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Estonian Evolution

This small Baltic nation has become a hotbed of Tibetan Mastiff breeding

Twenty years ago, hardly anyone in Estonia knew anything about Tibetan Mastiffs. Fast-forward to today: This tiny Baltic country is now an epicenter of Tibetan Mastiff breeding, churning out both quality and quantity in this impressive Molosser breed. And Estonian lines have travelled not just to European countries and nearby Russia, but also as far afield as America and Australia.  

Historically, dogs were valued companions in this part of the world since the Stone Age, when they were buried with their humans, as well as separately. Later, as the dogs’ spiritual significance ebbed, their practical importance persisted, and to this day they are valued as herd guardians.   But the sport of dogs in Estonia is a relatively new phenomenon. The country’s inaugural dog clubs appeared during the first Estonian Republic, from 1918 to 1940. In more recent years, the support of Finnish judge and activist Kari Järvinen helped restore the traditions of kennel clubs in the country, and the Estonian Kennel Union was founded at the end of 1989. The first Tibetan Mastiff arrived in the country only a handful of years later.   

Why is the Tibetan Mastiff such a popular breed in Estonia – so popular that in the last few years it has put far more puppies on the ground than many of its neighboring countries? Is it because of our cold winters? After all, Tibetan Mastiffs can tolerate frosty weather that would keep most other breeds of dogs indoors. Or is it because Estonians appreciate an additional feeling of security (considering our recent political history) from a big and powerful dog? Or does this breed uniquely suit the prudent and home-centered Estonian culture?   Whatever the answers, we can be sure that the breed is here to stay.  

Tibetan Mastiffs first came to the Baltic Sea area in 1978, when the first dog, the American import Ausables Mathilda, arrived in Sweden; a female descending from her, Tai Wind’s Lu-Ta, traveled to Finland in 1984. But more than a decade passed before Tibetan Mastiffs appeared in Estonia – understandable once you consider that the country only got its freedom from the Soviet Union in 1991.

 

 

Baltic Sea Area MapEstonia’s neighbor, Latvia, acquired its first dogs from the pioneering Polish kennel Sarbinowska Sadyba – logical, given Poland’s close proximity. The first Latvian litter reached out across two borders, with puppies sent to both Poland and Estonia. Unfortunately, both of Latvia’s founding kennels are no longer active; the only official Tibetan Mastiff kennel left is Sharnima, owned by Elina Riere.  

We don’t have much information about Tibetan Mastiffs in Lithuania, which is Latvia’s neighbor to the south. Today there are three kennels breeding Tibetan Mastiffs there, alongside other breeds. The country’s first litter was born a few years ago. Will the breed prove to be popular there? The next couple of years will tell.  

But few countries can parallel the Tibetan Mastiff’s explosion of popularity in Estonia. The first time local people saw Tibetan Mastiffs at a dog show was on August 30, 1992. Swedish judge and breed specialist Paul Stanton judged a Junior male named Rajakan Shan-Shi Zi (Rambo V.D. Zegse Heide x Rajakan Lu-Max, bred by T. and I. Collanus, and owned by N. Pääkkönen and M. Kajander of Finland). One year later, in May 1993, at Estonia’s first International dog show, four Tibetan Mastiffs were exhibited, along with a breeder class representing the Of Zlazano kennel. Entered in this show was a young female named Of Zlazano Yidam (Dzong Pen La Tour Chandos x Yagula v Begero); she is a very significant dog for Estonians because she was the dam of the first litter whelped here, in 1996.  

 

Of Zlazano Yab-Pa. the first Tibetan Mastiff registered in Estonia.

 

A year earlier, the first Tibetan Mastiff puppy found its way to Estonia, in the spring of 1995. Malve Mölder of kennel Mirsai was a good friend of Finnish breeder Paula Kangassalo; at the time, both bred Afghan Hounds, but Paula also bred Tibetan Mastiffs under her well-known Of Zlazano prefix. Malve was tired of all the intense bathing and grooming that her Sighthounds required, and Estonian judge Lilian Hanniste suggested she look to Tibetan Mastiffs, which are just as headstrong as her beloved hounds, but need much less maintenance. Malve thought that was a lovely little joke, but the next time she visited her Swedish friend, Paula, she looked more closely at a litter she had on the ground. Choosing a puppy was easy. A little black-and-tan female named Of Zlazano Yab-Pa (Of Zlazano Yangbajing x Yolamu) kept following Malve around, and so “Yabpa” became her first Tibetan Mastiff. Oddly – but perhaps not surprisingly, given the breed’s very intuitive nature – when Malve visited the kennel previously without any intention of taking a Tibetan Mastiff, none paid any attention to her. Two years later, in 1997, Yabpa was mated to the famous Saipal Gambit, producing a litter of six bitches.  

