Once bred as a watch dog for Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, the Lhasa Apso is now the ideal companion for patient owners with a less active lifestyle…
The Lhasa Apso (once named the “Lhasa Terrier”) is a small non-sporting breed from Tibet that features a long coat in many colors and is very much the meaning of their name in the native Tibetan language – “long-haired Tibetan dog”. The breed has origins dating back to as early as 800BC, and they were initially used for the key goal of being a watch dog inside Buddhist monasteries.
A few of their more unique characteristics are their heavy grooming requirements and stubborn but highly devoted temperament – which in essence make the Lhasa Apso a popular preference as a companion for families with older children, apartment dwellers or retirees with the patience to take care of them. Below are just a few quick Lhasa Apso facts:
Trainability & Intelligence:
Friendliness With People:
Compatible With Animals:
Daily Exercise Required:
Grooming Requirements:
Suitable For A Family Pet:
Suitability As A Guard Dog:
Origins Of The Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso is known to have first appeared in Tibet’s Himalayan Mountains near the city of Lhasa as early as 800BC and was bred with the purpose of acting as a watch dog within Buddhist monasteries. They were never bought or sold and the only way they left Tibet was as a gift from the Dalai Lama – to receive one was a great honor and this is how the dogs came to be distributed throughout the world. They are genetically among the closest relatives to the ancestral wolf.
Average Size Of The Lhasa Apso
Lhasa Apsos are classified as a small-sized dog. The suggested standard size for the Lhasa Apso male and female is 10-11 inches high from paw to shoulder and a weight of 11-18 pounds.
Temperament Of The Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso is legendary for their bold, alert, devoted and sometimes stubborn manner. They are usually reserved with strangers and have very keen hearing as well as a sharp bark, which often makes them a good watch dog but not very suitable as a guard dog due to their size.
The Lhasa Apso is also known to be fairly intelligent – ranking 68th in comparison with other dogs when taking into account their capability to be trained obedience instructions. They are additionally recognized to be good with older children – which makes them somewhat suitable as a family pet. The Lhasa Apso is quite friendly and playful with other animals such as other dogs and pets.
Grooming Requirements Of The Lhasa Apso
Grooming the Lhasa Apso is a very demanding assignment. They require a regular level of brushing each day or two and complete grooming every 2 to 3 weeks if their coat is kept long – though some owners may prefer to clip their dog short in a “teddy bear” cut to make things easier if they’re primarily a companion dog. The method for fully grooming the Lhasa Apso can be described as:
- Use a slicker brush to brush through the coat and remove any mats, following up with a medium-toothed metal comb.
- Clean the ears with medicated ear powder and remove any stray hairs from inside.
- Remove the tips of the nails with a nail clipper.
- Use a moist cotton ball to clean the eyes and trim any stained hair from the corners using scissors.
- Shave the rear end using a #10 blade.
- Clip the stomach area and inside the thighs with the same #10 blade.
- Place a cotton ball in each ear to prevent water entering then bathe and dry them with a blow dryer while brushing through the coat.
- Use a metal comb to part the hair on the head and coat down the middle then comb through it thoroughly, following up by combing through the tail.
- Trim the hair between the foot pads and around the edges of the feet with scissors.
- If desired, gather the hair on top of the head and comb it backwards evenly to make a ponytail or braid and secure it with a rubber band before attaching a bow.
- Finish by combing through the coat and tail again with a fine-toothed comb.
Living Requirements For The Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso doesn’t need a yard, so they are quite suitable for living in an apartment if they are walked on a regular basis. They prefer cooler temperatures, and they will be less content if it gets too hot due to the thickness of their coat.
Health & Life Expectancy Of The Lhasa Apso
Similarly to a large number of small-sized dog breeds, the Lhasa Apso is usually long-lived with a life expectancy of 12-14 years. The major health concern for Lhasa Apsos is commonly proven to be skin conditions or infections but these can be prevented with regular grooming. They can also be vulnerable to conditions that include kidney problems, hip dysplasia and eye problems such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) but are overall a very healthy breed.
Exercise Needs For The Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso benefits from hobbies which include indoor play sessions, outdoor adventures and games of fetch in an open area. They possess a low to medium level of energy and need to be given exercise every day in the manner of average-length walks to prevent behavior problems such as excessive barking.
Who Should Own The Lhasa Apso?
The Lhasa Apso could be the ideal dog breed for families with older children, apartment dwellers, retirees or anyone with a less active lifestyle. They are suitable to anyone who is keen to carry out a high level of grooming and set aside time to provide them with early socialization and obedience training to establish leadership in addition to take them on moderate walks each day and grant a good quantity of company and attention. Although they may be somewhat unsuitable as a guard dog or pet for families with young children, if you are capable of meeting their high grooming requirements and need for patient training then the Lhasa Apso may possibly make the best breed of dog for you.
Posted by Brent McCoy on December 12, 2011