Is your family looking for a happy, loving, loyal household companion? A dog who will be affectionate with the family, good with other pets and an excellent guard with a nose for who belongs and who needs to be warned against? Sounds like the kind of package only a big dog could fill, right? However, look no further than
that litter of fuzzy Lhasa Apso puppies.
Originating in Tibet, these furry little dogs look like a pampered toy breed, but are actually members of the American Kennel Club (AKC) non-sporting group. In their native land, Lhasa Apso puppies were known by the name "Abso Seng Kye," which means "Bark Lion Sentinel Dog." Where the guardianship of the outer gates might be left to an enormous mastiff, families chose the Lhasa Apso to be their in house guard.
These are small dogs, about 10-11" at the shoulder for males and slightly shorter for females, and weigh in at about 13--15 pounds. Lhasa Apso puppies may be found in black, white, brown, gray, cream or particolor. Their heavy long coats are hard and dense, befitting dogs whose original home was at the foot of Mt. Everest.
The Lhasa Apso was first admitted to registration by the AKC in 1935, so they are not newbies in the United States. Lhasa Apso puppies accounted for slightly over 11,000 new AKC registrations in the late 1990s. The breed is slowly gaining in popularity in the United States.
Lhasa Apso puppies will grow into adults that are described as calm, loyal, and lovable dogs who don't expect to be pampered. They are protective and wary of strangers, so socializing Lhasa Apso puppies is a first order task for their new owners. In this, as in any other training with these Tibetan natives, positive reinforcement is paramount, as they have a mind of their own and can be obstinate. It is said by some that if any dog needs to be taught that it can't do whatever it pleases, it is the Lhasa.
Don't let this make you shy away from those Lhasa Apso puppies, though. If Lhasa's are properly socialized, and a firm hand is used in their training, you will be rewarded with a dog who is independent enough to not need your attention 24-7, but who is sensitive to your feelings and lovingly protective. Lhasa Apso puppies can also grow up to be quite the class clown, demonstrating a lively sense of humor and fun when with those they love.
Part of the fun for Lhasa Apso puppies and adults, apparently, includes 
climbing. Perhaps it is those short legs, or the fact that they are native to mountainous terrain, but apparently Lhasas like heights. It is not unusual to find your Lhasa on top of the TV or on the bookshelves, since they are excellent climbers. Lhasa Apso puppies will demonstrate another somewhat cat-like trait in that they like small, closed in spaces and may make a little "cave" for themselves under your coffee table or footstool.
As for grooming, it is of course not necessary to make your Lhasa Apso look show ring ready at all times. Keeping your Lhasa in a pet clip might be a solution that helps manage some of the hair, but twice weekly brushings are a good idea, no matter how short or long you keep the coat. Anyway, grooming sessions help owners bond with their Lhasa Apso puppies.
Anyway you look at it, Lhasa Apso puppies grow into loving, entertaining, protective companions who can share a long lifetime (into their teens) with your family.
