Skip to content 
Lhasa Apso Dog Breed Introduction
Lhasa Apso is a non-sporting dog breed from Tibet that possesses a sharp loud bark. It was developed as a guard dog in palaces and monasteries. Lhasa Apsos are loyal, affectionate, and charming dogs. However, they are reserved with strangers.
Lhasa Apso Origin | History
Lhaso Apsos are ancient dogs dating back to 800 BC that were developed in Tibet. These dogs were exclusively bred by monks in monasteries and nobility as protector and inside guard. Lhasa Apsos take their name from Lhasa, the holy city. In their native Tibet, these dogs were considered sacred, hence it was nearly impossible to buy one. A Lhasa Apso was not allowed to leave the country unless when given as a gift by the Dalai Lama.
Dalai Lamas started sending Lhama Apsos as gifts to the Emperor of China and members of the Imperial family from 16th century until the early 20th century. In the United Kingdom, Tibetan Dogs were brought by the returning military men from the Indian Subcontinent. The dogs imported to the UK were of mixed types, similar either to what would become the Tibetan Terrier or Lhaso Apso. Collectively, they were referred to as Lhasa terrier.
In the United States, the original pair of Lhasa Apsos was a gift from 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso, to an American world traveler, author, and Naturalist, C. Suydam Cutting in 1933. These dogs were registered with AKC in 1935 in the Terrier Group before they were transferred in the non-sporting group in 1959.
Lhasa Apso Lifespan
According to the American Kennel Club, Lhasa Apsos have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years. However, some live between the age of 17 to 20 years and others into their early 20s. Reportedly, the oldest Lhasa Apso had a lifespan of 29 years old.
Lhasa Apso Dying Symptoms
At some point, pet parents will have to make a tough decision to put a Lhasa Apso down. While making this decision, owners are urged to do in the best interest of the pet rather than what is best for them to avoid prolonging the suffering of the pet. Some of the signs that Lhasa Apsoa exhibit while nearing the end of life include:
- Breathing difficulties.
- Weight loss because of the normal aspect of aging or illness.
- Poor response to medications.
- Lethargy and fatigue.
- Lack of interest in their favorite things and depression.
- Canine Cognitive Dysfunction is similar to dementia with signs including pacing at night, irritability, and fussiness.
- Poor Coordination.
- Loss of control of bladder and/or bowel movement.
Lhasa Apso Grooming
Lhasa Apsos have a long and dense double coat that sheds at low to non all-year round. Daily brushing is recommended to keep the coat healthy, dirt-free, and prevent matting and tangling. Owners may clip the coat for easy maintenance. Dogs that have a trimmed coat require clipping every 4 to 6 weeks. Brush the coat using a pin brush, metal pin brush, and a slicker brush.
Before brushing the coat, spritz it with a detangling spray or a water conditioner solution to prevent hair breakage and ease brushing through the dense coat. Lhasa Apsos that have a long hair require a bath at least every two weeks. However, a pet that has a puppy cut can be bathed every 4 to 6 weeks with brushings between baths to maintain the coat. Use a hypoallergenic canine shampoo and conditioner while bathing the dog. After a bath, thoroughly rinse of the coat using lukewarm water to prevent skin irritation from the residue of the grooming products.
Ensure the coat is dried off using a dry towel before brushing to prevent matting. Use a damp clean washcloth or canine friendly wipes to clean the face instead of using soapy water that irritates the eyes. Overly grown nails are painful for a Lhasa Apso while walking or running. Clip the nails fortnightly using nail clippers or grinders.
Brush the teeth of Lhasa Apsos every day or at least twice a week using a dog-formulated toothpaste and toothbrush to prevent tartar buildup that causes bad breathe. Clean the ears on a weekly basis using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls to remove excess wax or debris. While cleaning the ears, check out for redness, dark discharge, and odor since they are signs of dog’s ear infection.
Lhasa Apso Haircuts | Grooming Styles
This breed is popular for a floor-length coat that is parted on the middle and draping on each side of the body. Lhasa Apsos that participate in conformation shows, have a long coat. For this grooming style, the hair on the mustache, ears, and face is also left long. This haircut requires regular baths, brushing, and grooming at least every 2 weeks to keep the locks healthy. Owners may opt for a puppy cut, teddy bear cut, or a lamb cut depending on the season for easy maintenance.
Puppy cut – To achieve this grooming style, the hair is trimmed close to the body to about half an inch whereas the fur on the tail and face is left a little bit longer to about an inch.
Teddy bear cut – The hair on the face is trimmed in a circular manner to achieve the teddy bear look while the fur on the body is trimmed to about a length of 2 inches or more.
