CRI听力: Tibetan Mastiffs

These days in China, dogs aren't just a man's best friend; they're also a good investment. Dog ownership is valued in China, and the current prize breed is the Tibetan Mastiff.

Zhang Wan has the story.

Mastiffs are prized for their furry coat, large size and distinctive appearance. But in the past several years, people in China have begun breeding them not just for the love of dogs, but for their enormous value. Some Tibetan mastiffs can bring in up to one-million yuan for their owners.

Dog owners, breeders, and enthusiasts are attending the 6th annual China Tibetan Mastiff Expo to exhibit and sell their dogs.

One of the most distinctive and highest quality dogs being shown is a hefty, five-year-old, red-furred Mastiff, called LiaoShen, weighing in at 100 kilograms.

His owner Gao Jianchao says he would never sell him, but that he could earn up to 1.8-million yuan selling his offspring. Gao runs what he claims to be one of the largest Tibetan mastiff breeding bases in China, with 60 mastiffs on almost five acres, 25 of which are in the highest class of their breed.

"People raise Tibetan Mastiffs because it's a good source of income and it's a developing industry here. Tibetan Mastiffs are a uniquely Chinese breed."

Gao Jianchao started his breeding base in 2006, after returning from three years in Toronto. His parents supported him in his business endeavor and now he makes roughly seven-million yuan a year from breeding and selling the dogs.

While the dog's fluffy coat is an attractive feature for Tibetan mastiff enthusiasts, the dogs are also prized for their aggressive attitude and often overly protective behavior. With their bushy fur, the dogs look like lions and can act like one if provoked.

Dogs at the show were judged upon their structure, their facial features, their fur and their character. Gao Jianchao says that mastiffs really are a matter of taste. From the number of people attending the show, it is clear that many share his love of the gruff, hairy breed, and not just for their financial value.

Thirty-three-year-old Han Guozu was one such attendee. A former teacher turned dog breeder and photo enthusiast, like many, he came to the show to check out the best in show. His own dog is the son of a famous Tibetan mastiff and he doesn't underestimate the value of these pricey pets.(www.hXen.com)

"These dogs, they're more valuable than people. To give a bad example, if a person is killed in a traffic accident, the most their family can expect is a few hundred thousand yuan compensation. But a dog? A few million yuan! Ten million or more! That's normal."

The most valuable dogs are not for sale, he says. They're seen as beloved friends, who their owners couldn't bear to sell at any price.

For China Drive, I am Zhang Wan.