Lhasa Apso

The Lhasa Apso is a small, long haired dog. It has a narrow, apple-shaped skull that drops off markedly behind the eyes, a straight foreface and heavily feathered pendant ears. Its dark brown eyes are large, but not overwhelmingly so, and it has a small underbite. The body is long relative to the height, with a strong loin and well developed thighs. The forelegs are straight, and both fore and hind legs have a heavy coat. Its feet are catlike with good pads and its well-feathered tail is carried over its back in a screw, sometimes with a kink at the end. The coat is hard, dense, and straight, ranging in color from cream or honey to slate and even mixtures of brown, black and white. Its hair fans over its eyes and is heavy around the muzzle, giving it a bearded effect.

The Lhasa Apso tends to be friendly yet assertive, lively and intelligent. Though affectionate with and devoted to its master, the Lhasa Apso does not tolerate rough or inconsiderate children. It may fight with other dogs in the house, and is usually nervous around strangers. It can snap if surprised or upset, and dislikes being alone. The Lhasa Apso?s loud and persistent bark gives the impression of a much larger dog, and coupled with its excellent hearing, makes it a good watchdog. Some dogs of this breed are very obedient, while others are quite willful; it is trainable but should have a dominant master. Good socializing and training of this breed while it is young is important to create a well-adjusted pet.

Small and moderately energetic, this breed is a good candidate for apartment dwellers. It does not demand much exercise, though it will enjoy regular exercise outdoors ? especially if it can be allowed to run without a leash. The luxurious coat will require lots of grooming: brush once a day and dry shampoo regularly. This will also help keep it free of parasites, which can cause skin problems. The feet should be groomed and checked for foreign objects regularly, and the eyes and ears should be kept meticulously clean as they are prone to tearing. Needless to say, the Lhasa Apso should not live outside. Pertinent health concerns include patellar luxation, progressive retinal atrophy, entropion, renal cortical hypoplasia and distichiasis.

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