The Lhasa Apso is shown in the Non-Sporting Dog group, and is easily recognized by their distinctive coat and the medium small stocky body.

The average Lhaso Apso weighs between thirteen and fifteen pounds or six to seven kilograms.

While there are some slight variations between different judging bodies, the following is a guideline for the Lhasa Apso breed standards, based on the information provided by the American Kennel Club.

HEAD

* The skull is narrow and falls away from behind the ridge of the eyebrow in a marked degree. The skull is not flat but is not apple or dome-shaped either.

* The foreface is straight and the muzzle is medium in length. A square shaped muzzle is objectionable.

* The nose should be black and the tip of the nose should be carried level with the slit of the lower eye rim when viewed from the front of the dog.

* There should be a heavy furnishing of hair over the eyes and a good set of whiskers and a beard.

* The ears should be pendant type and should have a heavy feathering of hair.

* The eyes are to be dark brown and of medium size. Overly large and full eyes or small and sunken eyes are objectionable.

* An overbite is unacceptable, and a slightly undershot or level bite is preferred.  The desired bite is described as a “reverse scissors” with the upper incisors just touching the inside of the lower incisors. The teeth should not be showing while the mouth is closed.

NECK

* The neck is study and is well set on the shoulders. The neck should give an appearance of elegance to the carriage of the head.

BODY

* The length of the body should be longer than the height at the withers, when measured from the point of the shoulders to the point of the buttocks.

* The loin should be firmly muscled and not overly long.

* The ribs should extend well back along the body to provide balance and stance.

* The quarters and the thighs should be powerful and muscular and the abdomen should be tucked up at the loin.

* There is some variation in the size allowed, but males should not exceed 11 inches at the shoulder and females should not exceed 10 inches.

* All colors are acceptable, with mixtures and variations of colors with white.There may be darker markings on the edges of the ears and the beard.

* The coat should be long, but not long enough to touch the ground. It should be very thick and dense on the body, head and not overly coarse or silky to the touch.  It is to be completely straight with no curl. The legs should be completely covered and hair should grow between the toes.

* The legs should be as straight as possible with no bowing or crookedness. Due to the heavy coat and stout appearance, the leg bone will appear to be heavy but in reality is not.

* The pads of the feet should be large and almost cat-like in appearance.

For anything to do with  Lhasa Apso Puppies It is always worthwhile taking the time to find out the best information you can.

TAIL

* The Lhasa Apso’s tail should be curved over the backbone in a screw.

* The tail may have a slight kink at the end, and this is ok.

* The hair on the tail should be well feathered and thick and dense.

* A low carriage of the tail is not unacceptable in the breed.

GAIT

* The Lhasa Apso should move gracefully and forcefully, with a trot being the normal preferred gait.

* The pads should be lifted off the ground and should be able to be seen as the dog is moving away.

* This dog has been bred for working in the mountains on rough and difficult terrain so speed is not important, rather the purposeful movement is.

CHARACTER

* The terms used in the breed standards are “gay and assertive but wary of strangers”. The Lhasa Apso is lively, intelligent and devoted to their carers.

* They are a good watch dog as they are naturally wary of new people but are loyal companions of family members and familiar people.

I am sorry if that was all a bit “dry” but it is a little tricky to make the breed standards exciting.

Thanks for visiting us and we hope  you enjoyed learning a little about the breed standard of the Lhasa Apso.

Unfortunately, this excitement often wears off quickly when the new little addition to the family begins using the house as a bathroom area.

Potty TrainingFortunately, with a bit of consideration and understanding of some of the basic principles of potty training a Lhasa Apso, it is easy and simple to teach your Lhasa Apso  this very important behavior.

There are some points to keep in mind when planning or starting your potty training routine. No matter which method you decide to use, there will be accidents. Plan for them, accept them and move on with as little fuss and negative actions or punishment towards the puppy as possible.

Usually with any puppies, accidents are due to very small bladders and bowels and poor control as their bodies develop, very similar to young human infants in fact.

Avoid Punishing Your Lhasa Apso

Avoid punishing or reprimanding your puppy for an accident, as it is likely to be more a fault of the owner for not taking the puppy to the potty area soon enough. Learn from mistakes and keep notes on when the puppy has accidents.

