Raising Dogs that Bite: How Pastoralists and Breeders Care for Tibetan Mastiffs

Abstract Tibetan pastoralists have long been using dogs as guards. Since the late 1980s, same dogs, called “Tibetan Mastiffs,” become valuable pets for Han Chinese consumers. This paper discusses how commodification transforms value of these and care relationship between humans dogs. participate in a reciprocal yet distanced through raising guarding, which is not confined to pursuit dogs’ ferocity. In contrast, taste ferocity prevails Mastiff market, breeders more dedicated, unilateral dangerous, way. The unintended consequence breeders’ that they raise sometimes bite; this explained based on process transformation guarding abilities, from ethical virtue commercial price.