Apso Lhasa
Or it is a small dog that is characterized by its long and abundant fur. This puppy looks like a miniature version of the ancient English shepherd dog and is native to Tibet. Although little known, the Lhasa Apso is a very popular dog in its region and, despite its small size, is one of the watchdogs par excellence.
- Discover in Animal Expert everything about Lhasa Apso.
- A dog that despite its small size has an exceptionally daring and unique character.
- In addition.
- We will explain the care you need with him to be always healthy.
Continue reading this fact sheet to find out if Lhasa Apso is the right dog for you.
Lhasa Apso comes from the city of Lhasa in Tibet and was originally bred as a guard dog for Tibetan monasteries. This is one of the best examples that a small dog can be a great caregiver.
While the Tibetan mastiff was used to keep monasteries out, Lhasa Apso was preferred to keep them inside. In addition, it was used in public relations, since dogs of this breed were offered to visiting personalities from other latitudes. In his native country, he is known as Abso Seng Kye, which means “sentinel lion dog”. It is likely that the “lion” is because of his abundant fur, or perhaps his great courage and bravery.
Although originally bred as a watchdog, the current Lhasa Apso is a pet dog. The long and dense fur was very useful to keep warm and avoid the strong solar radiation in Tibet, today it is only an attraction of these small but brave dogs.
The head of The Lhasa Apso is covered with abundant hair, which covers the dog’s eyes and forms a well-developed beard and moustaches. The skull is relatively narrow, not flat or apple-shaped. It joins the body by a strong and well arched neck. The snout, cut according to the length of the skull, is straight and the nose is black. The stop is moderate and the bite in inverted scissors (the upper incisors are closed behind the lower ones). The eyes of Lhasa Apso are oval, medium and dark. The ears are suspended and covered with hair.
The body is small and longer than tall. It is covered with long hair in abundance. The upper line is straight and the spine is strong. The front ends of the Lhasa Apso are straight, while the rear ends have a good angle. The stems must be parallel to each other. Lhasa Apso has a long, hard-textured coat that covers its entire body and falls to the ground. The most popular colors of this breed are gold, white and honey, but other ones are also accepted, such as dark gray, black, brown and sand.
The tail of Lhasa Apso is high and is placed on the back, but has no wing shape. It has a curved end and is covered with abundant hairs that form a bangs throughout its length.
The height at the cross of the males is about 25.4 centimeters. Females are a little smaller. The breed standard used by the International Cynological Federation does not specify a defined weight for the Lhasa Apso, but these dogs usually weigh about 6.5 kilograms.
Due to its use as a watchdog, the Lhasa Apso has evolved as a safe, strong and active dog that needs physical and mental exercise. However, today it is classified as a pet dog for its size and appearance.
This breed of dog is generally independent, so early socialization is very important. Although it is a dog that likes to caress and caress, it usually distrusts a little of strangers.
The small size of this breed suggests that it is suitable as a companion of children, but this is a mistake. A properly socialized Lhasa Apso will be good companionship for any family, but children pose an apparent (and often real) threat to most small dogs. For this reason, Lhasa Apso is best suited for families with children who have grown up or with children mature enough to care for their dog properly.
It is important to highlight the difficulty of hair care Lhasa Apso. These dogs need frequent brushing, even more than once a day. Otherwise, the hair will be ashamed and knots may form. This particular need is a disadvantage for those who do not have enough time and for those who want to share outdoor activities with their dog. Although Lhasa Apso needs to play and exercise, her need for exercise is not high and she can live comfortably in an apartment.
To begin with, and as with the education of any dog, it will be very important to start dealing with socialization from an early age so that the dog can learn to relate to people, animals and objects of all kinds, without suffering fears or phobias. On the other hand, when you reach your adult stage, it will be very important that you start practicing basic obedience orders that will help you facilitate communication with it.
Positive reinforcement gives excellent results with this breed. Therefore, it is more correct to say that the Lhasa Apso is an easy dog to train if the right methods are used.
In general, the Lhasa Apso is a very healthy dog. However, skin problems can occur if the hair does not stay healthy. It is also known that this breed may have a slight tendency to hip dysplasia, kidney problems and ulcers. Therefore, regularly seeing the veterinarian with him will help detect any type of problem or discomfort.
You should follow the vaccination schedule defined by the veterinarian and pay special attention to the external parasites, which find in Lhasa Apso a very attractive guest. deworming the dog outdoors once a month is essential.