Next big thing: Tibetan mastiff (3)

13:17, February 07, 2010  

"They are extremely territorial and won't stray too far from home," he says, noting that Tibetans frequently tied dogs up near their homes as guard dogs.

Wang says he raises mastiffs not for the money but because he is passionate about the dogs.

Many mastiff kennels in China force the bitch to breed every year, which is physically demanding and harmful to health.

The puppies are not as strong when the mother breeds frequently.

Mastiffs have one estrous cycle a year and Wang says he would rather miss the cycle and let the bitch recover.

"This is necessary to ensure excellent offspring and show love and care," he says.

Though the mastiffs love him, Wang was bitten once by a dog that was anesthetized for a hip-joint test -- it involuntarily snapped when he pulled the tongue from the mouth so it wouldn't choke.

The bite was deep and reached the bone. Wang has a scar.

It is hard for Wang to say goodbye to his mastiffs. He has parted with three so far.

"I believe they can read my mind and we've got a connection between us," he says.

Each time when the dog is reluctant to leave, Wang kneels down, pats the dog and whispers, "You'll have a new master, baby, and he can give you a better life. Just go.

"It understands me and stops barking," Wang recalls.

After four or five months, he always visits buyers to see how the dogs are doing. "The dog begins to forget me and barks at me," he says, a little sadly. "But to see that the dog is living well makes me happy.

Source: Shanghai Daily

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