Lhasa Apso Dog Breed — Facts and Personality Traits
If the adage looks are deceptive were to take a living, breathing form, it’d be as the Lhasa Apso Dog. At first glance, these lavishly coated, tiny little fur balls may seem like the most disarming canine companion you can hope to have, but in reality, the Lhasa Apso temperament and personality are far more complex.
Bred thousands of years ago to serve as sentinels at the monasteries and palaces of the Himalayan region of Tibet, these dogs still carry their soldierly genes and aristocratic bearings. This means while they can be goofy and loving with their family members, they’re aloof and wary of strangers. With a floor-length coat, parted neatly down the middle, a feathery tail curled upwards, and oval-shaped eyes peering through the facial hair, the Lhasa Apso is a picture of exotic elegance.
However, a dog is more than just its looks. That’s why it’s important to get a realistic impression of Lhasa Apso temperament and personality, grooming and exercise needs, health issues, and more to understand whether it’d be a right fit for you. That’s why I’ve put together this Lhasa Apso dog breed information guide for you.
Lhasa Apso History
The Lhasa Apso dog traces its origins to Tibet and gets its name from the holy city of Lhasa. As already mentioned, it was bred as a guard dog for monasteries and palaces (who’d have thunk it, right!) — a role this breed played for many a millennium. In the native language, the breed is called Abso Seng Kye, which translates to “Bark Lion Sentinel Dog”.
The first record of this breed dates back to 800 B.C. For a fair part of its history, it was impossible to buy a Lhasa Apso, since it was also bred exclusively by the nobility and monks. Given its exclusivity and the fact that it stood guard at monasteries and temples, the Lhasa Apso was considered sacred and a bearer of good luck. That’s why, it’s also known as Holy Dog of Lhasa.
Suggested Reading: Bernedoodle Dogs: A Complete Breed Guide
It was a long-held belief that when a dog’s owner died, the human soul was embraced by the dog. Owing to its place in the Tibetan culture, the Lhasa Apso was not allowed to leave the country, except as a gift from the Dalai Lama. They were always gifted in pairs and believed to bring good luck to the recipient.
This is how the breed entered the United States. In 1933, the 13th Dalai Lama gifted a pair to C. Suydam Cutting, a noted traveler and naturalist. Cutting owned a farm in New Jersey, and the gifted pair became the foundation for this kennel. The Lhasa Apso dog breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1935.
Lhasa Apso Appearance
The Lhasa Apso is a small, sturdy, well-balanced rectangular dog whose distinguishing feature is a heavy double coat that is parted down the middle, right from its head to tail. This longhaired dog breed also has well-feathered feet and legs, along with a good headfall. These features were meant to protect this small dog breed against the rugged terrain and extreme climate of its native land.
The Lhasa Apso carries an alert, sharp, and thoughtful expression, which is augmented by its dark brown almond-shaped eyes. It sports pendant-like ears set slightly above the eye level and a narrow skull that veers away from the eyes at a discernable angle but not so acute that it gives the head a domed shape. It has a muzzled black nose that sits snugly amid its lustrous coat. Despite its small size, the Lhasa Apso sports a smooth, effortless gait without any hackney or exaggerated lift. This breed comes in a variety of colors, including gold, black, white, and tan.
Lhasa Apso dog breed information — Height and weight
The Lhasa Apso is a small dog and both males and females, typically, fall in the same weight and height range although females tend to be slightly smaller.
Male: 10-11 inches 12-18 pounds
Female: 9-11 inches 11-18 pounds
Lhasa Apso Temperament and Personality
Curiously, Lhasa Apsos think they’re very, very large dogs. This aspect of their temperament is rooted in the fact that for hundreds of years, they were bred to be royal watchdogs. The present-day Lhasa Apso dog carries his genetic markup, which dictates how they approach life: as loyal and fierce guardians of their home and family.
Though an aggressive Lhasa Apso may sound like an oxymoron, these dogs are fierce and can go to great lengths to protect their family and home. If not handled the right way, this can become a trigger for Lhasa Apso behavior problems. Even more so because for those unfamiliar with the Lhasa Apso temperament, their protective streak can come as a surprise, given the small size, flowing coat, and irresistibly cute appearance.
