The Lhasa Apso


An In Depth Study Of The Breed
Close Encounters of the Furry Kind

&
Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepet
 The Lhasa Apso
 Origins—The Himalayas of Tibet
Altitude:
Average elevation 16,000 ft.
Extremely thin atmosphere
Intense UV radiation

Climate:
High arctic desert
Extremes of temperature
Very little rain

Terrain:
Mountainous
“Chomolungma”, known to the Arid and rocky
outside world as Mt. Everest Often snow covered
 The Lhasa Apso
 Origins--Foundation
The Lhasa Apso truly is an original. DNA
studies have determined it to be one of the
most ancient breeds in existence today. The
Tibetan breeds are all similar in type, if not
size, presumably evolving directly from
Himalayan wolves over unknown millenniums.
Photo courtesy of Kerstin Handrich

The Lhasa Apso, Tibetan Terrier and Tibetan Spaniel

were considered by Tibetans to be different varieties of
the same breed, all known collectively as “Apsos”.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Function

The Apsos’ primary function in Tibet

was survival. Natural selection in the
inhospitable environment of Tibet
developed dogs of specific body, head
and coat types.

The smallest of the Tibetan Apsos were

kept as pets and indoor sentinels. They
were depended upon to sound the 
alarm at any sign of intruders…including

Photo courtesy of Kerstin Handrich

evil spirits.

The larger Apsos were kept out of doors

and used for guarding and tending
livestock.
 The Lhasa Apso
 History
Over the centuries, Apsos
were often given as
political gifts by the
presiding Dalai Lama. In
the early 1930s, the 13th
Dalai Lama entered into a
friendly correspondence
with C. Suydam Cutting,
noted explorer, eventually
gifting him and his wife,
Helen, with a number of
Apsos. These dogs were
the foundation of the breed The Potala towers high over the capital city of Lhasa.
Serving for centuries as the home of the Dalai Lama,
in the United States. it is now simply a tourist attraction.
 The Lhasa Apso
 History
These Apsos were among several given
by the 13th Dalai Lama to the Cuttings of
Hamilton Farm. In 1937, the Cuttings
made the long trek home with two dogs
on horseback through the Himalayas.
 The Lhasa Apso
 History
Great Britain also
began importing
Apsos early in the
1900s. The British
dogs were very
similar in type to
those brought to
the United States.
Note the very
consistent head
type, coat texture
and body style of
the early imports.

Top left: Ch. Rupso,

circa 1907
 The Lhasa Apso
 Anatomy related to function—survival
Rectangular body proportion provides
body mass necessary for heat
conservation in the Himalayas.
The longer rib cage allows increased
lung capacity to breathe the thin air.
A narrow skull that falls away behind
the eyes allows adequate length of
muzzle, with a large nose and wide
nostrils, for unobstructed breathing in
cold, thin air.
Medium sized eyes are less exposed
to the elements and therefore less
prone to injury.
Mountainous terrain requires a
strong climbing physique: well
muscled front and rear quarters, and
a strong loin.
Sound legs and feet are needed on
a dog that must be able to climb
nimbly for 15 to 20 years.
A straight, heavy, hard, dense coat
is needed for insulation against cold,
heat, wind and snow.
Good pigmentation would be an
asset under intense UV radiation.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Natural Gait
The Lhasa Apso gait is normal.
Environmental selection developed this
sturdy little mountain dog to move as
efficiently and economically as possible.
Angulation is moderate on a rectangular
body, with a normal slope of pelvis and
the tail curled tightly over the back.
Right: Ch. Le, bred by the 13th Dalai
Lama, was one of the last two imports
from Tibet in 1950. From the side, he
exhibits balanced movement at a normal
trot. From the front, his legs come
towards center in normal canine fashion.
His head is inclined toward the line of
travel, and is not held too upright.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Breed Standard

