Photo: $600,000 for Tibetan Mastiffs in China

by Dr. Chris

August 8, 2010 Tibetan Mastiffs are considered holy and guardians of Tibet. The Chinese believe that their presence helps protect them against disease. But the reason why they are selling for $600,000 in China is because for Chinese millionaires, they are a status symbol.

The Tibetan Mastiff named Yangtze River Number Two, sold for a record $600,000 to a Chinese couple recently. They wanted him because his blood line is pure and very rare.

Tibetan Mastiffs can grow to heights of 3 feet, and weigh almost 200 pounds. They are good guard dogs and are used to very cold weather and high altitudes, which could be a problem for rich owners living in more temperate regions.

Owning a dog in China's crowded cities is not easy. The dog license can cost up to $100 and in Beijing, each dog has to have its own photo ID.

Also, the Communist party banned owing pets for many years because it was view as frivolous. Also, many people in China still eat dogs, and don't view them as pets.

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