Description

The Lhasa Apso is known as an ancient breed that is small. Their eyes are dark and they have long bodies that sit on top of their short legs. This makes them a hardy little dog. These dogs have coats that are coarse and long, which can be found in many different colors and patterns but you, will not find coats on these dogs that are silky or wooly.

The Lhasa Apso is very well known for their intelligence, their acute senses and for being very watchful. Other things that they are well known for are they instinct to tell when someone is a friend or a foe, their great eye sight and their fast hearing, which means that these are the perfect dogs for watch dogs. Training them is easy to do if you do it with loving yet firm commands. The reason for this is that they will respond to you a lot better if you use kindness and positive reinforcement with rewards.

If you want an animal that will live a long life with you then this is the perfect pet for you. If you have kids you will want to get them as puppies because if they are raised with kids than they can be very good with them. Their purpose in their life is to please you but you have to watch them because they can be very strong minded. These dogs love to play and you will find that they are very curious about everything around them. However, they will always remain calm and subdued in nature. These pets make the best housedogs because it is not required that they get a lot of exercise.

These dogs love heights and can often be found climbing because they are excellent climbers. They also like to hide under tables, a desk, or a chair in your home because they love caves. Despite these animals looking so fragile they are really resilient, independent and sturdy dogs that are known for their tough character. These dogs are very devoted to their families. You won’t find a dog that will give you as much unconditional love and affection.

Coat Description

These dogs have long, heavy, and straight coats that are known as a double coat. The undercoat is a lot softer than the top coat. It is very easy for their coats to become matted if you don’t groom them on a regular basis because they don’t have a coat that is silky or wooly.

History

These animals originally come from Tibet and are known there as being Tibetan Apso. The Apso part of their name means goat like and long hair. These dogs are treasured by everyone in Tibet but the ones that own them are the privileged people. If you want wonderful guardians and loyal companions this is the right dog. They were originally the only breed of dog in Tibet that was owned by the holy men and the nobles. These animals were used in temples and monasteries as watch dogs. Tibet people have a great deal of respect for these little dogs. Receiving one of these animals as a gift was the greatest honor because they were never bought or sold.

800 years ago is when this animal was first seen and back then they were known as the Lhasa Terrier. In Tibet they are also known as Abso Seng Kyi or bark lion sentinel dogs. The people of Tibet like failsafe security systems and these dogs are definitely known as that.

Mrs. McClearan in 1901 was the first to bring several of these small dogs to the western world. She brought them back from England. In 1935 the AKC first recognized these dogs as the Lhasa Terrier. In 1944 the official name change took place and they became known as the Lhasa Apso.

Temperament

If you want a pet that is gentle, outgoing and devoted then this is the perfect dog for you. They are very loving, playful and affectionate, which makes them good dogs for families with kids, elderly people or other pets. They do have a bold temperament when they want to. If at all possible, don’t leave these animals along for every long because they are the kind of dogs that want to be around people. Their favorite thing to do is to take a quiet nap next to their owner. These animals are very regal looking but their character is tough and hardy.

Don’t ever use loud harsh words with these animals and don’t handle them rough because that is not something you want to do with any animal but especially these dogs because you will find that these dogs can be very timid yet will also have a mind of their own. These dogs are courageous and adaptable if you treat them right. If you treat them bad or raise your voice to them all the time then they can very easily become depressed. These animals are very easy to train because of their high intelligence. They were originally bred to be watch dogs because they have a very keen sense of hearing and always know what is happening around them, plus even though they are small, they have a bark that will scare anyone away. They can very easily develop behavioral problems if you spoil them too much so make sure you don’t.

When it comes to devotion these dogs are in a class of their own. If you want a dog that will be loyal to your forever than the Lhasa Apso is perfect for you but you have to watch them because they can also be obstinate. A lot of people like to travel with these dogs because they are great at traveling and because they are good lap dogs for people of all ages. You will never be bored with these dogs because of their playful moods.

Health Problems

The Lhasa Apso doesn’t have very many health problems that they have to deal with. However, there are some health problems that they can encounter in their lives. One of those problems is ear infections. This happens a lot if you don’t take the time to dry them right after they have been given a bath or if there is unnecessary hair in their ears. You have to keep the hair out of their face as much as you can because their eyes will tear if there is hair in their face. A skin condition called Sebaceous adenitis is also common for them. This skin condition can cause irritations of their skin, which will lead to Hot Spots or localized skin infections, loss of hair, itching and skin that is flaking. They can also develop genetic kidney problems.

Grooming

These dogs don’t shed very much at all, which makes them good pets for people that suffer from allergies or asthma problems. You will have to brush them bi-weekly and they can be high maintenance animals. The reason you have to brush them so much is because their coats can easily become matted or tangled. Make sure you watch the hair behind the ears because this is one big problem area for them. Two other problem areas that you want to watch is the hair on the bottom of their feet and in their ears.

These areas have to be kept clean and free of any excessive hair. This will help them to avoid unnecessary ear infections or sores between their toes and around the pads of their feet. In order to maintain their eyes as being clear and fully vibrant, you have to make sure that their eyes are always clear of excessive hair. If their hair goes over their eyes their eyelashes will be long and strong enough to allow them to still be able to see good.

These dogs need to start being groomed when they are young so they can learn to sit quietly and patiently. You have to make sure that you groom them properly and on a regular basis because otherwise they will end up with skin problems.

Always give your dog a bath on a regular basis but don’t overdo it. The Lhasa Apso has glands that will secrete natural oil that coats the surface of their skin and will keep it supple and moist. Another thing you may want to do is to take them to a groomer for a pet clip because this will help to keep their coat manageable while still allowing their original characteristics of the breed to be enjoyed. It is highly recommended that you keep your dog in a puppy cut or a teddy bear clip if you don’t plan on showing them.

Exercise

They have a moderate energy level which means that this dog will not require a lot of exercise. They will need some exercise if they want to stay healthy, trim and fit. You can take these dogs on a walk, let them scamper about and run free to play. They love to play the game fetch and this is a good game for them to get plenty of exercise.

It doesn’t matter if they get their exercise indoors or outdoors as long as they get exercise every day. If you don’t have a large yard where you can keep your dog then that is not a problem because these animals don’t need a lot of space because they are small dogs and will be content in a small space.

Training

If you are going to have success with training this dog then you will need to train them with patience and calm words. You want to make sure that you establish a relationship of mutual respect for example you can admire his independent character while enforcing your rules consistently so that he also respects you. The reason you have to do this is because these animals are known for having a mind of their own and can be very strong willed if they want to be. So in order to train them you will have to be able to take charge of them and be confident. When you can use food and praise in your training then they will be much more receptive to you and will learn easier. These dogs definitely have the intelligence to be trained and can learn very quickly if you train them right and in a positive way.

If you want your pet to be friendly and lovable than it is very important that you make sure they are fully vaccinated and have extensive socialization. You want to take your puppy to different places where they can experience different sounds, smells and sights because this will put them at ease when you walk with them and during travel. You want to always respect their instinct of being wary of strangers though. Introduce them slowly to strangers because otherwise they can they can easily become overwhelmed with too much at one time. Training them also includes using a harness or collar and leash to take them places such as the vets or the groomers.

If you are going to crate train your dog then you will want to start this at a young age. You can easily get them used to the crate and make them feel comfortable by taking that gate off the front. This will give them a safe and secure place to hide but won’t make them feel trapped in the crate. Training your dog can be a very rewarding and fun time for you and your Lhasa Apso.