Tibetan Mastiff Puzzle

The Tibetan Mastiff (Wylie: 'dogs khyi;[1] Lhasa dialect IPA: [tʰòcʰi]) is an ancient breed and type of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) originating with nomadic cultures of Tibet, China, Nepal, and Central Asia.

The Tibetan Mastiff also known as "Dok-Khyi"[2] (translated as "nomad dog", "dog which may be tied", "dog which may be kept"), reflects its use as a guardian of herds, flocks, tents, villages, monasteries, and palaces, much as the old English ban-dog (also meaning tied dog) was a dog tied outside the home as a guardian. However, in nomad camps and in villages, the do-khyi is traditionally allowed to run loose at night.[citation needed]

The guardian type from which the modern Tibetan Mastiff breed has been derived was known across the ancient world by many names. Bhote Kukur in Nepali as bhote means someone from Tibet and kukur means dog. The Chinese name for the breed is 藏獒 (Mandarin: Zàng áo; Cantonese: Tzong ngou), meaning "Tibetan mastiff-dog". In Mongolia, it is called bankhar.

The name Tibetan mastiff is a misnomer; it is not a true mastiff. The term "mastiff" was used primarily because it meant "big dog". Early Western visitors to Tibet misnamed several of its breeds: The "Tibetan Terrier" is not a terrier and the "Tibetan Spaniel" is not a spaniel. A better name for the dog would be Tibetan mountain dog or, to encompass the landrace breed throughout its range, Himalayan mountain dog.