WOULD you pay $2 million for a dog like this?
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This Tibetan mastiff belongs to Kathryn Richardson's Beaconsfield breeding kennel, Shanti Soul.
One of their breed this week became the world's most expensive dog, when a Chinese property developer reportedly paid 12 million yuan - or $A2.09 million - for a one-year-old golden mastiff, in the eastern province of Zhejiang.
The dogs are prized in China for their passing resemblance to a lion, and are a status symbol for their wealthy owners.
Fortunately, would-be owners are looking at a fraction of the multimillion-dollar price tags for one of Mrs Richardson's dogs, which start from around $3000.
Mrs Richardson established her kennel more than 10 years ago, and estimates she has invested around $400,000 in her 13 dogs to import them from all over the world and show, breed and keep the gentle giants.
``They look like big lions, or big bears,'' she said.
``I always loved big dogs, but I found they had short life spans . . . these dogs have double the average life span of big dogs, of up to 14 years.''
Mrs Richardson said she was not surprised a Tibetan mastiff had fetched such a hefty price in China.
``They are worth it,'' she said.
``They're the best dogs in the world.''