Lamb cut – A Lhasa Apso may get a lamb cut by leaving the hair on the legs a little bit longer while clipping the hair on the body to about 1 or 2 inches.
Lhasa Apso Shedding
This is a small dog breed that sheds all-year round at non to low levels.
Lhasa Apso Coat Type | Coat
A Lhasa Apso has a long, straight, dense, and double-layered coat that is neither silky or wooly.
Lhasa Apso Hypoallergenic
A Lhasa Apso is considered a nearly hypoallergenic breed. This is because it sheds at non to low levels all-year round and produces less dander. Therefore, a Lhasa Apso is less likely to aggravate allergies. Lhasa Apsos are one of the small breeds that are considered non-shedding dogs by AKC.
Lhasa Apso Training
A Lhasa Apso is an intelligent breed that will please the owner if it pleases them to please the owner. However, they are somewhat independent and stubborn dogs which may make training a bit difficult. Fortunately, they can learn anything that a trainer makes interesting enough to master on their terms. Use of positive reinforcement methods such as petting, verbal praise, playtime, treats, and verbal praise makes training interesting and encourages positive outcomes. Avoid use of negative correction methods since Lhasa Apsos have a tendency to be stubborn if badgered or bullied. Remember to keep the training sessions short for a period of 5 to 10 minutes distributed throughout the day.
This is also an intelligent breed that doesn’t appreciate repetitive training. Most Lhasa Apsos that exhibit undesirable canine behaviors are due to improper and inconsistent training as well as nonexistent human leadership. Bred as guard dogs, a Lhasa Apso is naturally wary of strangers. Socialization training is therefore, crucial so that the pooch can properly direct natural tendency toward wariness. This training starts from the age of 3 weeks while a Lhasa Apso is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks while the pet is with the owner. Most Lhasa Apsos join their new homes from the age of 8 weeks. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure you get a pup from a responsible breeder.
To socialize a Lhasa Apso, expose it to different people, animals, places, surfaces, situations, experiences, and sounds such as vacuum cleaners, sirens, washing machines, whistles, baby crying sounds, and lawn mowers. Enrolling this breed in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes provide a controlled environment where canines interact. This is important for this breed since they are not always good with other dogs. Puppy classes also help pet owners to not only identify and correct bad habits but also have access to training information and assistance needed.
Remember to start teaching basic command words that are potentially life saving from the age of 8 weeks when the dog comes home. Some of the basic command words taught to Lhasa Apsos include come, sit, down, stay, heel, leave it, etc. Remember to teach one command at a time until the dog understands before teaching the next command. Avoid issuing a command while too excited or frustrated since the commands won’t sound the same for your pet.
For effective housebreaking, crate training, potty training, and creating a feeding schedule is recommended. Crate training enables the pet parent to monitor the dog for signs that it wants to eliminate outside such as sniffing, circling, restlessness, squatting, whining, and lifting a leg against the crate wall. To get positive outcomes when potty training, ensure you take a Lhasa Apso to the designated toilet area immediately it wakes up, 20 minutes after meals and drinks, every 2 to 3 hours, following an exciting activity such as car ride and playtime, and before bedtime.
Lhasa Apso Temperament | Characteristics | Personality | Traits
- Intelligent.
- Wary of strangers.
- Loyal.
- Affectionate.
- Sensitive.
- Alert.
- Charming.
- Playful.
- Independent.
- Stubborn.
Lhasa Apso Exercise
This breed has moderate energy levels and is proficient at self-exercise. Lhasa Apsos will entertain themselves in a fenced yard or race around an apartment to run off energy. Regular two or three walks a day will help to keep them happy and healthy. These dogs can also participate in herding, retrieving, and scent work trials.
Lhasa Apso Barking
A Lhasa Apso is a vocal breed that was bred as a guard dog. They will bark at strangers, anytime they hear noise at night, at doorbell rings, etc. Therefore, it is important to teach them the quiet command.
Lhasa Apso Growling
Growling is a form of dog’s communication. A Lhasa Apso may growl when in pain, playing, or resource guarding the food bowl or toys.
Lhasa Apso Height
Male Lhasa Apsos have a height of 11 inches ( approx. 28 cm ) while their female counterparts have a height of 9 inches ( approx. 23 cm ).
Lhasa Apso Weight
Both female and male Lhasa Apsos have a weight range of 12 to 18 pounds ( approx. 5 to 8 kg).
Lhasa Apso Size
These are small-sized dogs. Lhasa Apsos have a weight of 12 to 18 pounds ( approx. 5 to 8 kg). However, male Lhasa Apsos are slightly taller with a height of 11 inches ( approx. 28 cm ) while female Lhasa Apsos have a height of 9 inches ( approx. 23 cm ).
