The Lhasa Apso is a small, well muscled
hardy little house dog originating in Tibet and thought
to have descended from the hardier type of dog common
for centuries over Central Asia.
The name "Apso" is used in Tibet for both of their
smaller long-haired breeds - Apso meaning long haired
or goat like. The Tibetan also distinguish the smaller
ones, the Lhasa Apso, as Apso Seng Kyi and literally
translated Seng means lion and Kyi means dog or the
Lion dog of Tibet in Buddhist mythology.
To look at them, they are a mop of hair, ideal height
of 10" high, hard to distinguish front from back and
can be any colour or mixture of colours.
They are highly intelligent, good with children, gay
and assertive with a free and jaunty movement, but wary
of strangers and can be sensitive to the moods of their
owners. However, this suspicion of strangers is the
basis of a good house dog - but if a guest is
introduced as a friend they are prepared to accept
them.
Intensely loyal to their family, they are a small dog
with a big heart!
The coat is double with moderate undercoat which
provides good insulation which is cast out for summer
when a thinner undercoat grows; the top coat is of a
hard texture and serves as a weather proof outer
jacket. The good fall of hair over the eyes is
protection against dust, wind and intense glare found
in the Tibetan climate. Regular grooming is a necessary
task, providing the essential bloom in a long coated
breed, but the task can almost be made a game for both
owner and dog. They can be also clipped and look just
as adorable.
They are a late maturing, long lived breed and several
have lived to 17 years of age. They can be stubborn; so
one must be firm about training as a Lhasa Apso. Being
intelligent they often think they know more than you do
and consider themselves an equal.
Their faithfulness usually convinces the Lhasa Apso
that they should please you. They have a fine sense of
fun and will lie for hours near their owner hardly
noticeable, i.e. if the owner is ill, the Apso will not
go out to play, but will prefer to stay by their
owner's side.
Being a small dog, they are ideal for the metropolitan
area, but they are by no means softies - they are an
all weather strong breed. Definitely not lap dogs,
however, they do like to be indoors. Years of close
contact with people in the temples and also as house
dogs and bed warmers in Tibet has developed their
lovable personalities.
Lhasa Apso Club has been formed in Australia for the
encouragement and progress of the pedigreed Lhasa Apso.
However, they are not Clubs for show dogs only, but for
all Lhasa Apso enthusiasts.
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