Origin of the standard

The American Kennel Club approved the first Lhasa Apso standard in 1935. At
the time, it was identical to the British standard for the breed which had just
been approved in 1934. Both standards were essentially taken from the 1901
Lionel Jacobs standard of the “Lhassa Terrier”, with a few additional lines
taken from George Hayes’ 1934 Crufts critique. Many of these early
descriptions were meant to differentiate between similar breeds such as the
Shih Tzu, Tibetan Spaniel and Tibetan Terrier. This is particularly true with
regard to head type, size, proportion, coat and temperament. The standard
remained unchanged until 1978, when it was amended in three places: In
regard to bite, it elevated the slightly undershot bite to a position equal that of
the once preferred level mouth. In regard to color, all colors were made equally
acceptable with or without dark tips to ears and beard. In regard to muzzle
length, the recommendation for a one and a half inch muzzle was removed.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Breed Standard: Character

“Gay and assertive but

chary of strangers”

Despite their cute and cuddly appearance, the temperament of the Lhasa Apso is
not that of a toy dog. Their not-so-distant primitive history, and the Tibetans’
general usage of Apsos for guarding and herding, gives this breed a remarkably
strong and independent nature. Possessing a high level of perceptive intelligence,
the typical Lhasa Apso notices everything in its environment and decides in his
own time whether or not it is “safe”. They are delightfully independent, confident
and strong minded, not bending easily to another’s will. These characteristics are
often displayed in the form of guarding possessions, challenging other dogs and
objecting to being handled by strangers. Firm and early training is a must.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Breed Standard: Size


Kind
Close Encounters of the Furry
“Variable, but about 10
inches or 11 inches at
shoulder for dogs, bitches
slightly smaller.”

Size can be variable, but the Tibetans were known to prize the smallest of the
Apsos. Ideally, males should be about 10” or 11”, with bitches smaller in both
height and features. The 1901 Lionel Jacob’s standard called for bitches to
be 9” or 10”, so the assumption must be that 9” to 11” is the ideal size range
for the breed. Some variation outside the ideal is acceptable provided overall
type is maintained. Weight: females average about 11 to 15 lbs, males
average about 14 to 18 lbs. The Lhasa Apso is a small dog, but very sturdy.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Breed Standard: Color
“All colors equally acceptable
with or without dark tips to ears
and beard.”

The Lhasa Apso has been called the “jelly

bean” dog. They come in all colors and all 

All photos courtesy of Close Encounters of the Furry Kind

combinations of colors. It is common for
them to have dark tips to their ears and
beard. Young Lhasa Apsos will often have
some degree of black tipping on their body
coat. Though very striking, this tipping will
eventually wear off the bottom as the coat
grows longer with maturity. No one color or
pattern is preferable over another.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Breed Standard: Body Shape
“The length from point of shoulders to point of buttocks
longer than height at withers, well ribbed up, strong loin,
well-developed quarters and thighs.”

Statistics show that Lhasa Apsos average 30% to 45% longer than tall, the median
ideal. The long rib cage provided lung capacity in the thin atmosphere of Tibet; the
strong loin and well developed quarters and thighs providing the body substance
and power necessary for heat conservation and negotiating the mountain terrain.
Photos show the same dog coated and clipped, measuring 33.3% longer than tall.
 The Lhasa Apso

Photo courtesy of Kerstin Handrich

 Breed Standard: Coat
“Heavy, straight, hard, not wooly
nor silky, of good length and
very dense.”

Himalayan dogs all have coats of a similar

texture, varying only in length. The coat must
be straight, hard and heavy in texture, and
dense enough to provide insulation from cold,
heat, wind and snow. A hard coat will reflect
the UV light, a soft coat will not. The guard coat
must be straight and hard enough to allow the
undercoat to shed through without creating
debilitating mats. Length of coat distinguished
the Lhasa Apso from the Tibetan Spaniel.
Correct coat texture is not simply pretty, it is
essential to survival in Tibet.
 

