Lhasa Apso
Dogs
Dogs Breed Information In Detail
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 Apso dog just because the kids are begging for one, there are
some things
that should be known about this particular dog breed.
Lhasa
Apso Puppies (Two On Left Are Author's)
History Of
Lhasa Apso Dogs
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. This breed was never bought or sold in
Tibet. Instead, the Dalai Lama sent them in pairs to the
emperors
of China as gifts. High ranking visitors to Tibet also
received Lhasa Apso dogs 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. These 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 Apso dogs 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 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.
Sunny, Top Lhasa Apso In
Canada (Uncle Of Author's Dogs)
Lhasa Apso High
Maintenance
One thing that
all prospective owners should
definitely know is that having a fur ball like a Lhasa Apso will
require lots of high maintenance. The long hair of this breed
requires
constant care. If left unattended even for a few days,
the 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.
Temperment
Of Lhasa Apso Dogs
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 proper training since 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. This is
just part of their temperment. Small
children may get clumsy and accidentally poke them 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. These dogs can be very good with children as long as
they are treated with respect and care.
Sunny & Kaching
(Uncle & Mom Of Author's Dogs)
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.
Lhasa apsos can easily be trained to use a dog litter box (all of mine
are - see our dog litter box video at the
home page). For
information on how to actually train your puppy or dog to use a
litter box system such as the Purina
Second Nature and others in the market, go
to my Potty Training
Dog page
Free Basic Dog Obedience Training Video On Essential
Commands As The Minimum Standards To Teach Your
Dog With Complete Progressions Fully Demonstrated
In this
video, we
demonstrate;
Essential commands including
sit, down, and stand (plus why stand is useful)
More challenging commands like come (recall) and stay
The minimum standards that all dogs should be taught
Daily training
drills to keep skills sharp for your puppy
All puppy
obedience
training
progressions
are fully demonstrated
Indoor and
outdoor recalls for different environments
To access this video, just enter your
first name and email address below so we can send you the link to view
it - privacy
policy.
