Are you keen to know how much a Tibetan Mastiff will shed? Our guide will tell you everything you need to know, including when shedding season starts, as well as lots of top tips on how to help your dog’s coat stay in the best shape possible – and much more.
Let’s dig into it!
The Tibetan has a double coat; the undercoat is heavy and woolly, while the outer coat has coarser guard hair.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the American Tibetan Mastiff Association, Tibetan Mastiffs are low shedders They shed small amounts of hair all year round and have one heavy seasonal shed.
The Tibetan will blow its coat, known as ‘moulting’, once a year to make way for a new, fresh, thick winter coat. Shedding season usually happens in the spring or late summer.
You can help the process along, which will see your soft furnishings covered in less hair than if the moulting was allowed to continue naturally. Use an undercoat rake or a de-shedding tool to do this, thus enabling you to speed up the process quite a bit.
Tibetan Mastiff puppies come into the world with a single coat, the only coat they’ll know for about the first six months. After this time, the outer coat will start to grow. During the early stages of a Tibetan’s life, minimal shedding will occur.
As previously mentioned, the Tibetan has a thick, long coat to protect it from the elements. Its summer coat will be much lighter than its winter coat. To keep the dog’s coat in peak condition, it’s recommended that you feed any dog breed high-quality dog food.
While a Tibetan mastiff sheds only once a year, or more accurately, they blow their coats, that doesn’t mean that their coat does not need to be taken care of; it does. There are two ways in which Tibetan Mastiff owners should do this, as we outline below.
Adopting a strict brushing routine is important to eliminate dead hair and keep your Tibetan coat looking and feeling its best.
You should brush them at least once a week to help spread the natural oils throughout the coat and eliminate any dirt and debris build-up in the long coat. You can use a slicker brush or another brush with fine wire bristles to do this.
Bathing should be done every two months – or more if your dog has been getting particularly dirty. It will keep their coat looking great and have your dog smelling beautiful, too. However, the Tibetan has the distinct advantage of not having that instantly recognised ‘dog’ smell. Amazing for a dog with such a long and thick coat, eh?
No, unfortunately, these lovable big guys and girls are not hypoallergenic.
If you have allergies, it’s highly recommended that you don’t purchase a dog of this breed. You will likely have to take it back to the breeder or put your puppy up for adoption, as the dander tends to make life unbearable for those who suffer from allergies. And all that upheaval is not fair on any dog.
If you’re considering buying (or even better, adopting) a Tibetan, we bet it has been music to your ears to hear that this dog breed isn’t prone to shedding lots of hair, so your clothes and furniture will be safe – until spring/summer, that is! Only consider bringing a Tibetan Mastiff home if you have the time and energy to look after its fabulous coat. Remember, lots of brushing is a MUST!
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