The Lhasa Apso

Courtesy of Kerstin Handrich

 Breed Standard: Mouth and Muzzle (1)
“The preferred bite is either level or slightly undershot.
Muzzle of medium length; a square muzzle is objectionable.”
A survival developed breed from the Himalayas would have had a normal canine
mouth. The Apsos’ slightly shortened muzzle may have allowed for some
undershot mouths in Tibet, but nothing so extreme that it would hinder survival.
Lionel Jacob, 1901: “Mouth quite level, but of the two a slightly overshot mouth is
preferable to an undershot one.” A scissor bite, while no longer preferred, is not a
serious fault. A full complement of incisors, lined up evenly, is desirable.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Breed Standard: Mouth and Muzzle (2)
“…Muzzle of medium length; a
square muzzle is objectionable.”

Left: The Lhasa Apso has a medium length

muzzle tapering into a large nose leather with
wide nostrils. Top: A flattened, squared off
muzzle is objectionable. These are major
Photo by Inge Panitz

distinguishing traits between the Lhasa Apso

and Shih Tzu. Lionel Jacob, 1901: “The nose
large, prominent and pointed, not depressed.”
 The Lhasa Apso 

Close Encounters of the Furry Kind

 Breed Standard: Head (1)
“Heavy head furnishings with
good fall over the eyes, good
whiskers and beard; skull
narrow, falling away behind the
eyes in a marked degree, not
quite flat, but not domed or
apple-shaped; straight foreface
of fair length. Nose black, the
length from tip of nose to eye
to be roughly about one-third of
the total length from nose to
back of skull.” Heavy head furnishings with good
whiskers and beard distinguished the
Lhasa Apso from the Tibetan Spaniel.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Breed Standard: Head (2)
“…skull narrow, falling away
behind the eyes in a marked
degree, not quite flat, but not
domed or apple-shaped…”

A narrow skull is essential to Lhasa Apso head

type. Instead of the skull “rising” behind the
eyes, as in the domed head of a Shih Tzu, the
Lhasa Apso skull falls away markedly behind
the eyes and is almost flat, the stop moderate
to shallow. In these frontal views, the two Lhasa
Apso heads show very little rise to the skull in
comparison to the domed head of the Shih Tzu,
and have considerably less stop.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Breed Standard-Head (3)

Additional views of the Lhasa Apso head show the stop

rising gently to just above the eyes, then quickly falling
away behind the eyes to a skull that is not quite flat, but
not domed or apple-shaped. The narrow skull, gentle
stop and marked fall away are important distinctions
between the Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu heads.
Lionel Jacob, 1901: “The stop, size for size, about that
of a Skye Terrier.” Geoffrey Hayes, 1934: “In body,
rather like a Border Terrier, slightly longer if anything.
In head, shape very like one, skull slightly narrower and
side ear-carriage though.”
 The Lhasa Apso
 Breed Standard: Head (4)
“… straight foreface of fair length. 

Close Encounters of the Furry Kind

Nose black, the length from tip of
nose to eye to be roughly about one-
third of the total length from nose to
back of skull.”

The muzzle should be of fair length and on a

parallel plane with the top of the skull. The
Lhasa Apso muzzle is neither long and
snipey nor short and square. The 1:2 head
proportion distinguishes the Lhasa Apso from
both the Shih Tzu and Tibetan Terrier. Lionel
Dr. Catherine Marley

Jacob, 1901: “Fore face of fair length, strong

in front of the eyes…” Good pigment is an
asset under intense UV radiation.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Breed Standard: Eyes
“Dark brown, neither very

Dr. Catherine Marley

large and full, nor very small
and sunk.”

Eye size and shape is very important in

the Tibetan breeds. Large, round eyes
would not fare well in the dry, dusty and
windy environment of the Tibetan
plateau. Typically, the eyes are almond
shaped and placed rather frontally in the
skull, showing minimal white. Strong
pigment is an asset under intense UV

Dr. Catherine Marley

radiation. The medium eye is another
feature that distinguishes between the
Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Breed Standard: Ears

“Pendant, heavily feathered.”

