14 DAY TRIAL // A Tibetan mastiff puppy has just become the most expensive dog in the world after it has been sold at auction in China for a whopping £1.2million ($1.9/€1.4 million).
A 56-year-old property developer proved to be a real dog lover as he paid 12 million yuan for the one-year-old puppy (seen on the left in the photo above) at a luxury pet auction held in the eastern province of Zhejiang on Tuesday. The deal broke the previous record for the world's most expensive dog sale.
The golden-haired mastiff weighs 90kg (14stone) and is 32in (81cm) tall.
The second puppy from the photo fetched £600,000 ($992,000/€717,000).
“They have lion’s blood and are top-of-the-range mastiff studs,” the dogs’ breeder Zhang Gengyun said, according to Daily Mail.
“Pure Tibetan mastiffs are very rare, just like our nationally treasured pandas, so the prices are so high,” he added.
The Tibetan Mastiff is an ancient breed which was used as a guardian of herds, flocks, tents, villages, monasteries, and palaces. Nowadays it represents a status symbol for the rich men of the country and it is believed to bring luck, health and security.
Owners say the mastiffs are very intelligent, loyal and protective, but they require strict obedience training and an understanding of canine psychology, as sometimes they can be very stubborn.