A recent visit to a famous Tibetan lake has sparked debate after a tourist discovered a “Tibetan mastiff” used for paid photos was actually a Labrador in disguise.
Labrador mistaken for a Tibetan mastiff
At Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibetās well-known scenic areas, a woman surnamed Zhang posted a video on July 23 showing a dog presented as a Tibetan mastiff.
However, as she zoomed in, she realized the dog looked more like a Labrador wearing a thick neck scarf.
The video shows a man believed to be the dogās handler reacting nervously after noticing someone filming.
He tried to cover the dogās neck and quickly tugged at its leash, causing more suspicion.
Viral reactions online
The video quickly spread across Chinese platforms like Weibo and Xiaohongshu.
Netizens joked about the incident with comments such as “Labrador mastiff”, “actor dog”, and “the dog just came to work for a salary”.
Many said they had also taken pictures with what they thought were Tibetan mastiffs at the same location.
After checking their photos, they now believe they were also tricked. One wrote, āI looked at my old pictures… it really was a Labrador.ā
Official response from the site
On July 25, a staff member from Yamdrok Lakeās management clarified that the photo ops were not organized by the scenic area.
The dog belongs to a villager and is outside our management zone,ā they said.
They reminded tourists to stay alert and avoid unknown commercial activities that may lead to scams.
Animal welfare and cultural impact
The incident also raised questions about animal welfare. Experts noted that forcing a Labrador to wear props for long hours may cause stress.
Some also mentioned that Tibetan mastiffs are seen as sacred in local culture and using another breed for deception may mislead tourists about Tibetan traditions.
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