Later that year, another Tibetan Mastiff, Of Zlazano Yidam (call name “Ida”), was purchased from Paula by Estonian breeders Olga and Peeter Pahk, who have focused on rare breeds such as the Fila Brasileiro, American Staffordshire Terrier and Cane Corso. The Tibetan Mastiff joined them on the advice of their good friend and Tibetan activist Ain Starast. Yidam was already an adult dog when she came to the Pahks’ Of Zlazan kennel, which in Peeter’s memory was in the autumn.  

 

Of Zlazano Yidam, or “Ida,” dam of the first Estonian-bred litter.

 

These two Tibetan Mastiffs were the first of their kind in the country. The question was, who would be the first to be registered? When Peeter returned from Finland with Ida, he called Malve and suggested she register her puppy immediately; otherwise, Ida would take that coveted honor. The two owners arrived at the Estonian Kennel Union the very same day, November 15, 1995. On that historic day, Of Zlazano Yab-Pa and Of Zlazano Yidam were the first Tibetan Mastiffs to be registered – in that order, with only a couple of hours between them.  

The first Tibetan Mastiff litter was born in Estonia on January 3, 1996 (Bhotoo  x Of Zlazano Yidam). There were eight puppies – three females and five males (all black and tan, except for one blue and tan). Most of the puppies stayed in Estonia; just one, Ferus Lucis Apso, travelled to Russia’s Malyshka Airin kennel, and went on to sire the first litter in that country.   Estonia’s next litters were born in rapid succession, all whelped by Ida: in 1997 (Ares Strazce z Tibetu x Of Zlazano Yidam), 1998 (Saipal Gambit x Of Zlazano Yidam) and 2000 (Corey v Altnaharra  x Of Zlazano Yidam).
 These litters produced the foundation stock of most Tibetan Mastiff kennels in Estonia.  

In 1997, new breeder Urve Arik chose a male Tibetan Mastiff puppy from the Ferus Lucis kennel named Ferus Lucis Ernie. In the coming years, she imported two nice black-and-tan girls from Finland: Of Zlazano Lin-ga (born in 1995, registered 1998) and Of Zlazano Lin-Ne (born 1997, registered 1999). The first litter – 10 puppies – was born in 2000 (Ferus Lucis Ernie x Of Zlazano Lin-ga), giving a start to the Status Benevoles kennel.  

As the breed grew in popularity, new breeders and kennel owners began to enthusiastically collect information about the breed. There were new imports, mostly from Finland (in particular the famous Of Zlazano kennel, though Paula no longer breeds Tibetans), including Of Zlazano Lins-Pa (born 1997, registered 1999) and Of Zalzano Ganesh Himal (born and registered 1998). All the dogs were black and tan, and many had light markings around their eyes, called spectacles, which was a trademark of their famous forefather, Saipal Gambit from Nepal. It was passed to the many generations that followed.   At first, most of the imports were black puppies with light tan markings. Then blue Tibetans began to appear in litters.In 1999, Rita Tali of the Ribessita kennel brought over the blue Swedish beauty Tai Wind’s Shari (“Suzi”).
Gold Tibetan Mastiffs came later – Of Zlazano Butval in 2001 and Of Zlazano Bus-Pa in 2002. Estonia’s first golden litter was born at kennel Status Benevoles in 2004.  

In less than a decade, the number of Tibetan Mastiffs in Estonia numbered more than 200. The Mastiff and Bullmastiff Club, later renamed the Estonian Mastiff Club, was founded in 1995, and held its first specialty show the following year. There was one Tibetan Mastiff in unofficial competition: Of Zlazano Yans-Pa, bred by P. Kangassalo and owned by Malve Mölder.  

 

Ferus Lucis Electra, World Junior Winner in 1998, paved the way for many Estonian wins on the international stage.

 

In 1998, Estonian breeders stretched their wings toward the international arena. Gathering all their courage, they went to the World Dog Show in Helsinki. It was a very bold move, given their short history with the breed. But their cheek paid off: A young female, Ferus Lucis Electra (owned by Olga and Peeter Pahk and Heli Pärnpuu), took the World Junior Winner title, and the male Junior, Ferus Lucis Ernie, was second in his class.  