Try to see if there is a pattern developing that can assist you in the training, rather than become frustrated with the Lhasa Apso. Virtually every puppy wants to make his or her owner happy, and this can be used as an effective motivator in potty training even young puppies.

The Older Dog

Older Lhasa Apsos that are being housebroken or potty trained for the first time will also have accidents, until they understand what you want. Again, patience and a positive attitude will help the training process.

Remember that dogs aren’t aware of the value of antique rugs or wall-to-wall carpeting, rather they tend to relieve themselves where they feel they should – usually somewhere out of the way, like behind the couch or in the corner behind the potted palm.

Is There Anything I Can Do To Help?

YES, There are many things that pet owners can do to make the process of potty training easier for their new dog or puppy.

Good planning, an understanding of the potty training method to be used, plus other factors such as high quality food, lots of exercise, attention and love can all have a bearing on the time that it takes to potty train your Lhasa Apso.

Finally, each dog  is somewhat different in personality and temperament. Some puppies and dogs seem to almost potty train themselves where others, even from the same litter, may require additional training but will soon learn what is expected.

What method Should I Use To Potty Training My Lhasa Apso?

Well, there are a few different potty training methods that can be used for a Lhasa Apso.

Deciding on the best potty training method is important and depends a lot on the age of the dog, the time that you have to interact with the dog or puppy, your living area, and what method you are most comfortable with.

Some of the potty training methods encourage your Lhasa Apso  to use an outside area to relieve themselves, whereas others focus on containing the area the puppy or dog uses inside of the house – by the use of litter boxes, potty training pads or even newspapers.

Here, we will cover one popular method, Crate Training.

CRATE TRAINING

Crate training is one of the most effective ways to potty train a Lhasa Apso as it uses the natural “denning instinct” of the dog to encourage it to keep the area that it sleeps clean and free from waste materials.

In the wild, the den is kept clean by the mother while the puppies are young. Once they get older and are able to walk, they naturally go outside of the living area or den to relieve themselves.

In houses there are no dens, and the area is simply too large for puppies to feel that this is “their spot”.

By providing a den, in the form of a crate, the puppy will learn to wait until he or she is taken outside before soiling in the crate.

Crate training requires active participation and monitoring on the part of the dog owner.

The following is an outline of how to complete a crate training routine:

* Purchase an appropriately sized crate, either plastic or wire, that is large enough for your Lhasa Apso  to stand and stretch out comfortably.

* Make sure the crate is comfortable – use soft, washable liners or dog blankets.

* Sit with your Lhasa Apso at the door of the crate. Place a small treat inside the crate. Praise the puppy for going into the crate and getting the treat. Let the puppy come out whenever he or she wants, leave the door open at this time.

* Only praise for going in the crate, ignore the puppy when he or she is coming out.

* When your Lhasa Apso walks into the crate say “Crate” or “Den” or whatever word you wish to associate with going into the crate.

* When your Lhasa Apso is staying in the crate on its own to eat the treats, close the door for a few seconds, then open it up again. Only praise when the dog goes in, never when it is exiting. Soon the dog realizes in is good, out is neutral.

* After the puppy or dog is fine with being in the crate for more than a few minutes, put a chew toy in with them to keep it occupied. Try very slowly and gradually increasing your distance away from the crate, and the time in the crate with the door closed.

* Since the puppy or dog will generally not eliminate when they are in the crate because it is their den, take them outside to eliminate when they come out of the crate.

* After feeding, crate the puppy with a chew toy. In about 10-15 minutes take the puppy out of the crate and to the designated toilet area. Do not play or interact with the puppy at this time, simply take them straight to the spot.

* If the puppy relieves itself, praise the puppy and spend some time interacting. If, after about 3-5 minutes the puppy has not toileted, return it to the crate, again without saying anything, for an additional five minutes. Repeat the process without interacting with the puppy until it goes to the bathroom. Praise and play always follow toileting while crate training.

* At night, keep the crate in the bedroom or somewhere that you can easily hear the puppy. If he or she whines, take them to the toilet area and return them to the crate with as little interaction as possible. Just a simple “good girl” or boy will do when they toilet.

Too much praise will be seen as play, and may encourage the puppy to whine throughout the night. Don’t forget, the crate is used only until Potty Training is under control, not forever!

What Are Some Advantages of Using A Crate?

