Dog's Help

The Lhasa Apso is a small, cute, non-sporting dog breed. It takes its name from the city of Lhasa (the capital of Tibet) where it was originally bred. The motive behind its breeding was to guard the interiors of the many monasteries in Lhasa. The name Apso in Tibet signifies beard, which the dog sports.

Dimensions:
Male Lhasa Apsos are small and stand 10.75 inches tall at the withers and weigh in the range of 14-18 pounds (between 6kg and 8kg). The females are slightly smaller and weigh between 12-14 pounds (between 5kg and 7kg).

Appearance:
Lhasa Apsos usually have a black or brown nose and dark brown eyes. The coat of Lhasa Apso is straight, heavy, hard, very dense, and neither woolly nor silky. For owners it is best that they get the coat trimmed very short.

There is one unique aspect to the coat of this breed- it changes color as the dogs grow old. For example, some Lhasa Apsos may start off with a dark brown coat with tan and white spots but this becomes lighter once the hair grows naturally or regrows after a trim.

Temperament:
The temperament of Lhasa Apsos is typical to that of an indoor dog. Added to it are the objectives for which they were originally bred-guarding the inner premises of sacred Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. Hence, these dogs are always alert and proactive.

Special emphasis should be laid on their hearing skills which can sense any movement in the house. Because of these characteristics, Lhasas can be excellent watch dogs. Further, because they are able to walk almost silently, they can startle intruders and even family members.

Human and animal presence is tolerated but not always desired by Lhasa Apsos. They prefer to stay alone and can do so for long periods of time (which suited them well in their original job of protecting the inner sanctuary of monasteries). Lhasas can be very aggressive and dominant towards other intact animals inside the house.

Lhasas are good watch dogs and they take the responsibility of watching-over quite seriously. They do not trust anybody except those whom they know and can make their disagreement with their presence heard in a sonorous but chiming bark.
                  
Health care and Grooming Tips for Lhasas
There are no major health problems with Lhasa Apsos. However, as they get old they tend to lose their vision. This is not big a problem as they have always greatly enhanced hearing capabilities. They can live up to 20 years.

Lhasa Apsos usually hate the idea of taking a bath and grooming. However, their aversion to bathing, nail clipping and coat brushing can be minimized through systematic training

Recommendations: Neutering of Lhasas is strongly recommended.