Lhassa Apso

Its name comes from Lhassa, the capital of Tibet, and 'Apso' (contraction of 'rapso') which is the Tibetan name for a species of long-haired goat, and can be translated as 'Lhassa goat'. Its original name is Apso Seng Kyi which can be translated as 'lion-roaring dog'. The Lhassa Apso is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. Born about two thousand years ago in the heart of the Tibetan plateau and raised in monasteries as a sacred animal, it is said to be descended from the Tibetan Spaniel and the Tibetan Terrier. A Tibetan legend claims that the Lhassa Apso is the reincarnation of a great lama who could not reach paradise, which explains its sacred character. It is believed to drive away evil. It guarded the interiors of temples. Its hearing is so acute that it would alert at the slightest noise, with a hoarse bark, 'as if it were roaring. It is for this reason that Tibetan monks nicknamed it the lion-roaring dog or 'snow lion'. It was the Tibetan Mastiff that was responsible for guarding the exterior of temples. Tibetan religion prohibited all commerce of living beings. It was rarer than a Lhassa Apso to be offered to a foreigner and if it did happen, a male was always given. This is how the Lhassa Apso was born and evolved for centuries exclusively in Tibet.

The Lhassa Apso is an animal with its own distinct character; very protective of its master, it will not tolerate anyone attacking him. It is an excellent watchdog that barks only when an intruder enters the house, it will let people enter, but if its master is not there, it will not let them leave. It is a breed known for being very loyal and not prone to running away. It can have a tendency to over-attachment and not tolerate solitude. This little companion has dispositions for dog sports such as agility. Lively and intelligent, it is often very proud. Although it easily attaches itself to its master, it likes to maintain some autonomy and independence.

The Lhassa Apso is classified in the nomenclature of the International Canine Federation (FCI) in group 9 (companion dogs), more specifically in section 5 (Tibetan Dogs), where it meets the Shih Tzu, the Tibetan Spaniel and the Tibetan Terrier. The Lhassa Apso has a medium undercoat, its coat is long, must always maintain a thick layer of hair, which protects it from the sun in summer and cold in winter. There are two categories of Lhassa Apso that are distinguished by the texture of their coat: those with woolly hair and those with silky hair. It is actually an appreciation by certain breeders. Goat hair is the only recognized type. Jigmé Taring, a Tibetan specialist in Lhassa-Apso, wrote in 1990: 'With my experience and after seeing a great number of books on Lhasa-Apso, I realize that there are two distinct types of Lhasa-Apsos in foreign countries, this may be due to climate, food or better care than they had in their country of origin, or they could be a kind of hybrid. It is a mystery to me. In general, I appreciate and admire your work, especially at this time when the breed is in danger of disappearing after the Chinese occupation of Tibet.' The Tibetans call it the snow lion, because of its 'roaring' bark, hoarse for an animal of its size and build. Still in Tibet, some people used these dogs to cross the Himalayas, the sherpa Tenzing Norgay claimed that they sensed the coming of avalanches. It is both a shepherd dog and temple guardian. It participates in Buddhist ceremonies with monks and is the guardian of relics.

The Lhassa Apso requires brushing at least 2 times a week, especially when young to remove its puppy undercoat (the puppy undercoat can last up to 18 months/2 years), eye cleaning 1 to 2 times a week, hair between pads should be trimmed regularly, nails should be checked and trimmed if necessary. It must be dried well after bathing (once a month or more depending on activity) otherwise its coat will remain wet for several hours. Grooming a Lhassa Apso requires a minimum of 2 hours for grooming once a month. You should use either protein or jojoba shampoo. Then use a conditioner that conditions the coat, also called a conditioner, do not rinse. Wrap the Lhassa Apso in a towel and pat dry. Then comes the drying phase by brushing and once the coat is dry, round the paws, then even out its coat which should fall flush to the ground. For a Lhassa Apso that shows and competes, its coat is maintained once a week. To help the coat grow better, it is possible to use the technique of papillotes (papillotes placed on the hair that preserve the dog's long hair, possibly with a nourishing product).