

The Lhasa apso is a generally healthy breed but can be prone to health problems like hip dysplasia and patellar luxation. This is a breed for creative, motivated people who enjoy a canine companion of like mind. Most cases of unacceptable Lhasa behaviour involve situations with inconsistent, improper, or non-existent human leadership. They do not appreciate repetitive drill and can become uncommonly stubborn if bullied or badgered. They can learn just about anything that a trainer makes interesting enough to master’s on their terms. They are highly intelligent, sometimes compared to a willful toddlers. Lhasa Apsos will please you if it pleases them to please you. Today’s Lhasa is no longer a palace guard but primarily a family companion who loyally protects their family from danger. The Lhasa Apso dog breed is originally from Tibet, where they were highly regarded watchdogs in the palaces and monasteries of their mountainous homeland.

The American Kennel Club recognized the breed just two years later, and the ALAC was founded in 1959. (specifically, New Jersey) in 1933 after being gifted to a couple by the Dalai Lama. Lhasa apsos first came to the West in the early 19th century, landing in the U.S. Some Tibetian Buddhists believe that the souls of lamas (priests) are reborn as Lhasa apsos in the stage of reincarnation just before they are reborn as humans, according to the ALAC. Lhasas have held popular status with Buddhist monks and Dalai Lamas over the centuries-they were never sold, and thus a highly prized gift. Legend has it, the brave little Lhasa apsos inspired this ancient Tibetan saying: “If the snow-lion stays in the mountains, it is a snow-lion if it comes down to the valleys, it becomes a dog.” Tibet, when they were bred as sentinel dogs who stood watch inside palaces and Buddhist monasteries high in the Himalayan mountains, according to the ALAC. Lhasa apsos have a regal history that begins in 800 B.C. They have black and brown button noses, long beards (if their hair is kept long), and slightly longer snouts than similar snub-nosed dogs like the Pekingese. Their luscious locks grow long, so you might want to tie up their flowy hairdo with a scrunchie or give them a sweet “puppy cut” to keep fur out of their eyes. Lhasa apso have gorgeous black, tan, cream, white, and/or red-coloured coats, but they can also be blue, grey, and silver, though those are less common. Lhasa comes from the city in Tibet and Apso is a Tibetan word that loosely translates to “dog.” This ancestry reveals itself in modern-day Lhasa-they’re alert and loyal to their owners, though often wary of strangers.įull-grown male Lhasa apso are about 10–11 inches tall and weigh 12–18 pounds, while female pups are slightly smaller. Originating in Tibet, the Lhasa was bred to be a watchdog in palaces and Buddhist monasteries high in the Himalayas. They’re often described as funny, merry, and eager to please. Interested in other breed profiles? Find dozens of them here.The Lhasa Apso (pronounced “LAH-Suh-AHP-so”) is a smart and wilful small dog with a big personality.

Lhasa are a member of the Utility group in Britain. In 2012, the same award went to a Lhasa named Champion Zentarr Elizabeth. In 1984, a Lhasa Apso named Champion Saxonsprings Hackensack won Best in Show at England’s Crufts dog show, the largest dog show in the world.Only one Lhasa Apso has ever won the Non-Sporting (or Terrier) group at the Westminster dog show, back in 1977.The Lhasa is one of the few breeds that the AKC has allowed to incorporate unregistered dogs from Tibet into the AKC gene pool, a decision made in 2011.The Lhasa Apso is currently the 63rd most popular AKC breed, plummeting from 38th a decade ago.They were renamed the Lhasa Apso in 1944 and reassigned to the Non-Sporting group in 1959. The AKC recognized them as the Lhasa Terrier in 1935 and placed them in the Terrier group.The first two Lhasas in America were gifts from the 13th Dalai Lama in 1933.The dogs were called Lhassa Terriers when they came to England in the early 20th century.Although the coat doesn’t seem that goat-like to me … Some breed historians believe the word Apso is derived from the Tibetan word “rapso,” meaning “goat,” in reference to the dog’s goat-like or wooly coat.
