Ever wonder how much it would cost for your own personal Entei or a dragon dance all year round? A Chinese coal baron paid about $1.5 million for one in red.
With a height of almost three feet, weight of over 100lbs, and a "legendary" history in Eastern Asia, the Tibetan Mastiff is the closest pet you can get to your beloved Entei - or a pet lion. Though not the 'real' thing, these canines have similar specs in comparison to the pokemon.
Ten Prized Dogs series, Tibetan Mastiff. Artwork depicting a Tibetan Mastiff from the Qing Dynasty.
Its long, mane-like coat comes in various colors: black, tan with black, multiple types of red (pale gold to deep), bluish-gray (soft black), or white (very light gold) - all colors often having white markings. They are great family companions since they save up daytime energy to use for keeping watch at night. Tibetan Mastiffs tend to work solitaire, but can stand living with a single other canine. As a guardian, however, they possess aggressive tendencies towards persons unknown to them. Novice trainers - owners - should probably not attempt to catch this breed. If you buy one that has not been inbred too much, the life expectancy is long in comparison to most other large breeds and will have a very low possibility of diseases or disorders.
Still, with all those great characteristics, who wouldn't want one? That's exactly what the multi-millionaire who bought Hong Dong - Big Splash - thought when he dropped 10 million Yuan for the beautiful red pup. Most range around $2,500 to $5k for puppies from breeders. The breeder Hong Dong came from sells most at 100k Yuan each. Even without that kind of green, can you really resist their sleepy-eyed, chubby faces?
Black Newborn
Tibetan Mastiff Puppies; brentolson; January 18, 2007.
Tan and Black Pup
Puppies - Ashi, getting ready to meet her new family; brentolson; February 24, 2007.
Red (like Big Splash was) Adult
Yeti; Chinese Mastiff often referred to as a Chinese bred Tibetan Mastiff; March 2008.
White Adult
Tibetan Mastiff - The Westminster Kennel Club 137th Annual All Breed Dog Show; New York, NY; Andrea arden; February 18, 2013.
Or this one...?
Tibetan Mastiff...or Hovawart on steroids; Bernard Schep; November 15, 2012.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
