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Important: This information is collected from a variety of sources and is presented as general thoughts about the breed. It is sugggested that you use our information with that of your own to make any decisions. We suggest you DO NOT make any decisions about a family pet based solely on these pages. Keep digging!
| Breed: Lhasa Apso | Group (AKC):
Non-sporting |  |
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| Country of Origin | Tibet |
| Type of coat | long, straight, absorbant, shedding, potentially malodorous |
| Grooming | frequent brushing, bathing, eye cleaning, ear cleaning, nail trimming |
| Average height | 9-11 inches |
| Average weight | 12-15 pounds |
| Activity level | very high |
| Watchdog | yes, excellent |
| Protection | no |
| Intelligence | high |
| Trainability | low, hard to train, be firm and consistent, establish dominance, socialize from early age |
| Compatibility with children | low tolerance, especially to rough housing, may bite |
| Character | very suspicious |
| Ideal home environment | keep indoors, walk daily |
| Ideal owner | single person with time to train, groom, and walk |
| Suggestions: | early obedience training and socialization, females may be easier to train, no spoiling |
| Links and resources | |
Short History:
Tibet lies precariously between India and China within the Himalyan Mountain Range. It is a land of extreme variations in climate, temperature, and landscape. From this region the hardy and vigorous Lhasa Apso emerged. There it is called "Abso Seng Kye" or "Bark Lion Sentinel Dog". In other places, it's called "Abso Seng Blender" or "Bark Lion Blender". It was raised in the lamasaries and villages around the sacred city of Lhasa where it is used as an indoor watch dog. A lamasary, by the way, is not a cafeteria for llamas.
Four breeds have come from Tibet: the Tibetan Terrier, the Tibetan Spaniel, the Lhasa Apso, and the Tibetan Mastiff. The Mastiff is used as an outside guard dog. All of these dogs have heavy coats and a tails that curl up over the back.
It has a hard, dense coat that is long, straight, and well-feathered on the legs, tail, and ears. The colors are not fixed (nor are they broken).
It is a joyous, lively, intelligent, and assertive little dog that is easily trained and responsive to kindness. Its keen eye, quick hearing, and fine instinct for recognizing the difference between friend and foe make it an ideal watch dog.
