Lhasa Apso

Lhasa Apso: Dog Breed Information Guide

Lhasa apsos are well known for their very long hair that sweeps the ground as they walk and would hide their adorable faces if allowed. They make wonderful companions and could be a great addition to your family. If you want to adopt a Lhasa apso, continue reading to learn more about them.

Lhasa Apso’s have been bred to be royal watchdogs for hundreds of years, they are loyal guardians of family and home. The Lhasa's protective nature is surprising to those unfamiliar with them, given their small size and long, flowing coat. It doesn't appear that they are fierce at all.

However, when it comes to protecting their own, the Lhasa is fierce, though never particularly aggressive. Their natural suspicion of strangers makes them an excellent palace guard, and they take their job as protector seriously. As a result of this lionhearted devotion, the lionhearted Lhasa also enjoys sharing their life with their family. In addition, they are intelligent, independent, and mischievous.

Since Lhasa prefers to do things their own way, their goal in life is not necessarily to please you. This distinguishes them from breeds like the biddable Labrador Retriever. Although the Lhasa can be trained successfully, they are not always the most obedient dog. Their smarts and unique reasoning abilities are praised by those who know and love them. As with raising children, consistency is essential when training a Lhasa pup. It is certain that your Lhasa will try to take control if you don't.

What are the Origins of the Lhasa Apso?

The Lhasa is a Tibetan dog whose name comes from the holy city of Lhasa in Tibet. For thousands of years, nobility and monks bred the Lhasa exclusively to protect and guard monasteries. He is called Abso Seng Kye in his homeland, which means "Bark Lion Sentinel Dog. Lhasa’s have thick coats that protect them from extreme cold and heat in their native climate.

Lhasa’s have been recorded as far back as 800 B.C. As a watchdog in temples and monasteries, a Lhasa was considered good luck, but it was nearly impossible to buy one. Lhasa Apsos were believed to have souls that entered their owners' bodies when they died. Unless the Dalai Lama gave them as gifts, Lhasa’s were not allowed to leave the country.

As early as 1583, the Dalai Lama sent Lhasa’s as sacred gifts to the Emperor of China and members of the Imperial family. Traditionally, Lhasa’s were given in pairs and were thought to bring prosperity and good luck.

Lhasa apso: An introduction to the breed

The Lhasa apso, also known as the lion dog, is a centuries-old breed. This small dog is originally from the Himalayan Mountains in Tibet, where they lived in monasteries. They were frequently utilized as guard dogs for Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, and their barks would warn the monks of people coming to visit.

They made it to England in the early 1900s. Before getting the name Lhasa apso, they were called Lhasa terriers, and they were thought to be the same breed as the Tibetan terrier.

Although it's possible that Lhasa's first made its way into Canada before the 1930's, the first documented ones came in 1931.

Other potential health risks

Purebred Lhasa apsos can have health problems like:

Are Lhasa apsos fond of their owners?

Lhasa apsos love their families very much. At home, they can be comedic. They are very loyal and will love you and your family only, for life. They are excellent companions.

Are Lhasa apsos easygoing?

For little dogs, they have big personalities. They are confident and strong willed. Their intelligence just adds to their strength of character. They aren’t really aggressive, although they may bark to warn you if someone’s coming.

How easy is it to train a Lhasa apso?

Lhasa apsos are very intelligent creatures, so much so that they think they know what’s best. They are very stubborn, so you can’t really force them to learn tricks. They learn faster through reward systems such as treats, praise, or extra attention.

Are Lhasa apsos good with kids?

If you have a family with small children or friends with children who often visit, you may wonder whether the Lhasa apso will nip at children when trying to play with this little dog.

Children must always be taught to be gentle with pets, so they won’t pull at the Lhasa apso’s hair. However, these dogs are good with children and love to play with them.

How do apsos behave around other pets?

Although they may not warm to unknown humans, these lap dogs tend to be friendly with other dogs and pets.

If you want to take them to a dog park, you should find one that separates big pups from the little guys. Lhasa apsos won’t try to cause trouble, but they’re too little to play with the big pups.

Are they good around strangers?

In public, they are dignified and reserved, but they are engaging and sometimes funny in private. They aren’t fans of strangers, but they can be more accepting of new people with the proper socialization.

What does a Lhasa apso’s coat look like?

They have a long, silky coat that usually reaches the floor. They shed minimally.

Lhasa apso coat colors:

There are other colors possible, but these are the ones accepted by the AKC.

Are Lhasa apsos hypoallergenic?

Yes, Lhasa apsos are considered hypoallergenic dogs because they don’t lose tons of hair or have a shedding season. People with allergies are sensitive to dander, which is dead skin cells similar to dandruff, and is attached to a pet’s hair follicles when they shed.

When dogs do not lose a lot of hair and dander that may cause a reaction for people with allergy sensitivities, they are thought of as hypoallergenic. Of course, there are no 100% hypoallergenic pets, only dogs and cats that shed less than others and therefore have the least impact on allergy sufferers.

How much grooming do Lhasa apsos need?

They need to be groomed daily so their fur doesn’t matt. Brushing and combing are both essential to keep their long coat free of tangles. Many Lhasa apso pet parents opt to bring their pup to a professional groomer.

How to be the best pet parent for a Lhasa apso?

Here at Spot Pet Insurance, we want to help pet parents, both new and seasoned, reach their full pet parent potential.

We hope to provide you with the necessary information to help you and your pup live a full and happy life together. Lhasa apsos are fun and loyal little dogs, and they deserve and need a lot of care, especially when it comes to their grooming needs.

Basic training and behavior etiquette for your dog

What type of foods should a Lhasa apso never eat?

Many foods are toxic to dogs, and there are also foods that they shouldn’t eat, even though they won’t hurt them. Although Lhasa apsos don’t have foods that could be toxic to their specific breeds, some Lhasas might be sensitive or allergic to some foods.

However, here are some foods your pup definitely should avoid.

If you want to learn more about foods your pup can and cannot eat, check out some interesting articles here.

Exercising tips to keep your dog fit and healthy

These little pups should remain inside for the most part, and their outdoor exercise needs are fairly minimal. They can get most of their exercise from playing games in the house with you or your children if you have any, or from racing around the house.

However, it is a good idea to take them outside for a little bit every day. They need the mental activity of sniffing around outside and tracking scents. If you have a yard, you could let your Lhasa apso out there for supervised playtime.

They are pretty good at entertaining themselves when needed, but they’ll always appreciate you taking time out of your day to play games with them.

Lhasa Apso life stages

Puppy: 0-3 years

Adult: 3-7 years

Senior:  7+