Breed Characteristics:
Apartment Friendly
?How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?
Good For First-Time Owners
?Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?
Overall Sensitivity
?Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?
Tolerates Being Alone
?Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?
Affectionate With Family
?How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?
Kid-Friendly
?Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?
Friendly Toward Other Dogs
?Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?
Friendly Toward Strangers
?Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?
Drooling Level
?If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?
Easy To Groom
?Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?
Overall Health
?What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.
Prone To Obesity
?Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?
Trainability Level
?Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.
Intelligence Level
?Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?
Prey Drive
?Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?
Barking Level
?How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?
Energy Level
?Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?
Exercise Needs
?Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?
Playfulness Level
?Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?
The Lhasa Apso is an adorable breed that comes from quite an interesting past. Their “watchdog” history in ancient Tibet correlates to their loyalty to this day, as they are an extremely loyal breed to their loved ones.
In this article, we’ll discuss the history of the Lhasa Apso, the qualities that make them unique, and what you need to know when you bring a Lhasa Apso into your home.
History Of The Lhasa Apso
If you own a Lhasa Apso, you may realize that their attitude signifies a belief that they are much larger than they actually are. This may have something to do with their dignified past as a royal watchdog.
The Lhasa Apso originates in Tibet and takes the name of the holy city named Lhasa. It was here that they were bred by monks to act as guard dogs in ancient monasteries.
This is also why they wear a thick and protective coat, as they originally had to protect themselves against the cold winter in Tibet.
The Lhasa Apso made its way to the US as a gift for C. Suydam Cutting, a well-known world traveler, and soon gained popularity across the country. To this day the Lhasa Apso is still a beloved breed, and they still carry a sense of importance!
Appearance Of The Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso can weigh anywhere from 12 to 15 pounds and can stand up to 11 inches in height. They are known for their luxurious coats that are long, straight, and come in a variety of colors.
The Lhasa Apso’s coat can be black, white, brown, honey, and parti-color. Their coat is often shiny and glossy, and frames their body rather than stand out like other breeds such as the Pomeranian or Chow Chow.
Though their coat is long and luxurious, it does require quite a bit of maintenance. If you are looking for a maintenance-free dog that does not require grooming, then the Lhasa Apso is not for you.
Grooming Your Lhasa Apso
If you choose to bring a Lhasa Apso into your home, be prepared to participate in grooming, sometimes daily. While their coat is one of the main reasons people love this breed so much it does require quite a bit of maintenance. Luckily, they don’t shed a lot.
The Lhasa Apso’s fur is fine, making it easy to become tangled with daily activity. Similar to long hair in a child, after running around the back yard and rolling around in the grass, you may have to get to work on brushing. After all, you will have to invest some time in grooming your long-haired Lhasa Apso.
Due to the challenges that go into maintaining a Lhasa Apso’s coat, most people choose to hire a groomer. The Lhasa Apso is one of the breeds that benefit from biweekly bathing, so again, this is not a low maintenance breed.
If you do choose to welcome a Lhasa Apso into your home, but become overwhelmed with the fur maintenance, you can always keep their fur at a manageable length. Even with short hair, they are still just as cute and just as happy!
Personality Of The Lhasa Apso
Lhasa Apso’s personality is one of the many reasons they have become so popular in the dog world. While they still possess the regal and dignified personality they carried with them throughout the years, they are also compared to having the playful personality of a puppy.
The Lhasa Apso is regal yet playful, brave yet kind, and dignified yet silly. With all of these wonderful qualities combined, the Lhasa Apso is a one-of-a-kind breed.
Their personality is truly complex! They also don’t love to spend time alone, so make sure that you keep your canine well-entertained.
Though the Lhasa Apso may be small, they are anything but fragile. They are known to take on a challenge and forget just how small they are. You will likely see them standing up to large dogs, bravely barking at intruders, and fearlessly chasing animals that enter your yard.
