Lhasa Apso ***

Lhasa Apso

Lhasa Apso

Lhasa Apso Characteristics: The self-assured and steadfast Lhasa Apso is a breed of small dog classified as a member of the Non Sporting Dog Group (AKC:1935).

The Lhasa Apso, is characterized by its stunning, exotic, heavily coated appearance with a distinctive puffy tail that curls up and over its back and an inscrutable expression.

Other characteristics include dark, medium sized, oval shaped eyes; pendant, heavily coated ears and a jaunty gait. The temperament of the Lhasa Apso can be described as Alert, Devoted, Assertive. The coat type of the Lhasa Apso is described as long, heavy coat in assorted colors.

Due to its characteristics and qualities, the Lhasa Apso demonstrated the desired traits of a Companion and Watchdog and is known by its nick name the "Sacred Dog". The origin of the Lhasa Apso dog breed was in Tibet where it was developed in the Ancient Times.

Lhasa Apso Breed Group and Dog Type - Non Sporting Dog Group (AKC:1935): The Lhasa Apso is one of the many breeds of dogs that belong to the Non Sporting Dog Group (AKC:1935).

Other names for the Lhasa Apso: The Lhasa Apso is known by the nickname of the "Sacred Dog". Other names for this breed of dog include the Apso Seng Kye meaning 'Bark Lion Sentinel Dog'.

Origin of the name: The origin of the name "Lhasa Apso" derives from 'Lhasa', the site of the sacred, hilltop Potala Palace, once the Dalai Lama’s winter home, and the location of the Jokhang Temple. (The Dalai Lama is the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism). The word "Apso" means 'bearded or long haired'. Lhasa Apso therefore translates as 'long-haired from Lhasa'.

Lhasa Apso History and Origin: The country of origin of the Lhasa Apso breed was in Tibet dates back over 2000 years. DNA analysis has confirmed that the Lhasa Apso breed is one of the most ancient dog breeds in the world. The Lhasa Apso was bred by Tibetan monks in the Himalayan Mountains as a watchdog to guard the the palace of the Dalai Lama and the Buddhist temples and monasteries, alerting the monks to the approach of any strangers.

Only the Tibetan monks and the nobility were allowed to breed the Lhasa Apso and the breeding process was kept a secret for many years. Buddhism forbids the trade of living animals so the Lhasa Apso was only given as a gift. It became the custom of the Dalai Lama to present visiting royalty and diplomats with a pair of sacred Lhasa Apso dogs as a blessing to esteemed guests and as a good luck talisman.

The Lhasa Apso was therefore a prized and an extremely rare dog in the west. In the 1920's a pair of Lhasa Apso dogs were presented to a British official and the breed found its way to the United Kingdom. The Lhasa Apso was introduced to the United States in 1933 by Charles Suydam Cutting (1889-1972), a wealthy naturalist, who was the first American to visit the sacred city of Lhasa. The Dalai Lama gave Charles Suydam Cutting a pair of Lhasa Apso dogs who took them to the US. The Lhasa Apso was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1935.

Lhasa Apso Modern History: The modern history of the Lhasa Apso moved on and the small, hardy breed is now adored as a loving, but sometimes stubborn, family pet.

Lhasa Apso Height: The Lhasa Apso breed is classified as a small sized dog. The height to the shoulder of a male dog is 10 - 11 inches (25 - 28 cm). The height to the shoulder of a female dog is slightly less.

Lhasa Apso Weight: The weight of this small sized dog, in a male dog is 13 - 15 pounds (5.9 - 6.8 kg). The weight of the smaller female dog is slightly less than the male.

Lhasa Apso Coat Type - LOW shedding coat: The coat type is described as a long, heavy coat. The coat of the Lhasa Apso dog grows continuously, like human hair growth.

Lhasa Apso Coat Colors: The colors of this dog breed consist of assorted colors consisting of Black, Golden, Sandy, Dark Grizzle and Brown. The word 'Grizzle' refers to gray or partly gray colored hair.

Lhasa Apso Grooming - MODERATE Grooming Needs: The dog grooming needs of the Lhasa Apso is not extensive and therefore categorized as Moderate in order to maintain a healthy coat, reducing the risk of skin infections. The modest grooming needs of the Lhasa Apso is considered to be mid-maintenance requiring weekly brushing and combing. Dog Grooming Requirements should include bathing the Lhasa Apso dog on a monthly basis and making regular inspections of the teeth, eyes, nails and ears.

Lhasa Apso Litter Size: The litter size of this dog breed ranges from 4-6 puppies. Lhasa Apso puppies for sale can be obtained reputable breeders and from rescue centers. The cost of Lhasa Apso puppies varies depending on location, pedigree history and the dog breeder.

Lhasa Apso Temperament and personality: The temperament and personality of this popular dog breed is described as Self-assured, Alert, Devoted, Assertive and Steadfast.

Lhasa Apso Exercise Requirements - MINIMAL Exercise Requirements: The exercise requirements of this breed of dog are moderate. The Lhasa Apso requires minimal daily exercise consisting of approximately 30 minutes every day. This small dog has a jaunty, lively gait with small strides and only requires a fairly slow speed by the owner to meet the dogs exercise requirements. Remember that it would take a lot of extra steps by your dog to keep up with your normal walking pace.

Lhasa Apso Diet: A fully grown Lhasa Apso should be fed twice a day. A diet consisting of a premium dog food can be balanced with fresh food eaten by the family. The question is What Can Dogs Eat?. Check out our comprehensive list of what dogs can and what dogs cannot eat.

Lhasa Apso Health Problems: Potential health problems of the Lhasa Apso breed include Ear problems, Entropion, Kidney problems . Resolving health problems can prove to be expensive and it is always wise to obtain pet insurance or dog health insurance when buying a dog. Is the Lhasa Apso dog breed said to be Hypoallergenic? Answer: No.

Lhasa Apso Lifespan: The life expectancy of dogs vary according to the size, breed of dog and any serious health problems. The typical lifespan of the Lhasa Apso breed is 12-15 years.

Lhasa Apso Male Dog Names: Male Dog names are most often chosen to reflect favorite names of the owner or the strength, size, coloring and country of origin of the Lhasa Apso breed. To give you some inspiration regarding good male Lhasa Apso names our small selection might be of help with naming boy dogs. Out top male dog names are: Lian *** Sheng *** Liang *** Yul *** Lei *** Cheng *** Chi *** Yul *** Chen *** Cheng.

Lhasa Apso Female Dog Names: Female Dog names tend to be softer, prettier and reflect the temperament of the Lhasa Apso girl dog. Our top choice of good female Lhasa Apso names are Wan *** Fang Yin *** Wei *** Feng *** Yan Yan *** Li Ming *** Lixue *** Xiao Chen *** Lixue.