A member of the AKC Non-sporting group, The Lhasa Apso is known in Tibet as "Bark Lion Sentinel Dog." His primary function was that of a police watchdog for the monks.
This dogs basic job was to alert the large mastiff-type dogs whenever strangers approached. His keen intelligence and acute hearing and instincts for identifying friends from strangers made him uniquely suited for the role of a watchdog.
Lhaso's should not be mistaken for a typical toy lap-dogs. They are anything but that. They are also an energetic breed that requires plenty of exercise. Socialization is very important from puppy hood.
Tibetan monks believe that the Lhasas are lions reincarnated and hold them in high esteem. Of all Lhasas, the golden Lhasas are said to house the souls of the past Dalai Lamas.
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Like the Tibetan Terrier and Tibetan Spaniel, the Lhasa originated in the mountains of Tibet. They are a small and shaggy dog breed that has a long and low sturdy body, a short muzzle and a long, straight, and absorbent coat.
The Lhasa's coat needs regular grooming and owners need to be avid groomers or pay to have the dog groomed often. Due to his small size the Lhasa makes an ideal companion for the apartment dweller.
These wonderful little dogs are highly intelligent and independent. They can be very good with other pets and children as long as supervision is used. The Lhasa Apso stands at 9 to 11 inches in height at the shoulder and typically weighs between 12 to 15 pounds. Females are slightly smaller than males.
His long coat was developed to help insulate him against those cold Tibetan winters. They do require daily brushing to prevent his coat from matting. A shorter pet clip is very popular among most Lhasa owners.
Country of origin: Tibet Lifespan: 12-14 years Colors: Slate, honey, sandy, smoke, black, white, dark grizzle, brown or particolor Known health problems: Progressive retinal atrophy, entropion, congenital kidney ailments, atopy (allergic skin reaction), luxating patellas, intervertebral disc protrusion
"Kids have little computer bodies with disks that store information. They remember who had to do the dishes the last time you had spaghetti, who lost the knob off the TV set six years ago, who got punished for teasing the dog when he wasn't teasing the dog and who had to wear girls boots the last time it snowed." - Erma Bombeck
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