Names and etymology The English name, Tibetan Mastiff, is reflected in the name 'Bhote Kukur' in Nepali, which means Tibetan Dog. In Mandarin Chinese the name is Zang'Ao, which literally means Tibetan Mastiff or Tibetan big ferocious dog. In Mongolia it is called "bankhar", meaning "guard dog". The Tibetan name, Do-khyi, means 'tied dog', reflecting its use as a home guard, much as the old English ban-dog (also meaning tied dog) was a dog tied outside the home as a guardian. The molosser type with which the modern Tibetan Mastiff breed is linked was known across the ancient world by many names. FCI STANDAARD DO-KHYI