Travelling with Genghis Khan, these dogs were excellent camp defenders. They remained in Tibet, isolated until the Chinese invaded and the breed nearly died out. They have since come back as family companions and livestock protectors.
Very independent, these dogs require a lot of socialization if they are to accept anyone besides the family that raised them. While this dog is very patient with kids, it can get confused by children playing with one another and try to protect “their” kids. The breed can also be territorial.