Tibetan Mastiffs are astonishingly beautiful.
On 7/15/2012 2:36 PM, Peggy & The Girls wrote:
Cesas Way
<http://www.cesarsway.com/newsandevents/dognews/The-Worlds-Most-Expensive-Dog?utm_source=BlueHornet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Jul12NL_3>
By Nicole Pajer
How much would you be willing to pay for a dog? A coal industrialist
in China shelled out a whopping *$1.5 million to purchase a 180-pound
11-month old dog named "Hong Dong" (translates to "Big Splash" in
English). Big Splash is a prized red Tibetan Mastiff, a rare breed
<http://www.cesarsway.com/keyword/breed>* thought to be among the
oldest and most respected dogs in the world.
Tibetan Mastiffs have always been an important part of Tibetan
history. The dogs are said to have traditionally guarded monasteries
and nomad camps. Tibetans believe the dogs to be holy, possessing the
souls of monks and nuns who failed to be reincarnated or did not enter
the heavenly realm. Many believe that Tibetan Mastiffs provide their
owners with blessings of health
<http://www.cesarsway.com/channel/dog-care/dog-health> and security.
*Big Splash is a particularly rare mastiff, as he is red*, which is
considered to be a lucky color. In addition, *he has been raised on a
diet of beef, chicken, abalone, and sea cucumber. *The dog's breeder,
"Mr. Lou," calls Big Splash "a perfect specimen," explaining that his
superior genes will make him a phenomenal breeding dog. Lou and his
team admitted to spending a lot of money to raise the dog and stated
that the new owner could easily earn a handsome sum by using Big
Splash as a stud dog. Lou told reporters that while the demand for
breed has resulted in expensive purchases of Tibetan Mastiffs, the
price tag on Big Splash was still shocking. "When I started in this
business 10 years ago, I never thought we would see such a price!"
Tibetan Mastiffs have always been treasured in their home country;
however, have recently become a status symbol, taking the place of
diamonds and expensive cars as a means of signifying wealth. Among the
high ranked historic owners of the breed are: Queen Victoria, King
George IV, and Genghis Kkan. Legend has it that Lord Buddha was even a
Tibetan Mastiff owner.
The title of "World's Most Expensive Dog" was previously held by
Yangtze River Number Two, an 18-month old Tibetan Mastiff who was
purchased for $582,000 in 2009. Yangtze River No 2 arrived in her new
hometown by means of a 30-limousine motorcade and was greeted by local
dog lovers holding up a red banner welcoming her