Over the years, as they journeyed to shows abroad, Estonian breeders began to make lots of international contacts. High-profile shows lured them farther and farther afield, with enviable results: Every year since 2002, awards at the World or European Winner shows have gone to Tibetan Mastiffs from Estonia or dogs whose owners are Estonians.  

That same year saw huge changes in Estonia with the arrival of a beautiful black-and-tan male from the famous Altnaharra kennel. His name was Prince v Altnaharra (Andor v Altnaharra x Danda v Tanggula Shan), and he was bred by J. Lodders, and owned by Angela and Ivar Tendermann, whose name is one to remember. With his well-balanced temperament, great proportions and clean, gold tan with deep black coat, he set a new standard in the local Tibetan Mastiff world. “Prince” had a very accomplished pedigree (particularly on his father’s side), and he excelled in the whelping box as much as the show ring. Along with many wonderful titles (among them EUR JW02, TDE JW03, EUR W04, EUR W06), he accrued many beautiful offspring. The conventional wisdom is if you love the son, breed to the father, but with Prince there was no need to rewind a generation: He was a great specimen of the breed who was an equally great stud dog. I had the good fortune to know this dog very well, and I have to say that he was unique. Not only in terms of his appearance, but his gentle, moderate and distinguished temperament, which combined his powerful inner strength with tenderness to all who loved him.  

 

Prince v Altnaharra gave his wonderful color and outline to many of his offspring. Here is his daughter Grisran Amulet (Prince v Altnaharra x Status Benevoles Ai-Wa), bred in 2003 by Marge Randmäe of Kennel Grisran. Photo by Marge Randmäe.    

 

Prince threw beautiful, deep-black puppies with golden markings, as well as wonderful blue and tans. He sired litters at Chenporewa (2003, 2005, 2012), Ribessita (2003, 2004), Grisran (2004), Greip Ginger (2004, Latvia), Dinaburg’s Wonder (2005, Latvia), Desmoree (2005), Tseepo (2005), Nos Miu (2005, Czech), Yospel (2005) and Laik Vizhe Trel (2008, Russia).  

As early as 2005, specialty-show judge Torbjörn Skaar commented on the high quality of the Estonian breed population. But he did mention, too, that most dogs were very closely related. It was true: Earlier imports represented many of the same old lines. For example, from 2000 to 2002, 30 of the 93 puppies born in Estonia – more than a third – were descendants of Corey v Altnaharra.  

As for Prince, he was only one dog, and he couldn’t advance the whole breed. After a couple of years, breeders started looking to other countries for new lines. Unfortunately, there were only two options – use the customary, trusted European lines, or look to new frontiers, such as China. With this last option, there were a lot of question marks: Would you get an FCI pedigree? Could the breeder be trusted? Would the dog turn out well? The only definitive answer was that the Chinese imports would bring in new breeding lines.  

 

Above: Dra Minjen Chessy (Seng Khri Fu hsing x Dra Minjen Aimilla), bred and owned by Kai Aas, Estonia. The beautiful coat color comes down from his German-bred grandfather Ejson od Rumcajse A Manky, who was a blend of American and Chinese lines. Below: Status Benevoles Iyan Hsiang (Ejson od Rumcajse a Manky x Of Zlazano Lin-ne), who is a son of this same stud dog. His mother represents old lines. “Rocco” is in excellent condition and moving very well, even for a 10-year-old.

 

Estonian breeders were very interested in the offspring of Chinese and Taiwanese dogs that had started to come to Europe in recent years. For example, in 2004, Status Benevoles imported the black-and-tan male Ejson od Rumcajse A Manky (born 2003, bred by Blanka (Slobodjan) Michal in Germany). One side of his pedigree was the American-born WJW03 Drakyi Senge Sundari, and other side was Hasi from China, combined with Mille Vallees breedings. This male, “Traiku,” was a very successful show dog and became the new backbone for the kennel. Now retired, he is sometimes shown in the veteran class, and some of his children are already veterans, too.  

Eva and Arno Narro, who own the small hobby kennel Arevakana, made their own move, too, with the beautiful, black-and-tan female Ribessita the Peak of Tashi Tseringma (Prince v Altnaharra x Of Zlazano Yid-Hon-Rita). She was bred to a Chinese import, Tianwei Yuanyuan, who had been exported to the Czech Republic.  

