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Lhasa
Apsos Appearance Lhasas are about 10 to 11 inches at the withers and weigh about 14-18 pounds. Bitches are slightly smaller, and weigh between 12-14lbs. The breed standard requires dark brown eyes, with black pigmentation on eye rims and a black nose. Texture of the coat is hard, straight, dense, not woolly or silky. It is often referred to as "moppy". It is of good length, and comes in a variety of colors. All colors are equally acceptable, with or without black tippings. The tail should be carried in a tight screw over the back. Temperament Having been bred to be sentinel or watch dogs, Lhasa Apsos tend to be alert and have a keen sense of hearing with a rich, sonorous bark that belies their size (some are known as "singers"). Most Lhasas will often bark when something is out of the ordinary, such as if someone is at the door. Female Lhasa Apso, 7 years old in a pet clip.The Lhasa Apso is a low-shedding breed. While not completely hypo-allergenic, it comes very close. It is cleanest if regularly groomed. If properly raised it will come to appreciate bathing, hair combing and cutting. The Lhasa Apso is a long-lived breed, with some living in good health into their early 20s. History It is believed that the breed originated from Lhasa, the capital of Tibet (hence the name) around 800 BC. These dogs were raised by the aristocratic part of the Tibetan society and by Tibetan monks in the monasteries where they were used as interior sentinels. They were very valuable both spiritually and materialistically. To be presented with a Lhasa Apso was to be blessed with good fortune. The heavy coat of Lhasas can also be explained by the geographical features of Tibet: the temperature frequently drops below freezing thus making it hard for a dog to survive without sufficient insulation. Lhasas were rarely groomed by their owners thus allowing the breed to adapt to the harsh weather. In 1901 Mrs. A. McLaren Morrison brought the Lhasa Apso to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland where it was registered as an official breed in The Kennel Club in 1902. World War I had a devastating effect on the breed. It has been reported that as few as 30 Lhasa Apsos may have existed outside Tibet at that time. The original American pair was a gift from Thubten Gyatso, 13th Dalai Lama to C. Suydam Cutting, arriving in the United States in the early 1930s. The American Kennel Club officially accepted the breed in 1935 in the Terrier group, and in 1959 transferred the breed to the Non-Sporting group. Recently, DNA Analysis has identified the Lhasa Apso as one of the 14 most ancient dog breeds. Miscellaneous Some monks believe that Lhasas are reincarnated dalais and as such hold them in high esteem. Golden Lhasas are said to house the souls of the Dalai Lamas. Lhasas tend to have a very long lifespan of 15-18 years. The oldest living dog in history was a Lhasa, documented 29 years of age in 1939. The Brazilian comic series Monica's Gang features a Lhasa Apso named Fluffy which belongs to Jimmy Five.
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