A century and a half ago Tibetan mastiffs were first imported into England, and only three decades ago to North America. During the Chinese Cultural Revolution these remarkable high altitude livestock guardian dogs were nearly annihilated, but they have recovered and now are in high demand. Today, thousands of these dogs are found around the world, promoted by many breeders, raised as pets, guardians and faithful companions, and recently as show dogs. Several have scored high marks at international dog shows.
This is a book of discovery of the exotic and relatively rare breeds of big dogs from Tibet and the Himalayas: the Tibetan mastiff, the rare KyiApso, the Himalayan mountain dog, and the least known, Tibetan hunting dog, the Sha-kyi.
Research on Tibetan dogs is contentious. Marco Polo wrote about them in the 13th century, but did he ever see one? Did he go to Tibet? And is the translation of his description of dogs "as big as donkeys" accurate, or mere hyperbole? This book challenges some of the conventional wisdom about the big dogs with evidence to show how some dog fanciers have gotten it wrong. It questions the notion that there were gigantic dogs in the past, an idea that has inspired some modern breeders to create enormous critters, mista¬kenly evoking a mythical past. It also questions the idea that the shaggy KyiApso is a separate breed.
Both personal account and assiduously researched history, this book is an important study that all big dog owners will want to read and own.
