Lhasa Apso
Also known as Lhassa Apso
- Height at the withers
- 25 to 28 cm
- Weight
- 5 to 8 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12 to 15 years
- Daily activity
- 45 minutes
- Origin
- Tibet
- FCI group
- 9 · Companion and toy dogs
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- apartment living, with regular outings
- a calm, mostly stay-at-home life
- living with a cat
- people bothered by dog hair (no breed is guaranteed allergy-free)
Less suited to
- noise-sensitive neighbors: it likes to bark
- intense heat: be careful in summer
Overview
A small, sturdy and hardy dog of an ancient Tibetan breed, known for its floor-length coat and its alert, self-assured expression, originally bred as a sentinel in palaces and monasteries.
History and origins
An ancient breed developed in Tibetan monasteries and palaces more than a thousand years ago as an indoor sentinel dog, alerting the monks to intruders. Highly prized and rarely allowed to leave the country until it was introduced to England in the 20th century.
Health
Life expectancy is 12 to 15 years, and the breed is hardy. The most common health problems in the breed:
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Juvenile nephropathy (renal dysplasia)
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye)
- Patellar luxation
- Prolapsed third eyelid gland (cherry eye)
Choose a breeder who has the parents health-screened for this breed, and ask to see the results.
Coat and care
Long, straight coat. Almost no shedding, very high coat care.
All ratings
Rated from 1 to 5, comparable across breeds. Green marks a strength for most households, orange something to plan for.
Lifestyle
- Energy
- Calm, 2 out of 5
- Apartment
- Perfect, 5 out of 5
- Home alone
- A few hours, 3 out of 5
Family and sociability
- With children
- Fair, 3 out of 5
- With other dogs
- Fair, 3 out of 5
- With cats
- Good, 4 out of 5
- With strangers
- Reserved, 2 out of 5
Training and temperament
- Ease of training
- Hard, 2 out of 5
- For a first-time owner
- Possible, 3 out of 5
- Guarding instinct
- Strong, 4 out of 5
- Prey drive
- Low, 2 out of 5
- Tendency to roam
- Low, 2 out of 5
Care and neighbors
- Coat care
- Very high, 5 out of 5
- Shedding
- Almost none, 1 out of 5
- Drooling
- Never, 1 out of 5
- Barking
- Frequent, 4 out of 5
Climate and health
- Heat tolerance
- Low, 2 out of 5
- Cold tolerance
- Good, 4 out of 5
- Hardiness
- Good, 4 out of 5
In our lists
Lhasa Apso FAQ
How big does the Lhasa Apso get?
The Lhasa Apso stands 25 to 28 cm at the withers and weighs 5 to 8 kg. It is a very small dog.
Does the Lhasa Apso shed a lot?
It sheds almost nothing and its coat needs a great deal of care. It is one of the breeds that shed very little and are often better tolerated by people with allergies, with no guarantee: spend time with the breed before you decide. Its coat needs regular grooming, sometimes by a professional.
Can the Lhasa Apso live in an apartment?
Yes, very well: calm indoors, it adapts perfectly to an apartment. Mind the neighbors: it barks readily.
How much exercise does the Lhasa Apso need each day?
Allow about 45 minutes of activity a day: it is a calm dog.
Is the Lhasa Apso good with children?
Fairly well, preferably with children old enough to respect its limits. Never leave a young child alone with a dog, whatever the breed.
How long does the Lhasa Apso live?
Life expectancy is 12 to 15 years, and the breed is hardy. The main health problems to watch for are progressive retinal atrophy and juvenile nephropathy.
