Would-be dog owners take shine to new breeds

It seems like the whole country has changed its preferences for dog breeds. Since 2012, when a Tibetan mastiff pup sold for 20 million yuan ($2.9 million) in Shandong province, the country has become obsessed with brown toy poodles.

Guo Jishi, who runs a pet dog center in Beijing, said the brown toy poodle has been popular in recent years because it is cute, small and smart.

"You wouldn't expect many Beijingers to have a large house for large dogs. Tiny dogs like poodles are perfect for many who have small apartments," he said. "Besides, poodles are very smart. They understand your orders and even walk on two legs if trained well."