The advantages to crate training include the fact that it uses the puppies or dogs natural instincts to help with the learning process. It minimizes the dangers of messes and accidents around the house when done correctly. In addition the puppy feels secure, and they can understand what is required in a relatively short time.

What Are Some Disadvantages of Using A Crate?

Disadvantages to crate training for a lasa apso are few, but the biggest one is that it will only work if the trainer monitors the puppy closely while in the crate, and follows the attention/inattention guidelines.

Some owners may think that crate training is cruel, but this is simply not the case. Once people understand the crate is not used as a punishment but as a safe and secure place for the puppy, they change their opinion quickly.

Need Further Help ?

I hope this short outline introduction to Potty Training  and specifically CRATE  Training has been helpful to you.

Lhasa Apsos Video

The Lhasa Apso, bred and honored by the Dalai Lama, is one of the oldest of the three breeds of dogs from Tibet.

Please come along and join us on a small journey as we unravel the fascinating history of the incredible Lhasa Apso.

There are references to the Lhasa Apso breed in art and literature that goes back at least two thousand years. They were given to nobility and monks in China to protect and guard.

For many generations it was not possible to get a Lhasa Apso unless given as a gift by the Dalai Lama!

They were valued both as a good luck symbol and as a sacred animal in the Buddhist religion.

Many holy men believed that the spirits of monks who did not reach Nirvana were reincarnated into the bodies of Lhasa Apso dogs.

The strong watchful and protective nature of the Lhasa Apso, combined with their beautiful coats and loyal nature, make them a true companion dog and loving pet.

THE TIBET CONNECTION

The Lhasa Apso breed originated over two thousand years ago in the high, mountainous country of Tibet.

These small sized dogs were bred and kept in the Potala, the palace and monastery of the Dalai Lama, as well as surrounding monasteries.  The dogs were kept exclusively for nobility and holy men. Lhasa Apsos were prized for their temperament, beautiful coats, and their loyal and loving disposition.

The Lhasa Apso was not only prized as a companion dog but also as a watchdog.

The nobility valued the small dogs for their intelligence and regarded them not just as pets but more importantly as protectors and watchers for their castles and homes. They were also valued as a good luck talisman to keep evil away from the home. When the nobleman or holy man died, it was believed that his soul entered the body of the Lhasa Apso if it was not destined for Nirvana.

The Dalai Lama and other holy men carefully managed the Lhasa Apso breed, and it was not possible to buy a Lapso Apso dog in Tibet, rather they had to be received as a gift from the Dalai Lama.

This ritual began as early as 1583 in the Manchurian Dynasty and was honored up to the early 1900’s.  The dogs were sent as a blessing from the Dalai Lama to the Emperors of China and other nobility.

Lhasa Apso dogs were never given as individual dogs. The Dalai Lama presented pairs of dogs to visiting foreign diplomats and leaders. These dogs were then taken around the world where their popularity grew.

Lhasa Apsos are seen as a sacred blessing and are believed to bring luck and good fortune to the owner.

The first Lhasa Apso pair was seen in Britain in the 1920’s and the first pair in the United States was in 1935. Australia records the first Lhasa Apsos arriving in the 1960’s.

THE NAME

The majority of historians agree that the first part of the name, Lhasa, comes from the area of the Potala, near the sacred city of Lhasa.

The second part of the name, Apso, is not quite as clear. One group believes that the name is actually a misinterpretation of the word “raspo” that means goat-like. The coat of the Apso, if not groomed, begins to look like the hair found on Tibetan goats. Another group believes that the term Apso comes from the term “Abso Seng kye” that translates into “Barking Lion Sentinel Dog”.

Since the long hair of the breed does closely resemble the mane of the lion, and the strong protective instinct is there, it may be that the Apso is simply a mispronunciation of “Abso”.

Lhasa Apso dogs also have the distinctly lionish habit of pawing the ground with their front feet and taking a square stance when feeling threatened. They truly do resemble little lions and are excellent watchdogs and guardians.

The Manjuri Buddha, the God of Learning, is often presented in art and literature in the company of a Lhasa Apso, which changes into a lion when danger threatens the Manjuri Buddha.

Take the time to find out more about Lhasa Apso Puppies.  The investment in time you make will be extremely worthwhile.

That’s all on the amazing history of the Lhasa Apso.