Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso was bred to be a watchdog; hailing from Tibet, they would watch the palaces and monasteries. This dog is small, but nobody has explained it to them yet; they are a lion, and that is the end of it!
They are sturdy and independent dogs as well as intelligent and playful. If you are looking for a keen watchdog or a companion for you and your family, this could be the perfect breed for you.
They can cope well if you live in a flat or apartment; they will be happy as long as they get their daily walk and plenty of playtimes. They do love to bark and watch, so make sure you consider your neighbours, and they can cope better than other breeds with being left for short periods. However, you may still get those puppy dog eyes when you go.
They love being with their families and are good with kids. However, they have their limits and are probably best avoided if you have young children. Older kids, though, will spend hours running around the back garden with them. This breed does tend to bond more with one person, but they still could make a great family pet.
They are excellent watchdogs taking the role very seriously; you will always know about incoming dangers and just about anything going on outside. They will want to protect their families and don’t care how small they are. This means they are very un-trusting and might be wary of strangers, you need to make sure you socialize with them when they are young to combat this behaviour.
They should be OK with other dogs, but they may be better as the only dog in the household; you might want to avoid two males together. Cats and small animals may be OK if brought up with them. They will typically chase neighbourhood cats with delight!
They are intelligent dogs but can be very headstrong; you will need to discover their motivation reward early on to get the best out of them. You will need to use consistency and assert yourself as the top dog early on to get them to listen to you; then, you will have a lovely well-trained companion for life. They can be difficult to house-train.
They are moderate shedders, but their coats are high maintenance. You will need to brush them daily or at least weekly. You will probably want to take them to a professional groomer unless you learn to do it yourself.
Lhasa Apso Terrier Stats
The Lhasa Apso is a small, well-muscled hardy little house dog originating in Tibet and is thought to be descended from the type of dog common for centuries over Central Asia.
The name Apso is used in Tibet for both of their smaller longhaired breeds and means longhaired or goat-like.
- Weight -6kg – 7kg
- Size – 25m – 28cm
- They live for 15-17 years
