Lhasa Apso
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| Lhasa Apso | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 A male golden Lhasa Apso in show clip |
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| Other names | Lhassa Terrier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country of origin | Tibet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicknames | Lhasa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Lhasa Apso (lha-saw op-so) is a non-sporting dog breed originating in Tibet. It was bred originally to guard monasteries by alerting on any intruders who entered the monastary.
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[edit] Appearance
Lhasas are about 10 to 11 inches at the withers and weigh about 14-18 pounds. The females are slightly smaller, and weigh between 12-14 pounds. The breed standard requires dark brown eyes and a black nose. Texture of the coat is heavy, straight, hard, neither woolly nor silky, and very dense. A Lhasa's coat should be of good length. All colors are equally acceptable, with or without dark tips to ears and beard. The tail should be carried in a tight screw over the back. The breed standard currently used by the American Kennel Club was approved July 11, 1978.[1]
[edit] 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").[citation needed]
Lhasa Apsos, although small, can exhibit brief periods of explosive energy.[citation needed]. Unique personality characteristics of Lhasa Apsos have gained them a reputation in some circles as being a very emotive breed that in some cases prove themselves to be completely fearless.
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.[citation needed]
[edit] History
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, although when they are in warm climates, such as the south-western U.S., many owners prefer to have the coats trimmed.[citation needed]
In 1901 Mrs. A. McLaren Morrison brought the Lhasa Apso to the UK where it was registered as an official breed in The Kennel Club in 1902.[citation needed]
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.[1]
Recently, DNA Analysis has identified the Lhasa Apso as one of the 14 most ancient dog breeds.[2]
[edit] Miscellaneous
- The Brazilian comic series Monica's Gang features a Lhasa Apso named Fluffy which belongs to Jimmy Five.
- Dougal of The Magic Roundabout is based on this dog breed
- Longevity for this dog is good with many living well into their teens.
