Alice White
#4 Mastiffs were also widely used to protect the serene tranquility of monasteries.
Then the animals worked in the company of Tibetan spaniels. The latter raised an unrestrained barking at the invasion of strangers and thus called for help from the mastiffs - the heavier "artillery". Given the fact that these large dogs fearlessly fought even with snow leopards, monks and novices could not fear armed raids and invasions.
#5 It was the geographical remoteness of Tibet that became the reason why the breed was able to maintain its original features for thousands of years.
Only occasionally did the mastiffs "wander" to other countries - mainly as trophies or valuable gifts. According to historical data, similar dogs accompanied the army of Genghis Khan in battles, and the rest of the time they were on guard duty. The distant ancestors of the mastiffs also met in other armies of the ancient world, who fought with the Romans, Greeks, Assyrians, and Persians.
#6 At the turn of the XIII-XIV centuries, Marco Polo, an Italian traveler and merchant, set foot on the lands of Tibet.
In his writings, he mentions a mastiff - a huge and angry dog, which was almost larger than a pack donkey. Her voice was loud and booming like the roar of a lion, and her eyes were bloodshot at the slightest hint of danger. Although, perhaps, the merchant only recorded the observations of other travelers, who could embellish the reality. By the way, many dog handlers adhere to this point of view, although they admit that such a colorful description excites the imagination of impressionable persons.
