You might assume that carrying a big dog is going to be easy. But encountering a Tibetan Mastiff can prove otherwise. His size alone is intimidating enough for most people.
You should only attempt to carry a big dog when a situation calls for it. Doing it for laughs is a risk you wouldn’t want to take. Observe proper posture and position before attempting to lift.
Get a feel of your strength and check if your body weight is enough to carry a heavy dog. Take note that Tibetan Mastiffs usually weigh 75 to 150 pounds (34 to 68 kg). If you are smaller and lighter than your dog, carrying him alone may not be a good idea.
How Do You Lift a Tibetan Mastiff?
Lifting a Tibetan Mastiff is not a walk in the park. For this to be possible, make sure that your body can support your Tibetan Mastiff’s weight. If he’s heavier than you, forget about carrying him on your own.
You need to have sufficient body mass and strength to carry your massive friend. This is to avoid injuring both of you because of poor support. Ask for another family member’s help in doing some heavy lifting.
If your Tibetan Mastiff is lighter than you, try lifting him on your own. Confidence is not enough though, be sure that you’re big and have the strength to lift. Attempting this while nursing an injury can only worsen everything.
Bend your knees to support your body weight before lifting. Because bending your waist while carrying a heavy load can lead to back problems and injuries. After ensuring your safety, turn your attention toward your dog.
Approach your Tibetan Mastiff with care and reassure him that everything’s fine. Gently wrap your arm around his chest area to support the front. For back support, put your other arm around his hind legs.
Do some counting as preparation for getting up to do the lifting. If you recruited somebody to help you lift, communicate with each other. Counting can also help in getting the timing right.
Lifting earlier or slower than your companion might injure your Tibetan Mastiff. See to it that your dog’s familiar with the person who’s helping you. Use a stretcher if your destination is a bit distant as this will lessen the difficulty of carrying.
How to Pick a Tibetan Mastiff Puppy
Picking up a puppy is less complicated because of its lighter weight. Lift your Tibetan Mastiff puppy the same you’d carry an adult. Because puppies are smaller, you don’t have to use a lot of force.
Be gentle with the lifting because the pressure from your hands might hurt him. Don’t grab him quickly and carelessly because he might get surprised and bite you as a reflex. Approach him slowly with some petting before proceeding with the lifting.
Put one arm around his chest and place the other around his back legs. Scan the area for any hazards that might trip you. Walk carefully and place him gently on his bed or crate.
Despite the cuteness overload that a puppy is giving you, don’t carry him like a baby. Puppies are as delicate as babies but you can’t carry them the same way. Hold your puppy based on how his body is structured.
How to Pick Up a Tibetan Mastiff With Back Problems
A bad back is a common problem with Tibetan Mastiffs. This is due to their age and heavy bodies. In some cases, your Tibetan Mastiff might be suffering from IVDD.
To carry a big dog with back problems, you have to be extremely careful. There’s no room for clumsiness when carrying a Tibetan Mastiff with a bad back. You might need the help of another individual for stronger support.
Wrap an arm around his chest and place the other arm on his tummy. Let your companion support his hind legs. Don’t use a lot of pressure.
Get a stretcher ready if carrying doesn’t cut it. The stretcher should be soft but with sufficient steadiness to hold his weight. Wrap the straps around him to keep him from falling but don’t put them too tightly.
How Not to Hold a Tibetan Mastiff
Do not lift your Tibetan Mastiff by holding both his ‘armpits.’ This will put too much pressure on his front legs’ bones and may cause injury. Since Tibetan Mastiffs are big, the lack of support on their back legs is riskier.
Pulling is not advised when you’re trying to carry or hold a dog. The force of pulling can dislocate his joints and hurt him. Sudden movements and too much pressure are not encouraged.
Being gentle is the key to holding, moving, and carrying a dog. It’s even more crucial when he’s dealing with an injury or a disease. Though they are strong, they’re still delicate creatures.
A clumsy approach will surely make a situation worse than it already is. Although you’re tempted to treat your Tibetan Mastiff like a baby, don’t carry him as if he is one. A dog’s anatomy is different from a human’s.
Do Tibetan Mastiffs Like to Be Held?
Tibetan Mastiffs are pretty tolerant of their owners’ quirks and cuddliness. Based on their overall temperament, they’re not the cuddly types. They appreciate their owners’ display of affection but they’re not affectionate themselves.
They’d rather participate in other fun activities than cuddling. Tibetan Mastiffs have a sensitive side but they’re not the sweetest dogs out there. Dogs from this breed express their love by being loyal and protective.
An untrained Tibetan Mastiff would be less tolerant of physical contact like being held. So be cautious when you’re holding him. A few gentle rubs and touches are sufficient signs of affection for him.
Don’t dare his aggressive side when he’s not in a playful mood. If he’s whining or getting agitated by your touches, stop. Though you’re tempted to pet him while he’s sleeping, forget it and let him be.
