This post will give you some info on who and what the Lhasa Apso is. I am combining both fact and folklore to this segment. I have read a number of books on the Lhasa Apso but of particular information is a book Titled “Lhasa Apsos- A complete pet owners manual” Published by Barron’s Educational Series, Inc. In there is their version of who the Lhasa is. This seems to be consistent with other publications I have read also with few exceptions. The Lhasa Apso’s origins go back a long ways to The Mystical mountains of Tibet. These dogs were there for over 800 years before the world knew them according to folklore. The rest of the World did not know these dogs until this last century. As folklore goes these little dogs were given by the Dalai Lama to Aristocratic households as gifts. These dogs were originally guard dogs. According to folklore if you were given one of these little dogs they brought you good luck, prosperity, and good fortune. Another one of the folklores says that these little dogs were given the Spirit of the Dalai Lama when he left this life for the next one. These little dogs were used in religious ceremonies and they were considered sacred due to the folklore of the spirit of the Dalai Lama being in their bodies. Inside the Palace’s and the larger Aristocratic homes these little dogs had a special place as guard dogs. On the ouside of the home was the big imposing Mastiff for you to get past if you had bad thought or evil intentions. According to folklore, originally the Lhasa Apso was a protector for the Princess in the Palace, and as the story goes you would have to get past the Mastiff outside, past the Sharpei on the inside, and if you got past them to the Princesses chambers, then you had to face the most fierce of the three, the Lhasa Apso. They were considered excellent protectors. Some of this may be fact, according to what I see. Accordingly, in Tibet the Lhasa Apso is known as “Abso Seng Kye” or in English translation “Barking sentinel lion dog”. They were indeed a noisy little dog and fierce like a lion. The Lhasa is one of 4 breeds of dogs native to Tibet. The little dogs were also named after the capital city of Tibet. In case you dont know where Tibet is, it is in the middle of the Himalayan Mountains north of India and Nepal. The name of the dog was derived from the texture of the hair, and the Capital city of Tibet. The first Lhasa’s to enter the USA were a male and female. Taikoo, was a male black and white Lhasa, and Dinkie was a female the color of “raw silk”. From personal experience I can tell you with 3 Lhasa Apso’s in this house that they are indeed a noisy, very protective guard dog. The hair on the Lhasa Apso is also a very different kind of hair. I have seen from personal experience that there is real differences between the male and female in coat. The Lhasa Apso does not have fur, and accordingly they do not shed. What most people fail to realize is that when you need to brush them so often with the full long cottoney coats, hair will get away from you. The dog does not shed it hair, no more than humans “shed” their hair. The female Lhasa has a coat that is quite a bit more course than the males coat, especially after having been bred. While she is pregnant and lactating she will lose a lot of the thickness of her hair. At times, without real good care, she will become quite scraggly looking. The male Lhasa, for the most part, has that much thicker, denser, softer, cottoney coat. Being from the mountains of Tibet, the coat is naturally heavy on the Lhasa Apso. If you do not plan on showing the Lhasa you have, I recommended that you keep their hair cut shorter, especially for their comfort. There is however two areas where a lot of groomers make big mistakes. 1. You should not cut the ears short on the Lhasa Apso. Their ears are supposed to remain long and thick. If it is too much trouble you should just thin out the hair, but don’t take the length away. This is part of their glory and pride. 2. The second thing that is wrong to do is to cut the tail on the Lhasa. That long thick hair on that tail helps them carry themselves with dignity and pride. If you have ever noted the Lhasa when they are out for a walk you will notice the way they “strut” and “preen”. That long tail, and long ears, allows them to feel pride and “strut their stuff”. A well bred Lhasa Apso will carry their head high, and prance along as you walk him or her. The last thing I will tell you about the Lhasa Apso history is this. These little dogs are very loyal to their owners, but they do not make very good pets for a family that has small children. The Lhasa Apso, even as a puppy, does not appreciate being hit on, pulled on, and his or her hair yanked. They warn people about doing this by growling early on. If the warning is not heeded, the Lhasa Apso, true to the nature of their origins, will bite! Also if you are going to view puppies from a litter at a breeders home, it is advisable for you to allow the owner of that litter to pick the babies up and hand them to you. Many a female Lhasa has snapped at visitors who attempted to reach down and handle her babies. This is a protective instinct of the female Lhasa. She protects her family and her babies against all, except for her owner. You do not want to reach into a kennel or box and pick up one of these little ones when mommy is in there. Let the litter owner pick one up for you and hand it to you. One other interesting note I want to tell you is this. If you have a female Lhasa Apso puppy and you decide you really want a protector for yourself, then there is one way to insure this. Spay that little girl before she ever comes in season the first time. She will guard you to her death. That is how vicious she can be. She will be territorial, protective, and a very good watch dog for you. No one will be able to get near you without getting through her first. To an extent, but not as much, the male can be trained this way, however this is a natural instinct of the Female Lhasa Apso. I have found this so many times, through the years, to be true. Females are instictively more territorial and protective than males. If you have any questions or comments on this article please feel free to contact me. Thank you. Marlena Tarrell.
