According to legend, when Genghis Kahn began his little campaign to conquer all of Asia and Europe, his most trusted sidekicks were his Tibetan mastiff, or gigantic dogs, that would eventually be responsible for the creation of most large breeds of dogs throughout the world. At one point during the 20th century, though, the breed became rare throughout the world and people feared that it would eventually become endangered. But like all cool vintage trends, someone eventually hipstered up and gave the Tibetan mastiff a second chance, and over the past 10 years the breed has seen a powerful resurgence.
For starters, the Westminster Kennel Club recognized the breed for the first time ever during the 2008 dog show, and that was the direct result of – and probably more likely the cause of – a growing number of competitions and exhibitions throughout China, involving just this breed. Over the weekend, the China Tibetan Mastiff Exhibition was held in Shenyang in the Liaoning province (it’s like the Chicago of China) and that massive beast above was the big winner of the event’s beauty contest.
If you’re thinking about getting in on this Tibetan mastiff action, you might want to start saving, though. Mastiff puppies sell for as much as $200,000 in the U.S. and Europe, and most breeders have a waiting list. But if you’re really fired up and ready to pass on that new house you’ve had your eye on, a man in Urumqi, Xinjiang (think: Los Angeles) nearly broke a world record when his mastiff, Black Pearl, produced a litter of 22 pups last month.
“Usually a litter for a mastiff should be four or five puppies; sometimes it could be seven or eight, but this is very rare,” said Zhanqiang Su of Xinjiang Agricultural University.
Black Pearl’s owner, Qingcai Guo, 53, owns a pet shop and was delighted with the huge litter. Five of the puppies did die, but the others are thriving.
“She was given to me by a friend three years ago. We have always treated her like our own child and given her nothing but the best,” said Guo, proudly.
Guo and his wife take turns caring for the puppies around the clock, nursing them with bottles of milk. (Via Weird Asian News)
As well as wiping their little puppy butts with $100 bills, I’m sure. Even if this guy sold his pups for half of what they typically sell for, that’s still a cool $1.7 million. Even Bob Barker could respect that.
(Images via Reuters)