Overall Health Of The Lhasa Apso
While the Lhasa Apso can live a healthy life of up to 16 years, they are prone to a few medical conditions. Some health conditions to be aware of when owning a Lhasa Apso include:
Patellar Luxation
Patellar luxation is extremely common in small dog breeds. This condition refers to the dislocation of the knee joint which can result in pain when the joint grinds and shifts out of place.
Dogs with luxating patellas can experience pain, limping, swelling, lameness, and other signs of pain. If the condition becomes advanced, surgery can be reparative.
Allergies
Some dogs can experience allergies due to a number of factors. Dogs can experience contact allergies, environmental allergies, or food allergies.
Allergies can cause skin redness, itching, hair loss, vomiting, diarrhea, skin infections, ear infections, and other symptoms depending on the type of allergy.
Dry Eye
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS), or dry eye, describes the condition that causes chronic dryness in the eye. Though this condition can be extremely irritating for the dog, it can be well managed with daily eye drops.
Cherry Eye
Cherry eye refers to the swelling of the third eyelid in dogs. It looks like a red mass (hence the name cherry eye) in the corner of their eye when it protrudes.
Cherry eye can be irritating for the dog experiencing it, so it’s recommended to have it surgically revised. Also, be careful during the summer days, because you want to avoid any changes of heatstroke. Dogs don’t do well during the hot weather.
Training Your Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso is extremely independent, making it a bit more challenging to train them. They tend to want to do things their way, meaning they require a strong and firm trainer that is dedicated to making the process engaging for them.
Though their training can require more effort, it is extremely possible to train them properly when using positive and engaging reinforcement.
They are kind of like a class clown. Though the class clown can be told to simmer down and obey the rules, they are still not the most obedient student in the class.
Since they are so independent and can have a bit of an attitude, they do not tolerate negative reinforcement well. Negative reinforcement and punishment style training is no longer acceptable for any breed, but especially any breed that is independent and “angsty” like the Lhasa Apso.
Plus, with proper training, your Lhasa Apso will learn how to be more independent and to be comfortable with staying alone at home.
It is mentioned frequently that potty training can be challenging for the Lhasa Apso. Because of this, many Lhasa Apso owners need to crate their dogs when away from home during workdays or other trips that take them away from the house for a few hours.
It is important to introduce your Lhasa Apso to other children early in their life if you think your Lhasa Apso will be around children in the future because they are known to nip when they are annoyed.
Because of this, it’s best to always supervise interaction with children, or make sure the only children around your dog understand standard canine boundaries.
Exercise And Your Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso is an extremely playful breed. They are known for their puppy-like activity level, so they are always ready to play!
If you live an active life and enjoy your time spent outdoors, the Lhasa Apso will be perfectly content. Though they are small, they are known to enjoy a number of outdoor activities.
Lhasa Apso’s are often apartment dogs due to their small size, but they still require daily exercise.
If a Lhasa Apso does not receive at least 30 minutes of daily exercise, they may begin to show unfavorable behaviors in your home. If you bring a Lhasa Apso into your home, make sure you are prepared to implement daily play into your routine.
Important Tips For Your Lhasa Apso
Now that we’ve covered the main details around the Lhasa Apso breed, let’s discuss some important tips for Lhasa Apso owners to remember.
- The Lhasa Apso is independent and like to do things their way
- The Lhasa Apso is a natural watchdog, so expect them to bark when they hear things in and outside of your home
- The Lhasa Apso thinks they are much larger than they are, so expect a brave and spunky pup that takes on any challenge
- They require daily grooming, or at least every other day
- Most Lhasa Apso owners invest in a monthly groomer
- They can be a bit more difficult to train due to their independent attitude
- They require at least 30 minutes of daily exercise
- They do well with positive reinforcement style training
- They are known to experience eye conditions, so see the vet asap if you notice any changes in their eyes
- They are known to nip when annoyed, so make sure to monitor them around children
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYHiDtP-d9Y
Summary
The Lhasa Apso is a spunky breed that can provide your family with endless entertainment. If you choose to bring a Lhasa Apso into your life, you will surely gain a vivacious and loving furry friend!
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