Seek medical help if you think that his moodiness is related to an ailment or injury. It is best to get him treated right away to remove the pain and improve his mood.
Why Does My Tibetan Mastiff Scream When I Pick Him Up?
Screaming or crying is a universal expression of pain. If your Tibetan Mastiff keeps doing this every time you lift him, something’s not quite right. He could be suffering from a nagging injury or ailment.
Another possible reason is he doesn’t like being carried. Screaming can be a form of protest too. Some dogs don’t like being treated like babies and prefer to mind their own business.
Tibetan Mastiffs are smart, independent dogs. They would rather engage in stimulating activities instead of being treated like toys and whatnot. Consult your vet if the screaming has something to do with a health problem.
Sometimes they’re just not in the mood for their owner’s shenanigans. So if the screaming is not related to pain and he only does it occasionally, let him rest. Maybe his day is not so good so give him some allowance and time to recharge.
What Size Cage Does a Tibetan Mastiff Need?
The ideal cage/crate size for a Tibetan Mastiff is 42 to 48 inches (1,067 to 1,219 mm). Depending on your Tibetan Mastiff’s size, you can make a few adjustments. As long as you’re not compromising his comfort.
Tibetan Mastiffs are big dogs and so getting a small crate for him ain’t going to cut it. Give him enough space to move around inside it comfortably. Take note of his measurements when selecting a crate.
Measure his body’s length from the muzzle to his tail’s base. Add a few inches for allowance or moving room for the crate. Get his height by measuring from the highest part of his shoulder to his paws.
Same with length, add a couple of inches or more as allowance. Your Tibetan Mastiff would probably be somewhere within the Extra Large (XL) crate size. If your Tibetan Mastiff is still a puppy choose the crate that would accommodate his adult size.
What Size Crate Should I Get for a Tibetan Mastiff?
A Tibetan Mastiff would fit comfortably on an Extra Large (XL) to Double XL (XXL) crate. It’s important to get his measurements before making a purchase. If you handle bringing him to the store, he’ll get a chance to try out the crates.
If he’s still a pup, always consider how big he’ll get in his adult years. So the crate would still be useful once he reaches adulthood. Don’t forget that a puppy’s size doesn’t determine his size as an adult.
Adult Tibetan Mastiffs are large dogs. Putting him in a crate that is too small will cause discomfort and anxiety. Make sure that there’s a decent amount of space inside that will accommodate his size and movements.
How Do You Crate Train a Tibetan Mastiff?
Pushing your Tibetan Mastiff within the confines of a crate is not the way to go. Some training would have to be done before he gets comfortable and used to it. The reward method comes in handy for this training.
Lure your Tibetan Mastiff with a yummy treat. Let him follow the treat as you go near the crate. Ask him to get inside the crate.
He may not respond right away and think that it’s a trap. Before you start crate training, be sure that there’s a healthy level of trust between you both. Reassure him that this is just another skill he needs to learn.
Try several times until he follows the treat inside the crate. Give him the treat once he’s inside. You can use verbal cues and hand signals to tell him to get inside the crate.
Prepare a set of treats and repeat the steps. Do this until he gets comfortable with the routine. When he feels safe, the thought will sink in that he’s just learning another skill.
Be creative and incorporate games and his favorite toys. This will keep your Tibetan Mastiff excited. His investment towards training is a key component so make training fun.
How Long Does It Take to Crate Train a Tibetan Mastiff?
You’re going to need consistency and patience. Because crate training can take 6 months to complete. Follow the schedule religiously so he can get used to the routine.
There could be days when he’ll lose enthusiasm and become stubborn. Find ways to keep his interest level high. Don’t scold him when he’s not very responsive.
Be calm when you’re interacting with him. Keep things interesting by making him participate in other activities. You can also ask for a trainer’s help if your Tibetan Mastiff’s becoming extremely uncooperative.
How Long Can a Tibetan Mastiff Stay in a Crate?
A Tibetan Mastiff can stay in a crate for 6 to 8 hours with a couple of potty breaks in between. A puppy on the other hand can stay inside a crate for 4 to 5 hours with frequent potty breaks. Before leaving your dog inside a crate, be sure that you’ve completed crate training.
Skipping the training part can make a dog anxious and display unwanted behavior. Crate training takes time and the progress will show gradually. Be patient and practice positive reinforcement.
Leaving your Tibetan Mastiff in a crate for no apparent reason is uncalled for. Despite having a decent amount of space inside a crate, he can still find it confining. Teach him to treat his crate as a makeshift den reserved for sleeping.
If you need to take care of something important outside, make the errands quick. Before leaving him in his crate, feed him properly and leave a few toys that he can play with. It’s better if you leave him in a yard surrounded by a high and sturdy fence.
A bigger space will put him at ease. Though your Tibetan Mastiff can last 6 hours inside a crate, try your best to make the waiting time shorter.