All About The Lhasa Apso

While many dogs may love the affection and pamper, some of our canine friends go crazy when they see a brush. But brushing your pup’s coat is not just a beautifying activity, but it is an important part of proper dog ownership.

 

These grooming sessions keep you connected with your dog for the rest of your life so you can check the coat, body, and paws for any problems. 

Don’t lose hope if your dog wanders, hides, bites, or runs away when he sees a brush – there are ways you can make the culture more beautiful for both of you.

About

The Lhasa Apso is a thousand-year-old breed of affectionate and alert dogs. They make a good companion and are considered easy keepers. The objective of breeding Lhasa Apso was to be a guard dog. Therefore, it shows characteristics like aloof, stubborn, and fierce. Lhasa Apso demonstrates a sharp, loud bark.

A Lhasa Apso weighs between 13 to 15 pounds and 9 to 11 inches tall. Naturally, long floppy ears give it a distinct look. Their famous coat consists of long hair. The Lhasa Apso coat may be available in all acceptable colors. They have a high demand or grooming to maintain their appearance. Lhasa Apso is a recognized non-sporting companion breed.

Origin

The Lhasa Apso breed originated in Tibet. It was bred to be a watchdog. They are the cross between the Tibetan terrier and a similar herding-type Tibetan dog. ; Lhasa Apso was officially recognized as a breed when Tibet converted to Buddhism in the 7th century AD.

Lamas are known to be reincarnated as Lhasa Apsos if they do not reach Nirvana. The Dalai Lamas kept Lhasa Apsos as their pets. The Lamas use Lhasa as a present to the honorary guests. Shih Tzu and Pekingese breeds in china were developed with the help of Lhasa Apso.

Lhasa Apso was bred to be an interior sentinel in the Buddhist monasteries. Their purpose was to alert the monks to any intruders who entered. They were the famous guard dogs. The name’s origin is traced to Tibet as Lhasa is the capital city of Tibet, and Apso is a word from the Tibetan language. 

Personality

The Lhasa Apso has a peculiar mix of personality traits. They are tiny happy dogs who are naughty and playful but also regal and fierce. They are independent and have leadership qualities. They take their job as a watchdog very seriously. Your Lhasa will go to extents to keep you and your family safe. They are late to the maturity party, so till old age, they behave like puppies.

Don’t mistake their small size as a sign of fragility. They may be small, but they are strong and sturdy dogs. They are naturally wary of strangers. They are not friendly to everyone. Until a Lhasa knows for sure that person X is danger-free, they will stay alert around them.

Lhasa thinks they can rule the world. They want to become the leader of everyone. To prevent this behavior, puppy classes are essential. Along with canine manners, your Lhasa will learn socialization there. The owners of Lhasa Apso must be kind and patient people. 

They are indoor dogs. They won’t drag you outside on a rainy day to play, or any other day for that matter. A Lhasa is almost like a cat in this matter- it can just sit on your lap the whole day and purr. They are not typically active dogs, unlike the other similar breed. Daily short walks and play sessions are still a necessity for their body to stay healthy.

Lhasa Apsos are family-oriented dogs. They like to cozy up with the family members. Your Lhasa will follow you around and walk with you from room to room only to stay close to you. They love sitting in the owner’s lap. Lhasa apso is not prone to separation anxiety. Their independent nature enables them to stay at home alone without getting worried.

Care and Diet

The Lhasa Apso is the perfect pet for people with narrow space. They enjoy playing outside in a park or fenced backyard. Lhasa is also suitable for apartment or condo residents; the breed can survive in limited space. The Lhasa Apso is not a very energetic dog breed. They are happy staying at home, playing and wandering around, or just sitting in your lap the whole day. They don’t need long daily walks; short walks are satisfying for them. 

Training a Lhasa Apso can be tricky. They don’t respond well to housetraining, so crate training is mandatory for them. A Lhasa can grow to its full size within a year, but mentally it may take a long time to mature. It may look like an adult Lhasa Apso but still behave like a puppy. While training a Lhasa Apso, you must be consistent and retain a positive environment. The training period can stretch over months.

As far as the diet is concerned, each dog has different needs. Nutrition and metabolism are the determining factors of what and how much to feed a dog? For Lhasa Apso, about 1 cup of dry food must be twice a day (half cup in the morning and a half in the evening)

Lhasa must be kept in good shape. Obesity is a real concern for smaller breeds. If their diet is not critically maintained, they gain weight in the smallest amount of time. Say No to free feeding and feed your Lhasa Apso twice a day. If you are not sure if your Apso is healthy or overweight, the hands-on and eye test are some things you can do at home to assess its health. 

When you look at your Lhasa from the top, you must see a waist. The body should be narrow at the back. The hands-on test it takes by a place both hands around its rib cage, thumbs on the top, and your palm will be embracing its body. You must be able to feel the ribcage without exerting pressure. If you can’t see a waistline or feel the rib cage instantly, your Lhasa might be overweight.

Interesting facts

1. The Lhasa Apso is an independent dog. It won’t seek attention from you. It would rather please itself than constantly try to impress and entertain you.
2. Lhasa Apso is a born leader. They may tell you to sit and roll if you let them.
3. The Lhasa is perfect to be watchdogs because of their natural protective instincts. You can teach it good manners at an early age, but when their protective instinct kicks in, there is no stopping them.
4. Maturity comes to Lhasa Apso very slowly. Don’t expect your one-year-old Lhasa to be as wise as a one-year-old Labrador.
5. The beautiful comes at a cost. By cost, we mean effort and financial cost both. The coat needs proper grooming and maintenance. 

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