When the news broke last week that an unnamed man in China reportedly paid $1.9 million for a Tibetan mastiff — that the breeder claimed has “lion’s blood” — the massive dog became the most talked-about canine breed on the planet.
But you don’t need a cool two million to get your own Tibetan mastiff. The dogs are available from breeders in the U.S. for the relative bargain price of $2,000 to $5,000, and they’ve enjoyed niche popularity here for decades.
Linda Borowinski, 38, of Wayne, NJ, bought two Tibetan mastiffs, Chewbacca and Leia, as puppies a year ago. She wanted big dogs that would be good with her children, and learned about the breed online. The fact that they don’t drool very much was also a plus. “I can’t have a slobbery dog,” she says with a laugh.
In China, the mastiffs were used as guard dogs for centuries; in recent years, they’ve become furry, pricey status symbols.
But experts in the US say the reported price tags and fantastical claims about the dogs aren’t to be belived.
“Tibetan Mastiffs have become a commodity in China and every few years as demand wanes they put out a story that a dog sold for an exorbitant amount,” says Rebecca Chambliss, the secretary of the American Tibetan Mastiff Association. She notes that in 2011, a dog reportedly sold for $1.5 million, but “there was no proof that any money actually exchanged hands.”
As for the supposed “lion’s blood,” Andrew Wang, a Tibetan mastiff breeder based in New Jersey and a medical doctor, is skeptical of such claims.
“They don’t have the scientific notification,” he says.
Even if they don’t have lion’s blood coursing through their veins, the dogs require special care and consideration. Because they hail from a high, cold and arid place — the Himalayan and Nepalese mountain regions — they do best in cold, dry conditions. “They really love winter,” says Wang, who sold the Borowinskis their dogs.
During hot, muggy East Coast summers, the animals must be kept indoors and have access to air conditioning. Humid conditions can cause them skin problems.
“A lot of people contact us from Florida or somewhere in tropical areas [and] it’s not optimal to raise them there,” Wang says.
The dogs also need ample space. They typically weigh between 80 and 120 pounds and can stand more than 30 inches tall.
They also tend be fiercely protective of their family and extremely wary of outsiders. If they are trained from a young age, they can play well with other dogs, but they prefer to be the dominant animal.
“They are very territorial,” says Andrew.
The Wangs vet potential owners with a questionnaire and an interview.
“We want to make sure [their] lifestyle and family situation matches … with these types of dogs,” Andrew says.
The Borowinskis passed the test and couldn’t be happier with their dogs. “We love them as part of our family,” Linda says.