Today’s post will deal with grooming your Lhasa Apso. Your Lhasa has a very different kind of coat. The Lhasa coat for the males is very thick and very course and soft. This coat is a result of the area of the world where they came from. High up in the Himalayan Mountains it gets very cold and is very wet. This coat was developed as a result of the severe temperature and climate. The female Lhasa’s can have this same silky coat, but it is prevalent less often if she is a breeder.
The skin of the Lhasa is very sensitive and burns easily. If you have ever seen a “shaved” Lhasa you will immediately notice how pink the skin is. They are used to having hair.
If you take your Lhasa to a groomer, make sure your Lhasa is well brushed first and there are no mats in the hair. If you brush your Lhasa Apso at least every other day when their coat is long you will reduce the incidence of matting. If a professional groomer however comes across a heavily matted Lhasa there will be no choice on what she/he has to do. Shaving will be the only option after having to scizzor cut them most of the way. This will end up costing you a lot more also if the dog is heavily matted.
The brush that is the easiest to use on the thick coat of the Lhasa is the “slicker” brush. Unlike the “pin” brush the slicker brush can get deep in and thoroughly remove any clumping in the hair. Short quick strokes starting from the bottom up is the easiest on you and your Lhasa. Talking to your Lhasa as you groom him or her helps also. These little dogs are intelligent and will not fight the brushing if you talk to them during the whole process. Telling them things like “hold your head up” and “hold that foot out” and “You are such a good dog” will get you a lot more cooperation with these little dogs. They love affection while you are brushing them and will do just about anything you direct them to do, if you use affection with them while brushing them.
If you are planning to show your Lhasa, you will want to have warm oil available while brushing them to decrease the fly away nature of the hair. A little oil in the palm of your hand, and working it into the coat before the final brushing will make the coat more manageable and lay properly. This will also condition the Lhasa’s skin too, which will keep their hair and coat shinier and more manageable between groomings.
One note here to consider is this. If you plan to keep your Lhasa’s hair long and in show condition then choose your groomer carefully. Only professionals that have had experience with grooming Show Lhasa’s should be used. When selecting a groomer be sure to get references and detail to them exactly what you expect. Some groomers, like me, are not capable of maintaining show standard cuts. If my dogs need a show cut, I find someone like Carmen Baker in my area to groom them. She is a professional with a lot of experience in this area.
Proper care of your Lhasa’s hair at home will save you a lot of money and grief and possibly hard feelings with the groomer. Yes I have had customers that brought a Lhasa to me that was completely matted from head to toe. I have experience the suffering of these poor little animals in this condition. Before you buy a Lhasa, be commited to high maintenance hair.
When I was showing one of my Lhasa’s I used to brush his hair every evening for an hour. He was never matted and he was extrememly obedient and enjoyed the nightly ministrations given to him. He enjoyed the special love bond between us while I was brushing him. All Lhasa’s will love this time if you give them the proper encouragement.
When getting to the top portion of the Lhasa’s coat it is necessary to have a comb to part the hair. The Lhasa hair is parted strait from the eyebrows down to the tail. Center the part down the middle of the head, neck, and back. The coat should lay nicely if you have the oil needed to do the finishing brushing. Be sure to part the hair straight.
If you do not plan to keep the little dog indoors, and want them to remain outside while you are gone in the summer, I strongly recommend getting them regular short hair cuts. There again I cannot stress enough to have the dog brushed before taking him or her to the groomer. You will not be happy if the groomer has to “shave” your Lhasa. Sunburning will ensue.
If you decide to tackle the job yourself of grooming your Lhasa’s, which a lot of us do, then start early on your puppy brushing and getting them used to scizzors and comb and brush and clippers. The best clippers I have seen are the rechargeable Oster Vibrating clippers. Being portable and no cord to them, helps to keep grooming more pleasant for you and your Lhasa. Be prepared to invest a good amount in the clippers and have at least 2 blades on hand when grooming. Prices vary for the Oster’s from place to place, but reputable catalogs will have all the grooming supplies you need. I personally use Jeffer’s pet supply catalog for my grooming needs. There are many supply places available.
If in doubt about whether you want to groom your Lhasa or send them out, then start slowly and read as many publications as you can on this subject. A simple google search on “grooming a Lhasa” will give you plenty to read. Remember to go slowly at first while getting to know your Lhasa, to build your relationship. It will take about 2 1/2 hours to totally bathe, dry, brushout, clip, and rebathe and dry your Lhasa. The first time is always the hardest time, so it will take longer, until you and your dog get used to the process. Don’t lose your temper with your Lhasa while grooming them and yell at them. This will cause your Lhasa to dread the grooming and be uncooperative. Lovingly is always the approach to get the best from your Lhasa. Please be sure and compliment your Lhasa after the grooming, telling them they are a pretty boy or pretty girl afterwards. This makes for an easier time for both of you afterwards.
Lhasa’s like ribbons and bows also, and if you train them early on to accept the bows they will leave them in for several days. If you are going to maintain the long hair, then please be kind to your Lhasa and pull the “top knot” up into a pony tail when not showing them. Also, some shows are now allowing the hair to be parted and pulled back to the side of the ears on the Lhasa’s too. Check with the local officials in your area to find out specifications before taking your little show winner there.
When you are finishing the grooming on your Lhasa, and doing the final touches, be sure to be minimalistic on the amount of “cologne” used on your Lhasa. The skin can be sensitive to these things. If in doubt about the sensitivities it is best to use no cologne.
Dental care is also a necessary grooming part. If you use a baby tooth brush and dental chews on your Lhasa it can save your Lhasa a lot of grief later on. Dry dog food, and plenty of fresh water will help to maintain your Lhasa’s teeth and breath. Gently brushing your Lhasa’s teeth from the beginning will get them used to this. I always started out by massaging my Lhasa’s gums with my fingers while they were teething and in the chewy stage, and progressed to the tooth brush after they became used to something going in their mouth. Judges in show do judge the teeth of the Lhasa so dental hygeine is an absolute must and it is just common sense besides.
In sumation, there is a lot to proper care for your Lhasa, but if you love the breed and your pet, as I do, this will be a “labor of love” for you and your Lhasa Apso. Next time I will address the nutrition of your Lhasa and some of the preferred methods for giving your dog a long happy healthy life.
