Lhasa Apso.

The Lhasa is a fairly undemanding dog feeding wise. As they are prone to becoming overweight, they do best with scheduled feeding to prevent overeating. Raw, natural food is recommended, with simple ingredients to keep their long coats healthy and shiny. It is recommended to avoid grains and artificial flavourings which can often be found in processed food. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior) and adjustments will be required as their needs change with age. Some dogs are prone to getting overweight so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

Originating from the Himalayasa, the Lhasa Apso has a double coat, consisting of an undercoat that keeps them warm and an outer coat which helps protect their coat and keep it flat and smooth. Despite their long, dense coats, Lhasa Apsos are light shedders. Their long coarse hair makes their fur quite heavy, and they shed in a different way compared to other breeds. Their shedding is similar to humans – slowly and gradually, to keep the hygiene clean and lowering the risk of matting and tangling.

Although they may shed little, Lhasa Apsos require a fair amount of grooming. Routine brushing and bathing is required, to remove any dirt and debris between their hair strands. If you are unable to commit to regular brushing, Lhasa Apso coats should be trimmed to keep their coat short and sanitary. Due to their droopy, hairy ears, Lhasa Apso ears should be checked and cleaned weekly. Look for signs of redness or bad odour, which may be signs of an infection. Clean their ears by gently wiping them out using a cotton ball dampened with safe, p-H balanced ear cleaner. Their grooming requirements are quite high maintenance, but pays off for their glamorous appearance!

Although they have high energy levels, this breed does not need large amounts of exercise. They are happy to stay at home which make them great for condo and apartment living. Lhasa Apsos will be kept content with a couple short walks a day, and playtime with their family. Due to their small size, they do not need to be exercised vigorously, but they do enjoy moderate exercise to maintain their physical health and mental well-being.

Veterinary care is essential to a dog’s health and wellbeing, however the frequency of treatment and checkups will depend on the dog. Scheduled six-monthly health check visits with your vet are important to ensure your Lhasa Apso is healthy and happy throughout all life stages. In these annual visits, your vet will complete a physical examination, take your dog’s temperature and check his heartbeat, among other things. Routine maintenance for your dog gives you a chance to track your dog’s growth and development and discuss any concerns with your vet, and forms a key part of preventative care. Lhasa Apsos are generally a healthy breed, but may be susceptible to some health problems including Cherry Eye, Sebaceous Adenitis and Progressive Retinal Atrophy.

Although a loyal and trustful dog, Lhasa Apsos do not particularly get along with smaller children. They are rather impatient breeds, and react quickly to teasing and the general clumsiness of younger children. They are also possessive of their food and toys, and are not afraid to growl or snap in defence. However, they do enjoy the company of children, as long as their interactions are supervised. The Lhasa Apso is therefore more suited to adults. Lhasas are also quite wary of strangers, being great watchdogs with their sharp, loud alarm-like barks.

The Lhasa Apso can be independent, and strive to be the “top dog”. Your Lhasa may benefit from puppy classes, to tame their independent and obstinate nature. They do best with exercise and discipline with calm assertive energy from their owners, and training methods which emphasise food and praise. Lhasas are intelligent little dogs which can be trained to become obedient with enough patience and consistency over time. They also are known to enjoy agility and obedience training, which provides excitement and mental stimulation for them. It is important not to let your Lhasa develop Small Dog Syndrome, where its humans may allow it to get away with things that a larger dog normally wouldn’t, such as jumping. This breed is also known to be sensitive, so will not respond well to raised voices.

The Lhasa Apso loves meeting other pets, and will usually befriend other cats or dogs. They may become wary around stranger dogs, and not friendly initially, but with enough coaxing and socialising, they will quickly grow fond of them. It is natural for a Lhasa to appear supsicious at first, but careful socialisation with alleviate this. Lhasa Apsos will more or less get along with other family pets.