By no measure does this appear to be a fierce dog breed but that’s exactly what Lhasa Apso temperament boils down to — fiercely protective of its territory and people. They are also inherently suspicious of strangers. So, if you go in expecting a friendly dog who loves belly rubs and pets from strangers walking by or even unfamiliar people walking into your home, you’re going to be in for a surprise. Sure, the Lhasa Apso loves its shares of love and attention, but specifically from their family. So, if you’re considering bringing home one because they look just so damn irresistible, just make sure you’re prepared to handle his lionhearted protectiveness — if not handled the right way, it can become the source of many Lhasa Apso behavior problems.
Suggested Reading: Alaskan Malamute Dog: A Complete Breed Guide
That being said, the Lhasa Apso personality offers an interesting mix of traits. On the one hand, they have a regal, independent, fierce, and somewhat aloof, persona, and on the other, he’s also a mischievous, playful, happy goofball you’d hoped for. Only, they transition from one aspect of their personality to the other once they can completely trust the person they’re with.
This dichotomy also impacts the way they respond to their humans. While Lhasa loves staying close to their family and may follow their humans around the house, they don’t particularly get stressed or anxious when left on their own for a reasonable amount of time. Separation anxiety is not an issue with this breed. It also does well in apartments and small homes.
Caring for a Lhasa Apso
Like what you’ve read so far about this exotic dog breed? Alert, loyal, intelligent, playful, devoted, courageous — what’s not to love, right? I’m with you on that. But to be able to decide whether it’s really the right dog for you, it also helps to understand what you’d be signing up for in terms of care and maintenance of Lhasa Apso.
From Lhasa Apso dog grooming styles to health issues, training and nutrition requirements, and life expectancy, let’s take a closer look at what caring for this breed entails:
Lhasa Apso health issues and lifespan
Despite its small size, this is not a fragile dog breed. Thanks to their origins and genetics, they’re strong and sturdy dogs. So, what’s the life expectancy of a Lhasa Apso? You’re looking at 12 to 15 years of companionship with this furball, and it’s not unusual for these dogs to live to their late teens and even beyond 20 years. That’s quite a journey, and you must be ready to deal with whatever it may bring along.
While Lhasa Apsos are generally healthy, even this hardy breed is prone to certain health issues. The top among them are:
- Cherry Eye: A red mass — that looks like a cherry — begins to grow at the inner corner of the dog’s eye
- Patellar Luxation: Also known as slipped stifles, this condition is common in small dogs. Knee joint dislocation can be extremely painful, and even crippling in some case
- Allergies: Allergies of different kinds — food allergies, contact allergies, and inhalant allergies. Treatment may include lifestyle changes, dietary restrictions, medications, and environmental changes
- Sebaceous Adenitis (SA): This is a genetic skin condition that can be a serious problem in dogs. It occurs when the sebaceous glands in the skin become inflamed and are eventually destroyed. This causes the skin to become dry and scaly, resulting in hair loss. The condition is compounded by the fact that it is often hard to diagnose
- Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca: Also known as dry eye, this condition results in the inflammation of the eye due to deficient tear production, leading to a gooey yellow discharge
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): Another vision-related health issue that involves the gradual deterioration of the retina. This usually begins as night blindness and the dog progressively loses their eyesight during the day as well. This condition causes partial or complete vision loss
- Familial Inherited Renal Dysplasia: This is a genetic or developmental defect of the kidneys, rendering them small or irregular in shape. The severity of the disease varies. In mild cases, it may go unnoticed whereas in severe cases, it leads to renal failure in puppyhood
Lhasa Apso nutrition
The Lhasa Apso needs high-quality food to thrive. These dogs have thick skin that supports their heavy coat, and to be able to nourish it well, they need a diet with high levels of quality protein (meat, fish, game) and fat. The fat composition in their diet needs to be about 14%.
It is also equally important to regulate their portion sizes and frequency of meals. Even the slightest of overfeeding can lead to digestive distress. They do equally well on dry food, home-cooked meals, and grain-free canned food — it’s the quality of the ingredients that counts.
