Lhasa Apso

Coat and looks how to spot one

long, heavy, straight double coat

The outer coat is long, straight and hard to the touch (neither woolly nor silky) over a moderate undercoat, a combination suited to the cold, dry Tibetan highlands. A heavy fall of hair covers the eyes and the face has a beard and whiskers. Underneath is a small, sturdy dog that is longer than it is tall, with pendant, well-feathered ears, dark oval eyes and a high-set, plumed tail carried over the back, sometimes finishing in a small kink. Females are slightly smaller than males; the FCI standard gives about 25 cm at the withers for males.5610

Personality what they are like

Cheerful, bold and sure of itself, the Lhasa Apso is often the clown of the household with the people it knows, yet reserved and dignified with strangers. It was bred as an indoor sentry, so it notices everything and will announce visitors. Clever and independent, it likes to think for itself and responds best to patient, reward-based training with food or games rather than repetition or force.59410

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Moderate. One or two daily walks plus indoor play covers most needs; ShowSight suggests about 30-45 minutes of activity a day and The Royal Kennel Club up to an hour. Tricks, puzzle toys and scent games are good for its busy mind. The breed prefers cooler weather, so exercise in the cooler parts of hot days.4108

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

A full coat needs thorough brushing and combing every day or every other day to prevent mats, working down to the skin on the legs, chest and underside. Many pet owners keep a shorter 'puppy clip' with a professional groomer instead. Keep hair out of the eyes, clean ears routinely, bathe about monthly, and trim nails and brush teeth regularly. Shedding is low.8410

Home where they are happiest

Adapts well to flats and apartments; a small to medium garden is plenty. Happiest living indoors close to its family.84

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A complete, balanced food suited to small breeds and the dog's life stage. Lhasas usually hold a steady weight; if they start to gain, reduce calories and measure meals.4

Company who they like around

Deeply attached to familiar people and generally friendly with other dogs and pets, though it is naturally cautious with strangers, so early and ongoing socialisation matters. Enjoys play with respectful children and is safer meeting similar-sized dogs than very large ones.4106

The story where it all began

The Lhasa Apso comes from the high Himalayan regions of Tibet, where it has been kept for well over a thousand years; breed sources trace it back to at least around 800 AD. It lived inside monasteries and noble homes as a sentry that raised the alarm, while large mastiff-type dogs guarded the outside. Lamas regarded the dogs as bringers of good fortune, so they were rarely sold and were instead given as honoured gifts. Mixed Tibetan dogs reached Britain with military travellers in the early 1900s, where they were first called 'Lhasa Terriers' and shown together with what is now the Tibetan Terrier. The Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1908, a British breed club followed in 1933 and the Lhasa Apso and Tibetan Terrier were separated in 1934. In 1933 the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso, sent a pair to the American traveller C. Suydam Cutting, and these founded the breed in the United States. The AKC accepted it in 1935 in the Terrier Group and moved it to the Non-Sporting Group in 1959, and the FCI gave definitive recognition in 1960.25876

Recognised by the official bits

FCI

Standard No. 227, Group 9 (Companion and Toy Dogs), Section 5 (Tibetan breeds); definitive acceptance 19 Nov 1960; current standard published 18 Mar 2015; no working trial1

The Royal Kennel Club

Utility Group; Kennel Club recognition 1908; separated from the Tibetan Terrier in 19348

AKC

Accepted 1935 in the Terrier Group; moved to the Non-Sporting Group in 19592

UKC

Companion Dog Group; recognised 19756