Pet Articles
Thinking of Getting a Lhasa Apso Dog?
Author: Clint Leung
One of the cutest looking dogs around is the Lhasa Apso. The
puppies especially are just irresistible but before one decides
to purchase a Lhasa just because the kids are begging for one,
there are some things that should be known about this particular
breed. Historically, Lhasa Apsos were kept by the monasteries
and nobility in Tibet as indoor watch dogs. They would sleep by
their masters and with their high intelligence plus keen sense
of hearing, would warn of any intruders. Lhasa Apsos were never
bought or sold in Tibet. Instead, the Dalai Lama sent Lhasa
Apsos in pairs to the emperors of China as gifts. High ranking
visitors to Tibet also received them as gifts.
They are also referred to as the little bark sentinel lion dogs
since fully grown Lhasa Apsos could resemble small lions with
all their hair. Lhasa Apso dogs can also behave very much like
lions exhibiting no fear when confronted by strangers or even
larger dogs. Despite its small size with adult females reaching
12 to 16 pounds and adult males ranging from 14 to 18 pounds,
they are extremely hardy as well as rugged. Having existed in
the extreme temperatures of Tibet for centuries, they are well
suited for and actually enjoy romps in the snow. They are also
long lived. Both of my Lhasa Apsos lived past the age of fifteen
years. I have heard reports of others living even longer. In
appearance, the Lhasa Apso is very similar to the Shih Tzu
breed. The face of a Lhasa Apso is not as flat as that of the
Shih Tzu. It is believed that the Chinese crossed the Lhasa Apso
with the Pekinese which resulted in the Shih Tzu with its
flatter face.
One thing that all prospective owners should definitely know is
that having a fur ball like a Lhasa Apso will require lots of
maintenance. The long hair of this breed requires constant care.
If left unattended even for a few days, the Lhasa Apso hair will
mat up in clumps that cannot be untangled. Their floppy ears are
also prone to infections and their eyes can develop problems. If
a prospective owner is not willing to make a commitment to the
high maintenance of a Lhasa Apso, a shorter hair breed is
recommended.
The Lhasa Apso is considered by some breeders to be more
stubborn and difficult to train than other dogs. Do not let all
that cuteness give you the wrong impression as they are the
little lion dogs after all. This breed has been revered and
highly regarded for centuries in Asia. The genetics may have
resulted in some arrogance in them. One must be assertive in the
proper training of the Lhasa Apso as this breed will test the
new master. Lhasa Apsos are completely loyal and affectionate
with their masters but many will not be fond of strangers no
matter how obedient they are. This may be part of their watch
dog tendency. One of my Lhasa Apsos was quite friendly with
visitors but the other one wouldn’t even acknowledge their
presence.
The breed may also not be appropriate with small children. Small
children may get clumsy and accidentally poke Lhasas in the eyes
or squeeze them too hard. Lhasas will not take this behavior
lightly as they are not as patient with kids compared to say
Labrador retrievers. Some Lhasas have been known to bite clumsy
kids. Lhasa Apso dogs can be very good with children as long as
they are treated with respect and care.
Despite these characteristics of the Lhasa Apso, they are
excellent dogs to have as they can be one of the most loyal
companions as long as it is recognized that they are high
maintenance and may not be suitable for some families.
About the author:
Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery
http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca , an online gallery specializing
in Inuit Eskimo and Northwest Native American art including
carvings, sculpture and prints. Free Spirit Gallery has numerous
information resource articles with photos of authentic Inuit and
Native Indian art as well as free eCards.
