Lhasa Apso
Lhasa Apso is a happy, mischievous and playful dog who make one of the best apartment dogs today. Don't go by his small size, he was bred as a guard dog and will protect his family fiercely whenever the situation comes.
Average sizes and life expectancy of the breed
25-28 cm
5-8 kg
12-14 years
Tibet
pure
non-sporting
Characteristics of the Lhasa Apso
Lhasa Apso are intelligent dogs who has a stubborn side associated with them. They are also independent and fierce who will guard their loved ones despite being small in size. Despite their small figure, they are not a fragile dog and their inherent protective nature makes them wary of strangers. A Lhasa Apso will only make someone his friend once he is absolutely sure that there is no threat. As stated above, this breed is a stubborn dog and his training and socialisation should begin from young age. He is a moderate barker and acts as an excellent watchdog who will alert you if they find anything suspicious around them.
Coat
The Lhasa Apso is known for its glossy, silky, long and dense coat. Although the most common are white and gold, the breed also has colors such as sand, honey, dark gray and black. It needs daily brushing so that the hair does not tangle and also requires care in the eye region, as the hair can interfere with your vision when not trimmed properly. Bathing is also necessary for these dogs to keep excellent skin and coat health in them. While brushing these dogs, you should never brush them dry and should always moisten them while grooming them. Lhasa Apso's coat also mat quite easily and hence you should use good pin brush and comb to keep this problem away. Shampoos also go a long way in keeping their coat soft and keeping excellent fragrance in them. If you are using a conditioner, make sure it is thoroughly rinsed out of their coat as these dogs have long and thick hair.
Pet Profile
Best Food For Lhasa Apso
An adult Lhasa Apso would generally need around 532 Kcal daily to meet their energy needs. Puppies on the other hand would need 591 Kcal as they tend to eat more because of their growth phase. Lhasa Apso dogs who are spayed or neutered will need slightly lesser calories than adults because of their sedentary lifestyle. Coming to the nutrients, Lhasa Apso need good protein and fat content as they boost their muscle mass and provide them with good energy as well. Essential fatty acids like Omega 3 and Omega 6 goes a long way in improving the skin health of these dogs too. Coming to the feeding portion, you can give puppies their food 3 times a day, preferably 3/4 of cups of each time. This is for puppies who are between 2 to 9 months of age. Once they have crossed 9 months of age, you can feed them twice a day with full cups each time. Don't allow free-feeding as they can put on weight, which will hamper both their health and mobility.
Grooming Your Lhasa Apso
As Lhasa Apsos have a long and luxurious coat, their grooming requirement is naturally high. These are dogs who need daily brushing to keep their coat soft as well as shiny. Besides, as their coat is long, hard and rough, breeders recommend them brushing in layers. The tools you need to brush them are slicker brush, pin brush, 2-in-1 comb and grooming scissors etc, which will eliminate the dead hairs in them while keeping their coat in excellent health. To remove the tangles, you may consider using your fingers as well as deshedding tools.. When it comes to bathing, Lhasa Apsos need a bath every 3-6 weeks to get rid of dirt as well as dander. If you want to use a shampoo, consider opting for a gentle canine shampoo rather than human shampoo, as the later contains sensitive pH levels for the dog. Also, do not rub the shampoo into the skin in circles, rather work it down the hair to avoid tangling of the hair.
Taking Care of a Lhasa Apso
Special care must be taken with the Lhasa's fur. Because they are dense, they need regular baths and daily brushing to avoid tangling - it is worth remembering that knots give pets a lot of pain, in addition to discomfort. Some tutors prefer to shave the animal which, despite being without the exuberant and long hair, makes maintenance easier, especially if the animal is very exposed to external areas. The baby clipper is a favorite for Lhasa parents, offering a puppy-like appearance even to adults. Speaking of outdoor areas, the Lhasa Apso is a puppy to have indoors, it cannot and should not be raised in backyards, for example. Despite being very playful and needing daily stimulation, it is not such an active animal and prefers light walks, not too long. They also love to play with stuffed animals. So it also adapts very well to living in small environments.
History of Lhasa Apsos
The breed carries a very mystical history, as it was believed that when the owner of a Lhasa Apso died, his soul would be reincarnated in another dog of the same breed. They were considered animals that brought luck and prosperity and could only leave the territory if they were given as a gift. From the beginning of the Manchu Dynasty in 1583 until as recently as 1908, Dalai Lama sent Lhasas as a gifts to the emperors of China. In 1933 a couple of the breed was given by the 13th Dalai Lama to a researcher named Suydam Cutting who then started the creation of the breed in the United States that was only recognized by the Kennel Club in 1935.