 to 10 pounds during some months in their first year.

One thing to consider is that larger dogs can often grow out of proportion as parts of their body grow at separate times.

It can take several years before these dogs are fully developed.

To help your Tibetan Mastiff reach their full potential, you must offer him a healthy and varied diet according to their age.

Your vet can help tell you how much your Tibetan should be eating.

Expect your food bills to rise as your dog grows because they are a large dog and therefore need to eat quite a lot.

Nevertheless, despite the increase in cost, you should continue to feed the highest-quality dog food to your Tibetan Mastiff throughout their life that you can afford.

Generally, these dogs do best with twice per day meals.

The occasional treat is permissible, as long as you remember that treats shouldn’t make up more than ten percent of their calorie intake per day.

Putting on too much weigh is not good for any dogs, but for a Tibetan Mastiff it can be particularly problematic.

How Much Space Does A Tibetan Mastiff Need?

Space is a must for the Tibetan Mastiff.

Despite the fact that Tibetan Mastiffs are low-energy dogs; due to their sheer size they need quite a lot of open and free space to roam and move around.

They need to be able to stretch their legs and an area where they can play.

As such, these large dogs are best suited to homes with large yards. It also comes recommended and advised that these yards are surrounded by a strong fence, 5 to 6 feet high at a minimum.

This is because these dogs are territorial, they need to learn of their boundaries early on.

Beyond this, this dog breed requires plenty of attention; this is not the type of dog you can let sit outside on their lonesome for any significant period of time.

In fact, this can result in aggression and destructive behavior.

While Tibetan Mastiffs can live outdoors and are hard workers, they need to spend as much time as possible with their owners.

If they are trained, they can be left home alone while you are at work.

However, it’s best to ensure they have either another dog’s company, or that someone comes by to visit, so that he won’t feel lonely and bored.

Your Tibetan Mastiff will need a spacious crate to rest and relax; small spaces, like apartments, will only make them feel restless and anxious, which will undoubtedly lead to behavioral issues.

You must also consider the size of your car as they take up a lot of room.

Tibetan Mastiffs require at least one hour of exercise each day; experts recommend splitting the hour into two or three walks.

You must also allow your dog to have some off-lead play in a safe area. These dogs are intelligent and need activities to challenge them and keep their brains active.

They will enjoy training sessions and puzzle games, in addition to lots of playtime in the garden.

One thing you will need to consider is their dense coats, so bear this in mind when you take them outside, especially over the summer months.

The best times to go out in warm weather is in the early mornings and evening as you steer clear of the hottest parts of the day. You must always watch your dog for signs of heatstroke.

Finally

Tibetan Mastiffs are large dogs, and so it’s good to be aware that your little puppy will grow to take over much of your home.

This is not the breed to consider unless you have sufficient space for them; both inside and outside of your home.

Nevertheless if you are serious about taking on this breed, make sure that you acquire them from a trustworthy breeder.

They should be able to provide you with some size estimations based on their previous litters, along with the dogs in their litters lineage.

Equally, your breeder will be able to offer you some advice on caring for such a large dog. So, be sure to ask plenty of questions throughout the process.

The better breeders will also offer their support after you have decided to take one of their puppies home. So if you do need to contact them afterwards, you can.

Perhaps the best place to start your research for this breed is through the AKC Marketplace (American Kernel Club).

Once you bring your puppy home, you will need to ensure that they are adequately socialized and trained. This is not a dog breed that you can really allow to remain stubborn.

Its going to be essential that you practice leash training – a dog weighing upwards of 160 pounds is going to cause injuries if they pull away too soon.

These dogs are not the easiest to train, but with consistency, firmness, and patience, you can certainly bring out the best of them.

The rewards are certainly there, and they really have wonderful temperaments when they are aware of their boundaries (which should be set both physically and mentally).

Related guides you may want to read:

• How Big Do Dogs Get?