Moscow, 03/09/2021, 23:10:49, editorial office PRONEDRA.RU, author Evgenia Komarov.
Owners of private houses who want to have a guard and a companion should pay attention to Tibetan mastiffs. Of course, a pet will not be cheap. Representatives of one of the most expensive dog breeds require expensive care. But the investment will pay off with the love of the animal and the opportunity to earn money from breeding.
There are dozens of dog breeds in the world. Some appeared relatively recently. Others have coexisted with humans for centuries. Tibetan Mastiffs belong to the second category. These intelligent, massive dogs were long unknown outside their high-altitude home.
History of the breed
There is an opinion that the Tibetan dog became the ancestor of all modern Molossians . The University of Nianjin published a study, according to the findings of scientists from this university, most modern dog breeds diverged from wolves 42,000 years ago, and Tibetan mastiffs - 58,000 years ago. However, it is worth noting that there are those who disagree with this report.
But there is a lot of evidence about this breed, it was mentioned by Aristotle , around 350 BC. Then he described in detail both the appearance and the special bark of the mastiff. Marco Polo , who made his famous journey through China in the 15th century, also spoke about this animal The collections contain a considerable number of Chinese miniatures with Tibetan mastiffs depicted on them.
A pair of individuals was presented as a gift to the English King George V in the 19th century. They say that the king was delighted with them and rarely parted with his favorites. Thanks to this fact, mastiffs became popular among the nobility. But the war led to the almost complete disappearance of Tibetan mastiffs in Europe; for example, in England there are only 300 individuals.
In China, the breed developed and gradually became a sign of the highest status of its owner . In ancient times, it was also highly valued for its unsurpassed protective qualities. It is known for certain that a mastiff can repel the attack of a leopard or wolf.
History of selection and breed standard
The breed was developed in ancient times; the first historical mentions date back to 300 AD. In the Middle Ages, the dog was popular throughout Asia, in particular in the Tibetan mountains, due to its character and watchdog qualities. Closer to modern times, animals began to disappear, as a result of which the breed became exclusive. Buying the most expensive dog is now quite difficult.
A distinctive feature of the breed is its loud but muffled bark. The muffled hooting of a dog can be carried over a considerable distance. Other characteristics of the standard include:
- Head. – The dog has a wide and massive mouth, a heavy skull and a wide muzzle.
- Ears. – Small, set wide apart, has short, soft fur.
- Eyes. – The eyes are widely spaced and have an oblong oval shape.
- Jaws. – The mastiff has wide jaws, a dense and powerful bite.
- Wool. – Long and smooth, with undercoat appearing in cold weather. Bitches have shorter coat length than males.
The Tibetan Mastiff has the most expensive puppies - the price of the breed depends on the quality of the pedigree and the number of awards from exhibitions.
Temperament and character of the mastiff
This is a dog that will become an equal partner in the family , it will respect the owner as the leader of the pack, but will not tolerate humiliation and rude treatment. At the same time, they are very attentive to family members, especially the younger ones.
The loud, guttural bark of a mastiff will scare away a thief from the area. They like to sleep during the day, so at night they can be overly active. It is better to let the animal into the house at night and release it into the yard in the morning. They have a very strong sense of ownership, so Tibetans are wary of even frequent family guests.
They have a very sharp mind , but are also stubborn ; most representatives of the breed benefit from obedience courses, but a few will remain independent and stubborn for life. To have a healthy psyche, a pet needs to communicate with its owner every day; dogs of this breed have a strong internal connection with the owner. Socialization is also required for the puppy to develop properly.
Mastiffs are very sensitive to changes: moving, the arrival of a new family member, a change in attitude can affect the behavior of the pet. Therefore, they are not recommended for military and law enforcement service.
Price in China
An adult mastiff in China can cost on average 15-30 thousand dollars. Although it is difficult to talk about the price of a dog of this breed, especially in its native country. The fact is that the cost consists of various components, such as the territory of birth, titles of parents, color, upbringing scheme, age, pedigree, titles of the puppy itself, expert assessment, and so on. In particular, in China there are individuals that are prohibited from sale by government order. These dogs are priceless. Tibetan Mastiff puppies will cost around $3,000.
The most expensive dogs in the world
Despite the difficulties in raising and maintaining such a large dog, the breed is popular all over the world, and in China the Tibetan Mastiff has become almost a totem animal. The growth in popularity has been greatly facilitated by the fact that puppies of this breed have been sold for record amounts in the past few years.
All the first 3 places in the ranking of the most expensive dogs are occupied by Tibetan mastiffs and all of them were sold in China.
This price race started in 2009, when a Chinese businesswoman purchased a puppy for $500,000 . The male was named Yang Tzu No. 2. Then this price created a sensation; the puppy was purchased at the prestigious annual Chinese exhibition of Tibetan mastiffs.
Every year in China there is an exhibition where the best representatives of the breed are shown, where you can buy a puppy or stand in line for one of the planned litters in the future.
The same exhibition in northern China showed the world the next record value in 2011. A Tibetan mastiff named Hong Dong has already been sold for $1.5 million . The 11-month-old puppy at the time of sale weighed 90 kg, was 80 cm at the withers and continued to grow. From Chinese, the animal’s name translates to “Big Flash.” It was bought by a coal magnate.
In 2013, the puppy Emperor, who was valued at $1.6 million, .
