How to Identify a Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso was first bred as a guard dog, guarding households of Tibetan nobility in the Himalayan Mountains. They are indoor watchdogs and are suspicious of strangers. If you want the Lhasa Apso to get along with other people and animals, socialize it as a puppy. Bring it to the pet store, to the dog park and just about anywhere you go that allows dogs. Let it get used to all manner of noises, including buses, trucks, trains, kids playing and yelling and other dogs barking. The breed tends to prefer adults and older children.
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Instructions
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Make sure the size is correct. Males should be 10 or 11 inches at the shoulder and females should be 9 1/2 to 10 1/2 inches. When measured from the shoulder point to the rear, the Lhasa Apso is longer than tall. Males weigh 14 to 18 pounds and females weigh 12 to 14 pounds.
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Check the head to be sure it conforms with the rest of the dog. The muzzle should be of a medium length without being square, and the actual bite is a bit undershot or level. The head is heavily coated with bangs, whiskers and a beard. The skull is quite narrow, and the straight foreface is tipped with a black nose. The dark brown eyes are not quite medium sized, and they are sunk into the skull. The ears hang low and are feathered heavily. The feet are also quite feathered and are round, shaped like a cat’s paw. The tail, like the rest of the body, is well-feathered and is usually carried over the back.
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Make sure the heavy double coat is straight and not woolly or silky. It should quite hard and dense. The Lhasa Apso can be any color, and some may have dark tips on the beard and ears. This breed should be groomed daily.
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Tips & Warnings
This breed may be prone to hip dysplasia, kidney problems and skin problems.