Lhasa Apso Aggressive
A Lhasa Apso is naturally reserved with strangers. Early socialization is required to ensure the dog properly directs its natural tendency towards wariness to prevent aggressive behaviors such as barking, growling, or biting.
Lhasa Apso Bite Force
Reportedly, Lhasa Apsos have a bite force of between 100 to 200 PSI.
Lhasa Apso Behavior Problems
If a Lhasa Apso is poorly trained due inconsistent or nearly non-existent human leadership, the breed is likely to have behavior problems. This breed is naturally wary of strangers, if poorly socialized it will exhibit behavior issues such as barking, biting, nipping, or growling at people.
Lhasa Apso Separation Anxiety
A Lhasa Apso is an independent dog that will do just fine when left alone for reasonable amounts of time. Usually, they don’t suffer from separation anxiety.
Lhasa Apso Intelligence
A Lhasa Apso is a highly intelligent pet that often pleases the owner if they are pleased to please them. However, they have a tendency to have a stubborn streak which makes training a bit difficult.
Lhasa Apso Biting
Puppy biting and nipping is rapid while playing, exploring the surrounding, and teething due to discomfort. However, biting should be discouraged through redirection and bite inhibition training before it develops into a habit.
Lhasa Apso Eye Problems
Some of the eye problems that Lhasa Apso suffer from include:
Glaucoma – This is an eye issue that causes insufficient drainage of the fluid from the eye putting pressure on the optic nerve of the dog.
Dry eye – This eye problem reduces the amount of fluid produced by the tear glands to the extend that they are no longer able to keep the eyes moist.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy – This is a group of degenerative eye problems that affect the photoreceptors of the Lhasa Apsos.
Cherry eye – also known as a prolapsed gland, is an eye issue that occurs once the tear gland in the Lhasa Apso’s third eye becomes inflamed.
Cataracts – The eye lens of a Lhasa Apso that is suffering from cataracts are cloudy and whitish eventually leading to blindness if left untreated.
Lhasa Apso Health Issues
This is a relatively healthy breed that may live up to its late teens. One of the health issues that affect Lhasa Apsos include hereditary kidney dysfunction which may be present in mild or severe forms. Other health issues that affect Lhasa Apsos include cherry eye, progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, dry eye, hip dysplasia, allergies, intervertebral disc disease, patellar luxation, Chondrodysplasia, and Sebaceous Adenitis.
Lhasa Apso Names
A Lhasa Apso pet parent may decide to get a name for the pup before it comes home from the age of 8 weeks or a few days later after joining them home to ensure they understand the personality of the dogs. Owners may get name inspirations from the Tibetan origin of the breed, the coat color, characteristics, celebrity Lhasa Apsos, movies, books, music, food, nature, historical figures, etc.
Regardless of where they get the name, they should ensure it freely rolls off their tongue and won’t make them embarrassed when uttered out loud in parks or malls. If a pet parent settles with a long name, he or she should ensure they find a cute nick name for the adorable puppy. Lhasa Apsos and other dog breeds better understand names that have vowels.
Avoid giving this breed a name that rhymes with the command words to prevent confusion. If a pooch shares a name with any of the family member or guest who frequent your home, it may result to confusion. Some of the names that Lhasa Apsos parents give to their pets include Kashi, Cutie, Goldie. Blanca, Milo, max, Neo, Leo, Romeo, Pema, Kabo, Clover, Ezra, Puff, Fox, Downy, Velvet, etc.
Apart from Lhasa Apsos, other breeds of dogs include:
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Lhasa Apso Dog Food | Food
The amount of food that Lhasa Apsos feed on depends on their activity level, age, metabolism, and body build. Puppies will tend to have a high metabolism rate as compared to adult and senior dogs. Therefore, a Lhasa Apso puppy will feed a total of 3 or 4 times a day from when it starts weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, a Lhasa Apso will feed twice a day for the rest of its life. These dogs also have a thick skin to support the double heavy hair coat. Therefore, Lhasa Apsos need a diet with good fat and protein levels.
Feed a Lhasa Apso with a dog food that is at least 14 percent fats. However, the protein source i.e. beef, chicken, pork, fish, or lamb depends on the individual dog’s taste and tolerance. Depending on the budget and time preparation needed, Lhasa Apsos parents may feed their dogs with dry, wet, raw diet, or home-made food. If feeding your pooch with commercial food ensure that the first three listed ingredients are proteins from a known source.
