Heavy, huge, and covered in long massive coats is what we will notice on a Tibetan Mastiff. The breed is beautiful and can be seldomly seen due to its price on the market. Aside from its gigantic beauty, the Tibetan Mastiff is an efficient guard dog. They are aloof and wary of strangers but loyal, warm, and gentle to their owners. That’s one of the few things why many people wanted to acquire and raise this breed.
So, how much would it cost someone to buy and raise this breed?
A Tibetan Mastiff would cost you $1800 to $5000 for a puppy. That depends on many factors including the breeder of the Tibetan Mastiff. If you are going to prepare the money, have at least the average price of $2500 and you can find a decent puppy you can bring in your home.
You are lucky that you can buy this breed now, because before this breed has been a symbol of elite status and you can only acquire this if you have millions. The highest price for a Tibetan Mastiff was a whopping $1.9 million bought by a Chinese Businessman.
Factors That May Affect the Price of Tibetan Mastiff
Prices may vary for this breed due to several factors including the following that we have listed. Thus, for you to be able to make a wise purchase, you must consider these factors.
1. Purebred or Mixed
Purebred will definitely cost you more money since it is the demand of the market. Many people wanted a purebred because it has more worth and value to people. Also, purebred puppies will give you a return of money that is much higher than mixed puppies.
Although for pet owners that wanted to own one at a cheaper price, a mixed breed is a good choice. If the purpose is just so you could have an amazing guard dog and gentle giant as a family pet then just buy a mixed one. But, if the reason is for breeding then a purebred Tibetan Mastiff is a good investment.
2. Bloodline
You have to do your research on this part and ask for proof that the Tibetan Mastiff puppy has a high-quality bloodline. Champions and show dogs have high-quality genes making their offspring more expensive.
3. Breeders
The amount of money that you have to pay for a Tibetan mastiff also hugely depends on the breeder. If you purchase a puppy from a reputable breeder then it will be more expensive since these breeders are willing to pay for the food, vitamins, grooming, providing the vaccine, and deworming of the puppies. Also, you can ensure that the environment they are put in is safe, clean, and maintained. Thus, the puppy will be healthy and free of parasites.
However, if you choose to buy from first-time breeders or the one that is not known then you have to be meticulous in choosing because you might end up with an unhealthy pup due to carelessness and abusive breeders. Choose the one that you can trust because along the way they are going to help you in giving suggestions for raising this expensive breed.
4. Registration Papers
Registered puppies are expensive since there’s proof that they are pure and belong to a famous kennel club that gives good benefits to registered members and pet owners. There’s also a fee that must be paid in a kennel club and that will be included in the price of the puppy. You’ll be lucky if you get a registered dog because not all of them get to have a registration because of the kennel club’s breed standards.
Now if papers and registration don’t matter to you then by all means you can get an unregistered pup and raise it as healthy and happy as possible.
5. Medical Expenses
A Tibetan Mastiff Puppy must be healthy to ensure that it will grow healthy. Thus, earlier on they must be tested and checked-up to see if the puppy is malnourished, has a skin disease, has organs problems, etc. If the puppy has a healthy record upon check-up then that’s the one that you should buy regardless of the price because you know that the puppy will grow up stronger and without a disease. Some of the expenses that will be added are vaccination, deworming, microchip and spaying.
6. Litter Trained, and Bath Trained
Some breeders offer training on puppies, a Tibetan mastiff puppy that is potty trained and bath trained has a higher chance of getting sold because it lessens the burden of any pet parent. It also means that these breeds might be pricier than other Tibetan Mastiffs.
7. Age
Age will vary in choosing a Tibetan Mastiff. Healthy and high-quality breeds will be more expensive since the owner will consider all the expenses they have made for the dog. However, it might vary to some places that have a higher demand for young puppies than adult dogs.
8. Coat Colors and Pattern.
The red Tibetan Mastiff will cost you more as well as the rarest color which is cream. They are popular and many people wanted to acquire these types of colors because of their beauty and their rarity. Look closely into which color and pattern are popular for Tibetan Mastiff because most likely it would cost you more money.
Cost of Essential Supplies in Raising Tibetan Mastiff
It will be the first thing that you must buy so that you can raise your Tibetan Mastiff properly. Here are the following supplies and it’s the average cost so that you can prepare money for these items, not just an amount of money to buy your pooch.