And more recently, in 2014, the most expensive dog on earth went under the hammer: a Tibetan mastiff for $1,950,000 . The puppy was sold by a breeder who had previously exhibited dogs for astronomical sums. The dog was bought by a Chinese developer. Occasionally they write about the dog that he eats exclusively fresh meat, and he has his own servant. It is assumed that the owner will try to get offspring from him. We can assume that this is the wealthiest dog.
All the dogs sold for such sums were males with red coat color , this is the color that is considered elite. Breeders even resort to inbreeding to achieve color intensity. The special expression of the muzzle with slightly protruding brow ridges, as if hanging over the eyes, is also very much appreciated. In China, there are known cases where puppies even tried to undergo plastic surgery on their faces. Unfortunately, despite the fact that such an operation costs from 50 to 100 thousand dollars, in 70% of cases it ends in death.
In addition to the dog’s exterior and parents, a lot of additional factors that are incomprehensible to Westerners play a big role, for example, the puppy’s zodiac sign and year of birth according to the Eastern calendar.
The Chinese say:
“Gold has a price, but the Tibetan Mastiff is priceless.”
Dog care: how to look after it correctly!
Tibetan Mastiffs are odorless, so the dog should only be bathed if it is very dirty. Regular water procedures spoil the health of the skin - the best option would be to bathe no more than once a month. Particular attention should be paid to the health of the coat: it is necessary to regularly inspect for the presence of tangles and tangled curls. The mastiff sheds rarely - no more than once a year. Seasonal molting does not always happen and depends on climatic conditions.
The dog's claws and teeth also need careful care. It is recommended to trim the nails no more than 2-3 times a year, but it is advisable to clean the paws of dirt after each walk with a soft brush. The dog should be accustomed to cleaning from puppyhood so that the mastiff behaves obediently during the procedure. It is advisable to brush your dog’s teeth at least 5 times a week.
Important! Due to its thick and long coat, the breed does not tolerate warm climate conditions. For comfortable living, it is necessary to keep the dog only in well-ventilated, cool rooms - a narrow booth or car in the sun will be a tough test for the mastiff.
An essential part of caring for your dog is regular walking and exercise. Mastiffs are the most expensive large dogs and require intense training. A dog needs a daily jog for 20 minutes in order to stimulate its metabolism and normalize hormonal levels.
The mastiff should be fed no more than three times a day, but the volume of each portion should be sufficient for the dog. It is not recommended to feed adult animals natural food mixed with dry food, as this disrupts the animal’s digestion. Various foods are strictly contraindicated for puppies!
Maintenance and care
For obvious reasons, none of the buyers were ever identified by name in the press. Journalists were only given their occupation and pseudonym. But it is clear that these people have the opportunity to keep a dog in a country house, since they are absolutely not apartment dwellers. This breed requires space and some freedom, so an expensive home with a large yard is best for them.
The dog can be fed steamed veal or lamb , as well as vegetables and oils, carefully balanced in the diet. But most dog owners outside the Middle Kingdom feed their Tibetan mastiffs with high-quality premium dry food. The dog should always have plenty of fresh water. a canopy in the yard so that the dog can hide from the sun in the shade, as they are sensitive to heat.
Special care is required for the coat , which must be combed very carefully with different types of brushes. Washing is required once every 6 weeks. You also need to wipe the folds on the face with wet wipes every day.
A bored mastiff can chew and break things, dig a hole in the yard, howl and bark loudly. If offended by the owner, it can run away.
This breed lives for about 14 years and matures relatively late. They reach full bloom at the age of 6-7 years .
Character
The Tibetan Mastiff is not an apartment dog. He needs a lot of space and unlimited access to fresh air. The Mastiff needs to walk a lot and spend time with its owner. Loneliness is detrimental to these dogs.
Tibetan Mastiffs require proper socialization. This breed is quite friendly to everyone around it, but its large size can frighten strangers. Imagine that such a dog is running towards you. Agree, this is not very pleasant. The dog must understand how to behave outside the home and not go beyond what is permitted.
This breed is very smart. The mastiff will not listen to the owner just because he suddenly decided that he should be obeyed. Your task is to earn the dog's trust. At the same time, it is worth understanding that a mastiff cannot be offended. If you hurt the dog's pride, he will not follow a single command. This dog must be treated as an equal and nothing else. Become a friend to the mastiff and he will become a friend to you.
Mastiffs abroad
Foreigners do not look at how much a Tibetan mastiff costs in Russia. Quite the contrary. Among world breeders, those dogs that cost as much as possible are more popular. The Chinese themselves consider the presence of a mastiff to be a sign of the owner’s wealth.
Rich Europeans often buy these dogs. Tibetan Mastiff puppies, especially those bred in the Himalayas, are very expensive, thereby attracting many who want to strengthen their social status. And considering how incredibly difficult it is to obtain permission to export such a dog from the country, the main contenders for them can only be really rich people.
In such cases, the expression that the end justifies the means is fully confirmed - this dog is so interesting in itself that no matter what price the owner pays for it, every dollar is well spent. Their habits can simply evoke a whirlwind of incredible emotions in the owner. It's almost impossible not to fall in love with these puppies. Looking at them, you instantly forget how much a Tibetan mastiff costs in Russia or even abroad. The main thing is to get this treasure.