The commercial food should not have additives, chemicals, fillers, preservatives, and meat by-products. Dry or wet food should be formulated for small-sized puppies, adults, and seniors. Check the physique of a Lhasa Apso to know whether it is overweight or underweight. If you can see the ribs, chances are the dog is underweight. Although, if the ribs are not visible but you can feel them without pressing hard, the pooch has an ideal weight.
If you cannot feel the ribs, the pet is overweight and needs regular exercise. After getting a puppy from a breeder, the owner is likely to switch to another quality food. They should gradually do this over a period of one month by mixing both new food and old food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until the Lhasa Apso is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.
Lhasa Apso Allergies
A Lhasa Apso is prone to various forms of allergies:
Contact allergies – This inflammation occurs once the skin comes in contact with the allergen. Some of the contact allergens that may affect Lhasa Apsos include latex, bed linens, plastics, grooming products, medication, lawn chemicals, carpet cleaning detergents, and medications. Commonly affected body parts include around the muzzle, paws, and feet. If left unattended, this allergy may cause excessive itching, licking, scratching, and biting causing yeast and bacterial skin infections.
Food allergies – A Lhasa Apso may suffer from food allergies and food intolerance. However, the latter (food intolerance) is far more common.
Skin allergies – Lhasa Apsos suffer from skin allergies due to certain skin conditions like Sebaceous Adenitis and allergies like contact, food, and environmental allergies that manifest on the skin. Commonly affected body parts include belly sides, around the muzzle, groin, ears, eyes, and face.
Environmental allergies – This breed has a long and dense coat that is likely to collect environmental allergens such as grass, pollen, fleas, mites, ragweed, dust and dust mites, as well as house molds. Fleas’ saliva cause flea allergy dermatitis that affects the back legs and underneath the tail. It causes excessive scratching, biting, and licking until the skin around the bite area is raw. If left untreated, the wound will result in secondary skin infections. Some of the symptoms of environmental allergies include sneezing, congestion, nasal discharge and itchiness on various body parts including paws, feet, belly sides, etc.
Lhasa Apso Food Allergies
In rare cases, Lhasa Apsos may suffer from a true food allergy which results to an immune response that is accompanied with skin issues and gastrointestinal signs. Some of the gastrointestinal signs that a Lhasa Apso suffers from due to food allergies include acute diarrhea and vomiting, lethargy, and weight loss. On the other hand, skin conditions symptoms caused by food allergies include sores, hives, crusting lesions, pruritus, and dermatitis.
Lhasa Apso may confuse food allergies for food intolerance since they both cause vomiting and diarrhea. However, the former doesn’t cause an immune response. Food intolerance or sensitivity happens as a gradual response to an offending ingredient in the diet and snacks of the pet. Some of the ingredients that cause sensitivities in Lhasa Apsos include fillers, corn, soy, wheat, lamb, chicken, beef, pork, fish, turkey, milk, eggs, chemicals, preservatives, additives, etc.
Symptoms of food intolerance include vomiting, diarrhea, ear infections, poor skin and coat, foot infections, and itchiness. Owners should closely work with the vet to manage the symptoms and find the offending ingredient through food elimination method. This is where a Lhasa Apso feeds on one type of protein and carbohydrate for 8 to 12 weeks. Although, some pet parents may prefer to switch to a raw diet.
Lhasa Apso Eyes
A Lhasa Apso has dark brown almond-shaped eyes.
Lhasa Apso Tail
These dogs have well-feathered tails that curl over the back with a distinct style of Tibetan breeds.
Lhasa Apso Teeth
During birth, Lhasa Apsos puppies are born with no teeth. However, the deciduous teeth start growing in from the age of 2 to 3 weeks until the dog has a total of 28 milk teeth between the age of 6 to 8 weeks. From the age of 12 weeks, the milk teeth start falling out as the permanent teeth erupts beneath them. At the age of 6 to 8 months, a Lhasa Apso puppy should have a total of 42 permanent teeth.
Are Lhasa Apsos Smart
Yes. Lhasa Apsos are smart dogs that thrive on positive reinforcements methods such as use of treats during training. However, they are independent dogs that may make training difficult.
Are Lhasa Apsos Aggressive
If properly socialized, Lhasa Apsos are able to properly direct their natural tendency toward wariness since they are aloof with strangers. This prevents the possibility of exhibiting aggressive behaviors.
Are Lhasa Apso Friendly
Yes. Lhasa Apsos are friendly with their human family and familiar faces. However, they are wary with strangers.
Lhasa Apso Quick Facts
- Lhasa Apsos are long-lived dogs if they are well taken care of with some living into their early 20s.
- They shed at non to low levels hence they are regarded hypoallergenic.
- Some of the celebrities that have Lhasa Apsos as pets include Ellen DeGeneres.
