Appearance

The Lhasa Apso is a small and compact but sturdy dog. The body is long and strong, with short legs and a feathered tail carried over the back. The head has a decent muzzle, small dark eyes often concealed by hair, a dark nose and pendulous and heavily feathered ears. The silky double-coat is long and straight and drapes over the entire body to the floor, with a lion-like ruff around the neck. The coloring varies but includes gold, cream and honey amongst others.

History

Known in Tibet as the “bark lion sentinel dog,” the Lhasa Apso was used to guard Tibetan palaces and temples. This bold and alert canine’s duty was to guard the interior of the building, while its massive and imposing partner (the Tibetan Mastiff) was charged with guarding the outside. In the early 1930s, the Dalai Lama helped introduce the Lhasa Apso to America and other parts of the world.