Tibetan Mastiffs have seen it all – from fighting knives to going under them and to now becoming Chinese puppy mills’ latest pet
‘MADE IN CHINA’ seems like an omnipresent tag on almost all commodities; be it software, apparel, sports goods or electronics. Locking its jaws yet again on the dog breeding industry, the king of ‘fakes’ has sniffed out huge profits in breeding Tibetan Mastiffs (TMs), for pocket dogs are passé for the Chinese market. Catching the eye of the rich and famous is the giant, large breed, king of the ‘molosser’ tribe, the Tibetan Mastiff. Not a very long time ago pet pooches were considered to be a luxury in China and were difficult to procure, courtesy the stringent rules and regulations pertaining to dog ownership. Also undying protests from various activists against dog meat (considered a culinary tradition) industry made it difficult for people to own dogs for the wrong or right reasons. But now that puppy mills are flourishing world over, dog lovers and meat eaters are going ahead at full throttle to take home a companion for life, or for a juicy steak.
“Having TMs is a status symbol in China and can range from $3000 to over $100,000, so it’s a money game and very few people work towards saving the breed; a lot of dogs are mixed just to get the size in dogs. Small time breeders will mix other breeds to make a dollar, however some Chinese breeders have some of the best TMs ever known,” says leading TM breeder and enthusiast Himmat Singh from Australia. The irony is that if China is trying to flood the global market by once again mass production of this dog, then the quality and breed standards would fall for sure. Not only that, a TM is not for everyone who can simply afford to pay for it. The primitive breed is demanding and needs to be challenged mentally and physically on a regular basis. It is a livestock guardian dog, which needs a compound to run around and also needs a calm assertive owner to maintain leadership over this headstrong powerful breed.
It’s good that China has given a new dimension to the kennel and livestock industry. It cleverly tapped Tibet for the supply of this breed and has been a pro at roping in one of the best breeders for some good specimens. But the increase in puppy mills in the country is evident all over. China has markets in which puppies are sold atop car roofs in streets. Responsible dog owners and people who understand the nuances of dog breeding know that it isn’t a good sign when puppies are made available without papers and information pertaining to their history, lineage, pedigree, parenting or breeding. Also being a place where Saint Bernards were in demand not very long ago because of their size and the amount of meat they provide, Tibetan Mastiffs, who also grow upto 31” at the withers and weigh around 60-100 kg, are not a bad proposition for dog meat lovers.
Size being the hallmark of this pooch, Chinese are attempting to breed its largest specimens ever known, and to become the front-runners in this industry. These powerful and fierce dogs have laid their lives for their masters and companions in the past, and as long as they’re in the hands of sincere dog lovers and genuine breeders, there is no need to worry. The only concern is that they shouldn’t be bred to be put under the butcher’s knife!
‘MADE IN CHINA’ seems like an omnipresent tag on almost all commodities; be it software, apparel, sports goods or electronics. Locking its jaws yet again on the dog breeding industry, the king of ‘fakes’ has sniffed out huge profits in breeding Tibetan Mastiffs (TMs), for pocket dogs are passé for the Chinese market. Catching the eye of the rich and famous is the giant, large breed, king of the ‘molosser’ tribe, the Tibetan Mastiff. Not a very long time ago pet pooches were considered to be a luxury in China and were difficult to procure, courtesy the stringent rules and regulations pertaining to dog ownership. Also undying protests from various activists against dog meat (considered a culinary tradition) industry made it difficult for people to own dogs for the wrong or right reasons. But now that puppy mills are flourishing world over, dog lovers and meat eaters are going ahead at full throttle to take home a companion for life, or for a juicy steak.
“Having TMs is a status symbol in China and can range from $3000 to over $100,000, so it’s a money game and very few people work towards saving the breed; a lot of dogs are mixed just to get the size in dogs. Small time breeders will mix other breeds to make a dollar, however some Chinese breeders have some of the best TMs ever known,” says leading TM breeder and enthusiast Himmat Singh from Australia. The irony is that if China is trying to flood the global market by once again mass production of this dog, then the quality and breed standards would fall for sure. Not only that, a TM is not for everyone who can simply afford to pay for it. The primitive breed is demanding and needs to be challenged mentally and physically on a regular basis. It is a livestock guardian dog, which needs a compound to run around and also needs a calm assertive owner to maintain leadership over this headstrong powerful breed.
It’s good that China has given a new dimension to the kennel and livestock industry. It cleverly tapped Tibet for the supply of this breed and has been a pro at roping in one of the best breeders for some good specimens. But the increase in puppy mills in the country is evident all over. China has markets in which puppies are sold atop car roofs in streets. Responsible dog owners and people who understand the nuances of dog breeding know that it isn’t a good sign when puppies are made available without papers and information pertaining to their history, lineage, pedigree, parenting or breeding. Also being a place where Saint Bernards were in demand not very long ago because of their size and the amount of meat they provide, Tibetan Mastiffs, who also grow upto 31” at the withers and weigh around 60-100 kg, are not a bad proposition for dog meat lovers.
Size being the hallmark of this pooch, Chinese are attempting to breed its largest specimens ever known, and to become the front-runners in this industry. These powerful and fierce dogs have laid their lives for their masters and companions in the past, and as long as they’re in the hands of sincere dog lovers and genuine breeders, there is no need to worry. The only concern is that they shouldn’t be bred to be put under the butcher’s knife!
Ravi Inder Singh
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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
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