Is a red Tibetan mastiff the most expensive dog in the world?

In 2011 a red Tibetan mastiff named Big Splash, or Hong Dong in Chinese, sold at auction for $1.5 million, becoming the world's most expensive dog. From the mid-2000s forward, the red Tibetan mastiff has become a status symbol among wealthy Chinese people, which lead to the price surge.

Some red Tibetan mastiff owners consider the color red to be lucky and view the dog as a holy animal. According to some Tibetans, the souls of reincarnated monks and nuns reside in the breed. A Today article suggests that the genes from Big Splash could be worth $100,000 to some Tibetan mastiff breeders.