Still other Estonian breeders were bold enough to ask to purchase puppies from some of the world’s biggest kennels. Imports from the United States were new lines for us. In 2006, Urve Arik of Status Benevoles brought over the female black-and-tan Drakyi Benevoles Pretty (Drakyi Dark Dragon x Drakyi Midnight Magic). That same American breeder, Richard Eichhorn, sent two black females to Ave Frisher of kennel Ayyangadoo: Drakyi Raven Ayyangadoo (Drakyi Dark Dragon x Aliana de Yuwenchi) and Kesang Camp’s Onyx of Drakyi (C and R’s Kenpo of Kesang Camp x Olly Strazce z Tibetu), who was bred by Gilbert and Nancy Bombliss.  

A little bit later, Ave acquired the black female puppy Sina Muo You Ayyangadoo (Shan Fen Karma x Tang Xiu Hua Zhoma) from Chinese breeder Andrew Wang of kennel Sina, who is now living in New Jersey. 

Some enterprising breeders started to make contact with China, hoping find original specimens from the historical Tibetan plateau, despite the cultural cost: Tibetan filmmaker Pema Tseden’s film “Old Dog” showed how the Chinese obsession for this ancient breed was an allegory for how modern values have wreaked havoc on Tibetan culture.  

Still, in 2005, some Tibetan Mastiffs were imported to Estonia from their land of origin, all of them bred by Zhang Hui-Bin. First came the black-and-tan male Shan-Xi Longcheng Long Way (Long Long Nicha x Mei Dang Na), and after some months brother and sister Long East and Cuihua (Duoqi x Gaoyuanbaobei). These males are still living at the Rishiwa kennel of Thea and Priit Põldmäe, and the female at kennel Ayyangadoo. In 2007, Abar (Moer x Tianli) arrived, earning the call name Abar the Bear.

 

Chinese import TM Cuihua (Duoqi x Gaoyuanbaobei). Breeder Zhang Hui-Bin, owner Ave Frischer of Estonia.

 

Getting official pedigrees a decade ago was a long and painful process, as the Chinese documents were not acceptable to FCI. But in 2011, China became a full-fledged member of the international canine organization, and eventually all the paperwork got sorted out. Today, the descendants of these early Chinese imports can be found in many kennels around the world.  

Estonia’s success has been a very international affair. The Czech kennel Sundari (owned by Jarmila Bendova) exported some very remarkable dogs to us over a short period. From Rick Eichhorn’s Drakyi kennel in the United States came two very impressive dogs, Drakyi Senge Sundari (Drakyi Darth Vader Minbari x Dakota Sioux) and Drakyi Black Princess (Sno-Lyon Drakyi Ghengis x Drakyi Ebony Noire). Chi Wayne’s Venezuelan kennel, Yuwenchi, contributed Popeye De Yuwenchi (Chariowald of Pi Sheng Kennel x Blido of Pi Sheng Kennel) and Aya de Yuwenchi (Bravo of Pi Sheng Kennel x Chatte of Pi Sheng Kennel). Descendants of these dogs have affected breeding stock in Estonia very dramatically. They contributed big heads, massive bone, rich coats, good size, wonderful movement and ideal proportions. Offspring from the Sundari kennel can be recognized in any crosses, so prepotent was their type. Generally these dogs fit in very well in Estonia, as the tendency has been to focus on the “mastiff” in Tibetan Mastiff. A decade ago, there was some discussion about moving the breed in more of the direction of a smaller herding dog, but generally speaking the breed has stayed more mastiff than ever.  

That’s not to say everyone agrees. These dogs ignited a very vigorous debate between what is “right” and “more right” in Tibetan Mastiff breeding. This difference of option is healthy, but Estonia is still a very small country, and we all have to fit into one show ring and try to get along.  

The Sundari kennel did not export to Estonia for very long, but the dogs they sent had a dramatic impact, in particular Bodhicita Sundari (Popeye De Yuwenchi x Drakyi Black Princess) and Cambu Sundari (Drakyi Senge Sundari x Aya de Yuwenchi), which were acquired by Angela and Ivar Tendermann’s Chenporewa kennel. The impressive offspring of these two dogs include Multi-winner Chenporewa Hum Harishankar (owned by Iwona Novak of Poland), WW 2010, EW2010,  Crufts winner  2011; multi-champion and WW JW2010 Chenporewa Ista Iron, owned by Tõnu and Merle Tanvell; and EW12, TDE W12 Chenporewa Kam-Bu Kalsange, owned by Ciprian Togan of Romania. Some puppies even returned to their grandparents’ homeland of America, among them Chenporewa Kam-Bu Kalden, Chenporewa Ko-Dhi Khandro, Chenporewa Ko-Dhi Kamala and Chenporewa Ko-Dhi Khushin Nyingma. Cambu Sundaril also had many beautiful litters outside his home kennel, in Russia and the Czech Republic, though he was lost to a tragic accident.    

