Page 13 - The Lhasa Apso
P. 13
THE ALMOST PERFECT DOG
courtesy of the AmericAn LhAsA Apso cLub
AGuess the Breed
first encounter with this elegant little dog will have you admiring its beauti- ful coat, its regal essence
and the human quality of its eyes. This dog seems to float across the floor with the balance and movement of a Thai Chi instructor!
After forming your first impression, you will start thinking about whether the dog could fit your lifestyle. The answer is a resounding “Yes!” It is one of the most versatile and adaptable breeds on the planet. Its temperament is suited for tiny apartment living in the city, living in the ’burbs or romping in the open spaces of a country estate or farm. Its thick, layered coat provides the insulation needed to make it com- fortable in any climate, hot or cold: romping through freshly fallen snow or basking in the sun!
That’s not all about these lov- able dogs! The breed is sturdy and seldom plagued with health issues.
“...the dog’s history of wAtching over its owners dAtes bAck to the yeAr
800 bc in tibet.”
Their average lifespan ranges from fif- teen to eighteen years; the oldest docu- mented of this breed lived to age twen- ty-four! Many owners of these dogs will tell you stories about them living to a ripe old age while remarking about the mental and physical toughness the dogs displayed to the very end.
The dog’s appearance is sophisti- cated and elegant; but underneath its appearance is a dog with endurance, energy and hardiness: a rough-and tum- ble romp with the toughest ten-year- old boy or girl finds this dog asking for more! If you are thinking about a dog that you can train to enter agility trials, the breed has established itself as agile and focused. On the flip side, this dog senses when it needs to be calm, loving and comforting. It is a great companion for the elderly and is often trained as a Therapy Dog. Oh yes, it is a lap dog, too.
Content to lie by your side or in your lap, the dog adjusts its behavior to that of its beloved humans.
LivinG with the Breed
These dogs, compact and sturdy, are considered small dogs. The females usually weigh about twelve to four- teen pounds and the males are about fifteen to eighteen pounds. They are about 10 to 11 inches in height at the shoulder.
If your lifestyle includes car trips, your dog will be the first in the car. After gazing out the window, your trav- eling companion will quickly settle into a nap in the back seat and will happily take bathroom breaks when you do!
Being very sociable, these dogs get along with other household critters such as cats. In fact, they are happy to sleep side-by-side with other ani- mals, assuming the introductions to other creatures are correctly facilitated by humans.
There’s more! Being an excellent watchdog, he will “sound off” his bark alarm when something is not right. These dogs exhibit an aloof and wary reaction to strangers until given the “all clear” by their owners. You see, the dog’s history of watching over its owners dates back to the year 800 BC in Tibet. It was bred as a sentinel and companion in the monasteries and was the revered breed of Tibetan royalty. Its genetics are one of the most directly traceable to the ancient gray wolf and its history makes this breed intriguing.
how trainaBLe is this doG?
Being highly intelligent, these dogs are masters of observation and are quick learners. In fact, you will often
