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 Lhasapoo is a hybrid dog. This is a small size dog of famous parents, the Lhasa Apso and the Poodle. This is a loyal, sweet, and smart breed.
Great for city life, this small size dog will be a great addition to singles and families, who want a smart, but an active dog who loves staying indoor as well. The Lhasapoo is a great choice for families with children.
They can do well with younger children as well, as long as children know how to behave around dogs. They are prone to separation anxiety, as they don’t like to stay alone for too long, nor too often.
All in, this small dog will be happy living in a city apartment, or in a house with a fenced-in yard. Don’t expect this dog to be a couch potato because the Lhasappo is rather an active dog.
Not only that they are active, but they are rather protective of their family.
The protective instinct is powerful in this small one. Your Lhasapoo will demand routine and regular exercise, the minimal amount at least.
Here is what else you can expect from this small dog.
Quick Facts
Real name: Lhasapoo
Origin: Unknown
Breed type: Mixed Breed Dogs
Weight: 10 to 15 pounds
Height: 9 to 13 inches
Lifespan: 10 to 15 years
Color: Gray, black, brown, or cream
Coat: Long coat of medium density, and wavy texture
Lhasapoo History
Some breeds are more popular over time, and the Lhasapoo is one of them. Like with any other hybrid breed, there isn’t a lot of information on their origin.
With this specific breed, it’s still unknown how the breed came to be. To understand this small breed better, it is mandatory to take a look at the parent breeds.
Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso is originally from Tibet. This small dog was used to guard monasteries and to accompany nobility.
This breed was so protected that the only possible way to own this breed was if the Dalai Lama directly gifted a dog to that person.
This is something that has become practice over time.
For example, the Dalai Lama gifted Lhasas to Chinese nobility first, when a naturalist C. Suydam Cutting started developing the Lhasa that we know today. Lhasa Apso is one of the oldest dog breeds alive.
This ancient breed can weigh from 12 to 15 pounds and can stand up to 11 inches in height. Their coat comes in black, brown, honey, and parti-color.
The coat is always long and luxurious, adding to their overall rich appearance. This is a breed for those who love grooming and brushing their dog regularly.
If you don’t want to invest your time into regular brushing this isn’t the breed for you.
As Lhasa Apso is one of the parents, you can expect a similar time investment into grooming your Lhasapoo.
Poodle
Poodle is a breed that doesn’t need a lot of introduction. This is one of the world’s most famous breeds.
It has been around for centuries. Dog experts believe that highly intelligent Poodle is a mix of European water dogs and the North African Barbet, a breed that is extinct today.
It’s known that somehow Poodle ended up in Germany, but eventually become the official dog of France.
There are no documents on the exact date of origin. However, there are Poodle-like dogs on painting on Egyptian and Roman artwork.
These dogs were often described as herding dogs or dogs used for retrieving games.
Poodles come in three sizes, and one thing is common for all three types – they are all extra intelligent.
As one of the smartest dog breeds, Poodle is often seen participating in dog sports, such as agility.
Lhasapoo Origin
Knowing the parent’s history can help you understand better your hybrid dog. This way you can assume some traits and be better prepared for dog ownership.
So far, dog experts only assume that the Lhasapoo may have existed naturally for decades, but they cannot deny the breeder’s effect. Hybrid dogs are created.
It’s most likely that designer dog breeders started mixing Lhasa Apsos and Poodles a few decades ago.
It’s most likely that this mix happened in North America.
Creating hybrid dogs usually has a specific goal. The goal with the Lhasapoo creation was to have a breed with minimum breathing issues.
Breathing issues are common in breeds with short muzzles, like snouts of the Lhasa Apso. Therefore, the goal was to create a breed that is perfect for those who suffer from allergies.
Their tactic for this was adding the coat of the Poodle.
As a general rule, Poodles are often chosen for those who suffer from various allergies but want a dog.
Designer dog breeders continued to create Lhasapoos as their popularity grew.
Did you know that you can find even this breed in shelters? If you’re serious about getting this breed, you might want to check the local shelter first.
You will be surprised to see just how many purebreds, mixed breeds, and hybrid dogs you can find there.
Lhasapoo Physical Appearance
Lhasapoo is a relatively new breed, which means that they are still developing.
In other words, there are few standards in terms of size. As a cross between Poodle and Lhasa Apso, you can definitely expect to get a small Lhasapoo. Are you a big Poodle fan? Check the most popular Poodle mixes here.
However, if Lhasa Apso is mixed with a Toy Poodle, you can expect to have even smaller Lhasapoo.
Their weight will always be different and go between 10 to 15 pounds. Many can be smaller or larger. Males tend to be slightly larger in size opposite to females.
Just like his parents, Lhasapoo will have long hair and most likely wavy. Just like parents, the Lhasapoo is considered to be a hypoallergenic breed.
They may come in many colors including white, black, tan, brown, or a mixture or two colors. Legs will always be short and sturdy. The tail will always be thin and long and may curl over his back a bit.
