Tibetan Mastiff Sells for $1.9M in China (Lion's Blood)

UPI ^ | March. 19, 2014 | Danielle Haynes

[nickcarraway]

Tibetan mastiff is a status symbol for the newly wealthy in China, fetching prices upwards of a million dollars.

]A wealthy businessman in China purchased a Tibetan mastiff puppy at a luxury pets fair for a whopping $1.9 million.

“They have lion’s blood and are top-of-the-range mastiff studs,” said Zhang Gengyun, the dog's breeder. “Pure Tibetan mastiffs are very rare, just like our nationally treasured pandas, so the prices are so high."

Tibetan mastiffs are known for their round manes giving them a lion-like look, and are descendants of hunting dogs used by nomadic tribes in Asia. The dogs are large and can be ferocious and fiercely loyal, the New York Post reported.

The pup the unnamed businessman purchased was 31 inches tall and about 200 pounds.

The dog is a popular breed for the newly wealthy in China, a status symbol move that has driven their prices up. One sold for $1.5 million in 2011 and there are reports another fetched $4.3 million last year.

An industry insider it's often the case that breeders drive the prices up on these transactions to boost the dogs worth, but that actually money never exchanges hands.

[nickcarraway]

[Sacajaweau]

Anyone that pays 1.9 mil for a dog is an idiot.

[libstripper]

Theme was a scandal at a Chinese zoo a few months ago when the visitors discovered the zoo was charging admission for them to see the zoo’s “lion” that turned out to be one of these dogs.

[Vaquero]

Saw this yesterday. Kind of ridiculous. Can get an equally inbred dog for a couple of hundred. Or a mutt without hip dysplasia for next to nothing.

[Army Air Corps]

I am not sure if it would make a good bird dog for quail or pheasant season.

[ShadowAce]

I like the looks of the English Mastiff better.

[Joe 6-pack]

WOOOF!

The Doggie Ping list is for FReepers who would like to be notified of threads relating to all things canid. If you would like to join the Doggie Ping Pack (or be unleashed from it), FReemail me.

[Cowboy Bob]

How do they taste?

[ZULU]

Probably the item in a new upscale Chinese cuisine along with live monkey brains.

[Osage Orange]

The pup the unnamed businessman purchased was 31 inches tall and about 200 pounds.

That ain't no pup...

[Constitution Day]

How do they taste?

Pretty ruff.

[NVDave]

Completely different temperament tho.

[Wicket]

Ya can’t fix stupid.

[ShadowAce]

Could be—I have no experience with the Tibetans. The English was quite calm, loyal, and patient when I was growing up around her.

[Joe 6-pack]

Perhaps the real purpose of moochele’s trip was to do a little grocery shopping for hubby....

[Gefn]

Think of all the shelter dogs that could be helped with that money.

[rejoicing]

Still smells like..........dog!!

[Farmer Dean]

Adopted a rottweiler last year at a local shelter.80 bucks.We’re very happy with him and I think he’s pretty happy with us.

[Abathar]

Lion’s blood Huh?

Perhaps this is what Charlie Sheen was referring to, but that would mean...

Nevermind.

[Ray76]

Anyone that sells a dog for 1.9 mil is a genius. ;)