 

Multi-Ch. EW08 Foo Sundari, owned by Pille and Tarmo Poks of Kennel Netravati. Similar to other Sundari dogs, he has a wide head, massive bone and wonderful movement, qualities that he passes on to his get, no matter the pedigree of the dam.

 

Despite all this progress, the questions plaguing Estonian breeders have not changed: How to go on breeding when all the beautiful dogs are related? Line breeding is permitted, but in addition to concentrating desired physical traits, close breeding can bring unexpected and unwanted health problems to the surface.  

Worried about a genetic bottleneck, breeders again looked to China. In 2011, the Chenporewa kennel brought in a black-and-tan brother and sister from China: Zhang Zhuo of Jie Xian’s Kennel and Sen Chao of Jie Xian’s Kennel. The new blood was very welcome, and many breeders wanted to get puppies from the first litters born in 2012: Chenporewa Hum Hurricane x Zhang Zhuo of Jie Xian’s Kennel and Sen Chao of Jie Xian’s Kennel x Chenporewa Isha Indra.  

The news headlines about the million-dollar dogs being sold in China did interest Estonian breeders in less popular colors like gold. At first this color was light, but now it appears in a very strong red variation. In 2012, red imports included the male Lad Fatong of Zhang Hui Bin’s Long Cheng Kennel (Da Long of Long Cheng’s Kennel x Long Ka of Long Cheng’s Kennel) as well as the female Ying Tao (call name “Cherry”). That said, the golden color has not vanished, and that same year kennel Tseepo imported a new gold male from America, Drakyi Golden Sengi to Tseepo (Drakyi Leonidas x Drakyi All of Jazzmine).  

All these dogs mean a lot of competition, and there can be very strong rivalry between breeders. But an even bigger concern is the rise of puppymillers. In 2014, there were 13 litters bred without pedigrees in Estonia, compared to 20 litters with pedigrees. This year is even worse – more than 15 litters without pedigrees, compared to only 10 with. This is the cost of popularity, and, unfortunately our legal system is powerless to stop it.  

Estonia has two clubs that have the right to represent Tibetan Mastiffs. One, as previously mentioned, is the Estonian Mastiff Club, which dates back to 1995; the other is the Tibetan Mastiff Club, which was founded in 2004. Both clubs organize specialty shows. And last year, the Estonian Mastiff Club organized Tibet Dog Estonia, a breed specialty show inspired by Tibet Dog Europe. Its purpose is unite breed enthusiasts across the five Tibetan breeds – the Tibetan Mastiff, Tibetan Terrier, Tibetan Spaniel, Llasa Apso and Shih Tzu – from many countries.  

 

Tibet Dog Estonia Best in Show winner Vanzhil Badarhan My Golden Lion. Breeder Maria Guseva, owner Alexandra Moroz.    

 

The Tibetan Mastiff has achieved a remarkable place in Estonian dog culture during the last decade. As I’ve written, many dogs have travelled around the world to lay the foundation for new kennels, and to diversify the breeding programs of established ones. At the same time, many different bloodlines have crossed our borders to do the same. It is a great spirit of cooperation, and one that I hope will continue for many years to come.  

But beside all this, these dogs are still our beloved and wonderful friends. For many people, they are full-fledged family members. For those who don’t own the breed, the Tibetan Mastiffs on display at dog shows are lovely, furry bears who look ready to be hugged. But we can never forget where they came from and what their work was. Tibet was a closed and ancient culture, and owners have to understand and respect the part our highly protective breed played in it. We joke with friends that Tibetan Mastiffs may have been brought out from Tibet, but they left their software behind. It is true: Sometimes, they are really hard to understand. But I have seen really great bonds between dogs and their families.  

 We have lot to learn from these dogs – patience, loyalty and forgiveness, but at the same time justice, incorruptible defense and the drive to keep working at any cost. I hope with the help of our Tibetan Mastiffs, we all become better people – for our families, friends and, of course, for the dogs themselves.  

 

 

About the Author

Kaire Rjadnev-Meristo (pictured here with Chenporewa Hum Hurricane) has been a board member of the Estonian Mastiff Club since 2004,
and is a founding member and board member of Estonian Tibetan Mastiff Rescue. A member of the Estonian Kennel Union since 2003, she is the main organizer of
 Tibet Dog Estonia.     

 

 

 

 

© Modern Molosser Magazine. This article may not be reposted, reprinted, rewritten, excerpted or otherwise duplicated in any medium without the express written permission of the publisher.

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