Lhasa apso Breed Standard

In their homeland, Tibet, Lhasa Apsos are known as Apso Seng Kye, or "Bark Lion Sentinel Dogs" to describe their function:  where the large-sized Tibetan Mastiffs were kept outside the door to prevent strangers entering, the smaller Lhasa Apso where kept as watch dogs indoors to alert to the presence of strangers.  They were ideally suited to fulfill this role because of their intelligence, their quick hearing and their ability to distinguish members of the household from strangers. The Lhasa Apso's conformation and appearance have been shaped by the rugged conditions in Tibet: its heavy, hard top coat and its moderate undercoat have insulated the dog from extreme variations in the climate while its head fall has protected its eyes from bright sunshine and dust.  Its dark eyes have an almost human expression, and its bite is a reverse scissor bite.  A typical Lhasa Apso is a very agile, well-muscled dog who can move with ease in the rugged terrain of its homeland.  Although Lhasa Apsos have a long history of close association with humans, they are assertive and independent dogs who are no ordinary lapdogs.   The breed standard defines Lhasa's size as 25.4 cm (10 ins.) height at shoulders for dogs while bitches are slightly smaller.  In practice, variation up to 30 cms (12 ins.) at withers is acceptable as long as the dog has correct proportions.  The coat colour can range from golden to grizzle, smoke, slate, white, black and parti-color.  Earlier, golden dogs with black tips were especially valued; today, all colors are equally acceptable. Because of the coat care and grooming requirements, the Lhasa Apso is not for everyone. Their coat requires bathing and blow-drying usually once a week, and thorough and regular grooming to prevent matting is required between baths especially when a puppy is growing an adult coat.  At shows, the Lhasa's head fall and beard are shown untied, but, at home, it is usual to tie the topnot and whiskers with rubber bands to keep the dog tidy and to protect the coat. The first Lhasa Apsos were brought to the West from expeditions to Tibet in the first years of the 20th century, when they were known as Lhasa Terriers.  The first Lhasa arrived in England in 1901.  They were introduced to the United States in the 1930's when, for example, the 13th Dalai Lama gave Mr. and Mrs. Cuttings three Lhasa Apsos as a gift.  The first Lhasas to Finland came from Britain in 1966. Since then, more imports have been brought in, first from European countries, and, later in the 1990's, from the United States.  At present, 70-80 Lhasas are registered annually by the Finnish Kennel Club. Finnish Lhasa Apso fanciers have their own breed club, the Lhasa Apso Club, which is affiliated with the Finnish Toy Dog Association. For more information, visit the Lhasa Apso Club's homepage