Lhasa Poo

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Lhasa Poo
A fourteen-month-old male Lhasa Poo
Alternative names
Lhasa-Poo
Country of origin
various
Classification and breed standards
Not recognized by any major kennel club

The Lhasa Poo is a type of dog that is a cross between a Miniature Poodle and a Lhasa Apso. The Poodle side settles down the aggression Lhasa Apsos tend to have. Lhasa Apsos are part of a growing trend of Poodle hybrids. The Poodle is used in these crosses because it has a non-shedding coat and resulting crosses might also be non-shedding. Other non-shedding breeds include several breeds of water dog and terriers including the Airedale Terrier and Kerry Blue Terrier.

As hybrids the genetic make up of these dogs are less "settled" than in the parent breeds. There are benefits to this and genetic health problems should be much fewer. It will also mean, however, that individual dogs will differ much more than in a pure breed. The size, shape, coat colour and so on will vary but generalisations can be made. Lhasa Poos generally have a good temper and are easy to train. They come in many different colors and grow to a weight of 8 to 15 pounds (3.6 to 6.8 kilograms). Breeding type to type will over time produce settled breed characters with little variation between individuals.

Lhasa Apsos originated in Tibet as guard dogs for the monasteries there. They have long fur for show and tend to be one-person dogs.

Poodles originated in France and have the distinctive curly coat. They are known for being extremely intelligent, sometimes affectionate, dogs that are hypoallergenic. Lhasa Poos are affectionate dogs and tend to be friendly toward people. Their coats can range from the straight, soft fur of the Lhasa Apso to the curlier, wiry fur of the Poodle, or even in between. Lhasa Poos usually look more like the Lhasa Apso than the Poodle. Their fur is usually slightly curly, but looks a lot like a Lhasa Apso's.