Must-have starter items:
- Food Bowls -$20
- Water Bowls -$20
- Dog Collars -$20
- Leash -$15
- Id Tag -$10
- Dog Bed -$60
- Dog Crate -$90
- Poop bags -$55
- Pooper Scooper-$20
- Training Pads -$25
- Stain Removal Spray -$10
- Toys -$90
- First Aid Kit -$30
- Brush -$15
- Shampoo -$10
- Tooth Brush Kit- $10
- Toenail Clippers -$15
- Ear Care- $15
Starting essentials would cost you $530. The food is not included as well as all the necessary items that could protect your Tibetan Mastiff from harm including harnesses, fences, and medicines.
Training Expenses for a Tibetan Mastiff
Some dogs are naturally stubborn and that includes Tibetan Mastiff. So in raising them you will need an extra $500 to $800 for private training for your dog. You can get a lesser price of $200 if the training is around a group setting.
Training is recommended not just because Tibetan mastiffs are stubborn but also because they are huge and can’t be contained by force. You have to avoid harming other animals and people by the use of training. Not just that, you can do your research at home and help train your pooch so that they’ll be responsible dogs as they grow old.
Medical Cost for a Tibetan Mastiff
Pet parents need to prepare medical expenses for their dogs. Emergencies happen all the time and you should be prepared so that you can save your dog in fatal situations. In here we’ve got the list of expenses that you must prepare for your Tibetan Mastiff.
- Routine Check-ups -$50 to $250
- Spaying or Neutering -$160 to $220
- Vaccines per Shot -$15 to $28
- Physical Exams -$45 to $55
- Fecal Exam -$25 to $45
- Heartworm -$45 to $50
- Dental Check-ups -$70 to $600
- Allergy Testing -$195 to $300
- Geriatric Screening -$85 to $110
- Bloodwork -$80 to $200
- X rays -$150 to $200
- Ultrasounds -$300 to $600
- Wound Treatment -$800 to $2500
- Emergency Surgery -$1500 to $5000
- Oxygen Therapy- $500 to $3000
Medical Bills are expensive so you should save money or get insurance for your Tibetan Mastiff.
Cost of Potential Health Issues for Tibetan Mastiff
Here are some potential health problems that would cost you in the Tibetan Mastiff breed:
- Hip Dysplasia -$500 to $13000
- Elbow Dysplasia -$2000 to $3500
- Hypothyroidism -$350 to $800
- Canine Inherited Demyelinating Neuropathy -$2000 to $5000
- Entropion, Ectropion -$850 to $1500
Cost of Feeding Your Tibetan Mastiff
Take note that Tibetan Mastiffs are large dogs, their weight can go up to 150lb and the estimated cost of feeding them per month is around $40 and that’s $480 in a year. A big dog like a Tibetan Mastiff will require a lot of food so you should keep extra dog food in hand. Also, you may want to treat them to special treats and that’s around $345 in a year.
Here are some Puppy Food Brands that you can buy:
1. Purina Pro Plan Puppy
2. Hill’s Science Diet Dog Food
3. Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Puppy
4. Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Food
5. Pedigree Puppy Dog Food
Adult Dog Food Brands that you can buy:
1. Pedigree Adult Dry Dog Food
2. Purina One Smart Blend
3. Blue Buffalo Lite Dog Food
4. Wag Dry Dog Food
5. Rachael Ray Nutrish Dry Dog Food
Grooming Cost for Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Mastiff has dense coats so it needs professional grooming services if you can’t do it at home. The cost for one visit for grooming is around $100 or more since Tibetan Mastiff is huge and needs extra care and effort. You can maintain the coat of your dog at home through frequent brushing, bathing once a month, ear cleaning, nail cutting, and hair trimming. Seek professional advice at first to do the necessary grooming right.
Tibetan Mastiff is a wonderful dog that will require your care and attention. Yes, they are expensive but once you buy these breeds you will be gifted with a dog that is protective and loving. They would sacrifice their lives for your safety and that is a dog that you should keep. In raising them, you must have financial income so that you can’t leave your dog unattended and just put them in a shelter. One way that you can get a cheap Tibetan Mastiff is through adoption and Animal shelter, although it rarely happens since the dog is expensive and good for raising livestock and guarding homes or properties.