Cesas Way
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 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
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 dogs 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 Worlds 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