Lhasa Apso grooming
Is a Lhasa Apso a good family dog? The answer to this question is in the affirmative on most counts — after all, it’s a highly trainable and adaptable dog with moderate exercise needs and small size. What’s more, its coat is hypoallergenic, which makes it a good choice for allergy sufferers. However, there is one aspect that makes it a high-maintenance dog — and that’s its grooming needs.
Caring for Lhasa’s coat
This breed boasts of a gorgeous coat that is long and dense. Being able to maintain that inherent gorgeousness of their coat is an integral part of the maintenance of Lhasa Apso. This breed requires daily brushing and combining, combined with baths every two to four weeks, depending on the weather and activity levels.
This can certainly be time-consuming and taxing. Many owners rely on professional groomers to maintain their Lhasa’s beautiful flowing coat. An experienced pet parent can easily take on this task if they have the time for it but a first-timer will definitely struggle to get it right. That’s why many pet owners choose to get their dog’s coat clipped. While that may make it easier to manage the dog’s grooming needs, it certainly takes away from the Lhasa’s regal appeal.
Suggested Reading: Scottish Deerhound: History, Traits, and Care
Trimming nails
In addition to brushing and bathing, you also need to trim your pet’s nails once or twice a month if they don’t get worn down naturally. This helps prevent painful tears and other problems. One rule of thumb that can help to decide whether your dog’s nails need clipping is: if you hear them clicking-clacking on the floor, they’re too long.
Dental hygiene and cleaning ears
Apart from nails, you also need to pay attention to your dog’s dental hygiene and ears. Offer dental chews once or twice a week to avoid tartar buildup and bad breath. Likewise, check your dog’s ears for any redness or bad odor — both indicators of infection.
Even if there are so signs of infection, it is advisable to clean your dog’s ears every couple of weeks to remove excess wax and dirt buildup. You can use gauze, a dampened cotton ball, or a vet-recommended cleaning solution to clean the outer ear. Under no circumstance must you insert anything inside your dog’s ear canal.
Lhasa Apso activity and exercise needs
Being a small dog, a Lhasa Apso doesn’t require strenuous physical activity to stay agile and fit. These dogs have moderate exercise needs and are also adept at self-exercise. Your Lhasa may run around the house or a fenced yard to expend excess energy. That said, they do enjoy going for walks with their humans.
Along with physical exercise, Lhasa Apso dogs also need a fair bit of mental stimulation and love playing with interactive toys. They can also be trained to do scent work, retrieving, and herding, as well as work as therapy dogs.
Suggested Reading: Doberman Pinscher Dog: Breed Information & Characteristics
Lhasa Apso training
A Lhasa Apso has a strong personality and will choose to please you (or a trainer) only if they want to. They’re highly intelligent dogs with a mind of their own, and when handled the right way, they can learn just about anything. However, if the training drills get repetitive or if they’re subjected to bullied or badgering, you may find a Lhasa Apso stubborn to train.
As a result, inconsistent or improper training, or lack of strong human leadership can quickly become a breeding ground for Lhasa Apso behavior problems. Given their petite size, many people believe that this breed is a good choice for first-time dog owners when, in fact, they do best with experienced people who know how to handle a strong-willed canine companion with a mind of its own.
Apart from consistent and correct training, early socialization is also a big part of raising a well-behaved good-natured Lhasa Apso dog. Exposing them to different environments, scenarios, and people right from puppyhood is essential to channeling their guard dog instincts the right way.
Lhasa Apso adaptability with kids and other pets
Lhasa Apso dog is adaptable in many ways but getting along with kids, especially young kids who may not know how to behave with dogs or respect their boundaries, is not one of them. The Lhasa Apso temperament is akin to that of a toddler, which means they’re impatient with the antics of children and can nip if pushed too far. They’re best suited for homes with no or older kids who can handle them properly.
If properly socialized early on, a Lhasa can get used to the idea of sharing their home with other pets and even get along with them. But given their leadership instincts, they like to be the alphas of the pack, even if the other dogs are much larger than them — remember, a Lhasa thinks of itself as a very, very big dog despite its small size.
There you have it — a complete lowdown on the Lhasa Apso dog breed. Bringing home a Lhasa means signing up to care for a big dog in a small body — there will be surprises at every turn! Once you understand their temperament and personality, and raise them with a gentle yet firm approach, they can be the best companion you could ask for.
