Tibetan Mastiff vs Olde English Bulldogge - Breed Comparison

The Bulldog in general has undergone quite a few changes over the years and the Olde English Bulldogge was developed as a designer breed in the United States.

The dog was developed by David Leavitt in 1971, who crossed the English Bulldog with a Pitbull, American Bulldog and Bull Mastiff. Leavitt wanted a dog that would be free of the breathing problems bulldogs battle with. He also wanted the dog to be more nimble, more agile and more healthier.

Crossing the Bulldog, Bullmastiff, American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Bulldog, he developed the Olde English Bulldogge. The dog isn’t recognized as a breed by the AKC.

The Tibetan Mastiff is still considered to be a primitive breed originating in Tibet centuries ago. The breed was developed to guard property and livestock. They still do this as well as being a much loved family dog and a show dog as well. There is very little history that is documented for the breed prior to the 19th century.

Believed to be centuries old with ancestors who are mastiff like dogs that developed into two different types of Tibetan Mastiffs. These types are the Tsang-Khyi and the Do-Khyi. The Tsang Khyi were guardians for Tibetan monks, while the Tsang-Khyi guarded flocks for nomadic shepherds and in villages.

The first Tibetan Mastiff was imported in 1847 to England and presented as a gift to Wueen Victoria, from India’s Viceroy. By 1873 there was an English Kennel Club and the breed was labeled a large dog from Tibet and entered into the EKC Stud Book.

The next year the future King Edward VII, brought another two Tibetan Mastiffs to the United Kingdom to show in 1875. The first breed club began in 1931. The world wars interfered and no new dogs were imported to England until 1976. Two dogs were given to the President of the United States in the late 1950’sbut were not bred and it wasn’t until 1970 that any more were imported. The US Tibetan Mastiff Club was not founded until 1974 and they were first entered in a National Specialty show in 1979.

In 2007 the AKC recognized the breed as a working dog since 2007. It’s hard to find a purebred Tibetan Mastiff in Tibet anymore.

Olde English Bulldogges are purebred dogs. They are big boned, solid and muscular. They are medium sized dogs and stand at roughly between 40 and 51cm and weigh between 22 and 36kg.

They have big, broad head and a furrowed face. The ears are fairly small and are semi-erect, semi-floppy. The neck is thick and powerful, the legs short and stocky. The coat is short and is usually white and tan, white and grey, brindle or solid colors of fawn, red and black.

The Olde English Bulldogge is a healthier, more active, athletic dog. It was given this name to differentiate it from the modern English Bulldog.

Temperament:

Olde English Bulldogges are gentle and good natured, snorting around and just dying for his human family to tickle his tummy.

He has an easy-to-please temperament and being intelligent, he will respond well to training and socialization.

He is adaptable and can settle into life in the city or in the countryside. He has strength and stamina but will do better with a walk as opposed to running next to you as you cycle - this will exhaust him and be unhealthy for him.

The Olde English Bulldogge is a sweet, friendly, confident but gentle dog known for his strength and stamina. They are friendly and outgoing, even being social and friendly around strangers. They get on well with children and pets in the home too and will make a wonderful pet.

Both types of Mastiffs can be present in the same litter, so that both larger and smaller pups are present. Both types are well-muscled and structured. Today’s dogs being developed in China and the West are much larger than the previous ones. These dogs would be less useful to the nomads and cost too much to feed. Today’s dog is very large with a large head and a long double coat. This coat can be black, brown, gold, and blue, with or without tan markings. There are now a few white Tibetan Mastiffs being bread.

The breed standard for the Mastiff is different in the West than in the East. In the East the breed is broken into two categories – the Lion Head and the Tiger head.

The Olde English Bulldogge is a gentle, sweet dog who just wants to be a loved member of your home. He wants to please, so training and socialization will do him the world of good as then he becomes obedient and responds easily to some basic commands.

He has a protective nature and will do what he can to guard and protect you. Such a wonderful 4-legged friend and companion deserves your unconditional love.

Children friendliness

With extreme caution and only if raised together

Special talents

Guard dog

Adaptability

Not good. No apartments and cant deal with heat

Learning ability

Highly intelligent very stubborn and independent

The Olde English Bulldogge can live to be 14 years old if he is looked after well. These dogs are prone to some of the typical dog ailments there are and bloat is one.

Bloat:

This ailment is also known as Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, a life-threatening disease regarded as a medical emergency. The stomach can twist, cutting off blood flow to the heart. It occurs more often in deep-chested dogs and you will notice the swollen stomach.

These dogs are considered to have less health issues than other brachycephalic breeds but still you need to keep an eye on their breathing. In fact, David Leavitt, who developed the dog says that this particular mix of dog doesn’t have the undesired negative health aspects of the dog’s relatives such as hip issues, difficult births and brachycephalic syndrome. They are also far more tolerant to heat and cold that other bulldog types.

Though considered a primitive dog and isolated for several centuries, so they should not have as many genetic or inherited conditions as other dogs with more cross and in-breeding. These are the potential health issues they might develop:

Elbow and Hip dysplasia – can lead to lameness and arthritis.

OCD Osteochondrois Dissecans – this is also an orthopedic condition when the soft tissue growth is abnormal in the joints. It is painful and the joint is stiff. Don’t breed a dog that has this condition.

Panosteitis – Canine growing pains. Inflammation of the long bones in large dogs as they grow. They will eventually out grow it. Pain can be managed through medication.

Autoimmune Hypothyroidism – Hormone deficiency leading to flaky skin, weight gain and lack of energy. Can be managed through medication.

Canine Inherited Demyelinative Neuropathy – If your Tibetan Mastiff is going to have this condition, they will have it by six weeks of age. Weakness in the hind legs leading to paralysis.

Bloat – deadly if not treated immediately and related to dietary habits.

There are a number of things you can do to make sure your Old English Bulldogge settles down nicely into his new home.

Grooming:

With his short coat, he isn’t described as being hypoallergenic, but the coat is looked upon as not triggering allergies as much as some of the other dog breeds. He will simply require a brush twice a week.

Vaccinations:

Make sure to take your 8 week old puppy to the vet to check him over and to start with his first vaccines to avoid him getting some of the life-threatening illnesses there are. He will also be de-wormed. Later on as an adult, he or she will need to be neutered or spayed to prevent puppies.

Never leave your dog in a car on a hot day. It can kill him. Rather leave him at home.

Diet:

Feed your Olde English Bulldogge a balanced diet that provides him with the right amount of minerals and vitamins. The top ingredients of commercially manufactured pet food must be meat. You can add some home-made food into his kibble as a treat as well as some raw meat occasionally. Chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and vegetables such as spinach, sweet potato and carrots will be excellent for him. You can also look at the possibility of giving your dog a supplement. Make sure he has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Feeding the puppy

Don’t feed the puppy too much protein as you want to prevent Panosteitis and growing too quickly. Do not overfeed. Feed 4-5 cups of high quality large breed puppy food in 3-4 meals day.

Feeding the adult

4 to 6 or more cups of a high-quality dog food daily, divided into two meals. To avoid bloat do not feed before or after vigorous exercise.

Points for Good Health

Calm and laid back when inside.

Games and Exercises

They need 20-30 minutes of vigorous exercise and play daily. They prefer to play with other large dogs.