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Only last year, a purebred year old Tibetan Mastiff pup sold for the Yen equivalent of $2 million to a very optimistic Chinese property developer. He said he intended to start breeding the wildly popular dogs which have been used by monks for centuries to guard temples.
A relative (sic.) bargain, his litter mate twin brother was slightly less costly at $1 million, due to his less desirable coloring.
What a difference a year makes! These once prized dogs have been seen selling for $5 as meat.
Then I guess the “tulip craze / tulip mania” hit China in the last few years - only this time it wasn’t flowers, it was Tibetan mastiffs. And now apparently the bottom has fallen out of the puppy mill market. Some Tibetan mastiffs are now headed for the “scrap heap.” According to a story in the April 17, 2015 issue of the Seattle Times newspaper, they may become dog food.
Seattle Times article
Breeders are quitting the Mastiff business due to the lack of buyers and the cost of feeding their kennel kibble-hungry hordes.
It’s all due to supply and demand - too many dogs, too few buyers willing to shell out that much money. An average Tibetan Mastiff is still pricey - about $2,000.
Previous canine fads among rich Chinese include German shepherds, Golden Retrievers, and Dalmatians.
Tibetan Mastiff Working Dog
Like most big dogs, the Tibetan Mastiff is used to guard and protect livestock. This is an original color, but it isn’t the color favored by the Chinese.
Tibetan Mastiff - China Report
Over the page is a great video report about the most expensive Tibetan Mastiffs. Plus, there is a Chinese Tibetan Mastiff dog show.
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