Ears are evenly set and long. Ears aren’t considered floppy. There could be feathering on his legs, belly, and ears.
Eyes may be hazel, and the nose could be either black or brown.
Lhasapoo Personality
Some dogs are naturally happy and affectionate, and Lhasapoo is one of them. This breed is a loving and gentle dog who will show love to his humans every second.
They are prone to barking so expect to warn you as soon as someone approaches your home. For this breed, his family is the center of his world.
Lhasapoo loves children, as long as they treat them right. Make sure that your children know how to behave around dogs and follow house rules.
It’s also important for your Lhasapoo to follow dog house rules because you don’t want to have to deal with small dog syndrome.
Still, no matter how small this dog is and how gentle they are toward humans, it’s always advised not to leave dogs and children unsupervised.
This is especially the case if you have younger children. Toddlers tend pulling dogs’ hair or tails because they see them as moving toys.
Early socialization is key to teaching your Lhasapoo which kind of behavior is acceptable.
Since this breed is prone to separation anxiety, they shouldn’t be left alone for long hours.
If your daily obligations are time-consuming you might rethink your decision of getting a dog.
Lhasapoo Training
The most effective way to have a well-behaved Lhasapoo is to provide proper training.
Dogs can learn basic commands as of eight weeks. Don’t wait for too long to start training because that will backfire on you.
Early training and early socialization are the two most important things. Start training as soon as you bring your Lhasapoo home.
Provide enough toys, indoor playtime, and exercise space.
Make sure that you go through puppy vaccination, and once your veterinarian approves it you can start exploring the wilderness of your neighborhood.
Make training sessions fun, short, and packed with treats.
If you feel like you need additional help with training sessions, think about hiring a professional dog trainer or attended puppy classes together.
This is an intelligent breed, training sessions shouldn’t be an issue, as long as you have experience as a dog owner.
This breed will always demand a trainer, or an owner, who is calm, patient, and bring a positive attitude and positive reinforcement methods. Don’t forget: always reward good behavior.
Lhasapoo Exercise
A tired dog is a good dog. No matter how small or big your dog is, one is for sure – they love having a job to do and being active.
Simply said, when tired dogs are the best. By enabling mental and physical stimulation, you are actually forcing them to be active.
By doing so, you are letting them be free and be dogs. Therefore, they will be more than grateful.
If you add a treat, they will love you even more.
The Lhasapoo is a moderately active dog. This means that you should still provide regular walks and additional outdoor time for exploring.
They will appreciate regular visits to the local dog park and play and fetch time. They will be more than polite with other dogs, so use that to help them burn off that energy.
This may surprise you but this breed will is more than agile, so expect fast jumps from couch to couch.
Lhasapoo Grooming
Being a dog owner is much more than enjoying the playtime with your Fido.
Being a dog owner is a lot about responsibility, meeting the needs of another living being, and providing a happy and safe environment.
Being a dog owner is also a lot about grooming as well. Grooming time is what you invest into having visually a healthy and fluffy dog.
Grooming will help you bond with your dog and spend more time brushing him.
Since you don’t know how long coat your Lhasapoo have you should have the right grooming tools on hand.
Depending on the coat’s length you will be able to choose the right grooming tool.
The Lhasapoo is considered to be a non-shedding breed, so there shouldn’t be heavy hair on your floors every day.
During the shedding season, which occurs in spring and autumn, you shouldn’t use a vacuum cleaner every day.
As such, they are friendly toward owners who suffer from allergies. Still, bear in mind that no dog doesn’t shed 100%.
You should provide brushing every week, at least once. When it’s cold, you should think about putting a sweater on your Lhasapoo.
Avoid long walks and prolonged outdoor time during a hot summer night.
Lhasapoo Health
All dogs can become prone to certain conditions during their lifetime.
In some, genetics plays a huge role, while in others external factors lead to various medical conditions.
If you are buying a puppy deal only with reputable and responsible breeders. These breeders will interview you as well, to see if you are a good fit for a certain breed.
They will also give you medical records on the breed and show you the facilities.
If you are not allowed to take a tour or meet the dog’s parents, and there is no medical documentation, know that you are standing inside the puppy mills.
This would be your sight ot walk off. Dealing with only responsible breeders will give you a guarantee that your puppy is healthy.
Still, this doesn’t mean that your dog won’t develop any issues along the way. Anything can happen in only two months, let alone five years.
That being said, Lhasapoo may be prone to the health problems of both parents. However, mixing two breeds should always lower the chances of developing certain inherited diseases.
Again, if you are dealing with a responsible breeder you should get only the best, the healthiest, and best-looking specimens.
To prevent any future health issues, provide regular veterinarian check-ups.
Prevention is the key to long, happy, and safe dog’s life.
The Bottom Line
If you want a dog who is small in size, doesn’t shed a lot and isn’t afraid to bark when there are strangers around, the Lhasapoo is the breed for you.
Make sure that you provide proper care, enable regular veterinarian check-ups, and learn about dog parents.
When you combine knowledge and practice, you will enjoy being the owner of this breed.
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