Most of the Tibetan breeds carry their

ears just slightly higher than eye level,
drawing them up even with the top of the
skull when at attention. This can give
the impression of a broad skull when in
fact it is only the ears being brought up
under the coat. The request for heavily
feathered ears distinguished the Lhasa
Apso from the Tibetan Spaniel, which
carries only light feathering on the ears.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Breed Standard: Legs
“Forelegs straight; both fore and hind

Nancy Sherwood
legs heavily furnished with hair.”

Straight forelegs are the most sound for a climbing

animal and will hold up under the dog far better over
time. The request for a straight foreleg also serves to
check excessive body length. Lionel Jacob, 1901: “In
all short-legged breeds, there is a tendency to
crookedness, but the straighter the legs the better.” A
slight bow to the foreleg is acceptable, but never so
much that it compromises soundness and agility.
Conversely, shorter backed dogs will have straight
front legs, but in the extreme will begin to lack
substance. Heavy leg furnishings distinguished the
Lhasa Apso from the Tibetan Spaniel.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Breed Standard: Feet
“Well feathered, should be round
and catlike, with good pads.”

Well feathered, round, catlike feet are another

distinction between the Lhasa Apso, Tibetan
Terrier and Tibetan Spaniel; the Tibetan
Terrier having large, flat feet and the Tibetan
Spaniel typically possessing a hare-foot, with
only light feathering on the legs and feet.
Thick, well cushioned pads would be essential
for negotiating the steep, rocky and often
frozen ground of the Tibetan plateau.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Breed Standard: Tail and Carriage
“Well feathered, should be carried
well over the back in a screw, there may
be a kink at the end. A low carriage of
stern is a serious fault.”

The natural tail carriage of the Lhasa Apso is well over

the back in a screw. Heat conservation demands that
the tail be nestled close to the back rather than up in the
air in a loose curl. The high tail carriage lengthens
important rearing muscles for a climbing animal with a
normal slope of pelvis. The tail may drop when the dog
is relaxed, or in reaction if the dog is startled, but should
generally be carried up when the dog is moving. There
may a kink at the end of the tail, a unique feature of the
breed and considered good luck by the Tibetans.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Coat Texture vs. Condition
Coat texture is inherited, coat condition is man-made. Grooming techniques,
environment, age and activities can and do have an effect on coat length and
condition. Good coat texture, regardless of condition, is always preferable to poor
coat texture. The true texture can be evaluated in the 6 inches nearest the root.
Look for the reflective shine of a hard coat. Roll the hair between your fingers to
feel the coarseness. Lift a section of coat and let it drop to gauge the heaviness.

 
Close Encounters of the Furry Kind

Close Encounters of the Furry Kind

The coat texture of both dogs is equally nice, only the level of condition differs.
 

Close Encounters of the Furry Kind

The Lhasa Apso
 Coat Transitions

Puppy coats are usually softer in texture than adult coats. The hardest textured
puppy coats are slow growing and will transition directly into the adult coat. Many
Lhasa Apsos go through an intermediate coat stage from about the age of 18
through 30 months, when much of the texture and color are temporarily lost. By
the time the dog is three years old the true adult coat should be completely in.
The photos below show the same dog at the age of one, two and three years.
 The Lhasa Apso

Handrich
Photo courtesy of Kerstin
 Head Comparison

Head type is a major distinguishing factor between the Lhasa Apso and its
Chinese descendant, the Shih Tzu. Skull shape, muzzle length and shape,
nose leather, stop, eye size and shape, and jaw alignment are all important to
the establishment of head type. Below left is clearly a Tibetan type Lhasa
Apso, below right is clearly a Chinese type Shih Tzu. The dog in the middle,
however, is clearly neither. Is it a Lhasa Apso or is it a Shih Tzu? You decide.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Different aspects will affect the appearance of proportion
Length of leg Slope of pelvis Tightness of tail Shoulder assembly

Hard surface vs. grass

It is important to
understand exactly
what you are looking
at when evaluating
each individual dog.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Gait—Video

Dr. Catherine Marley

 The Lhasa Apso
 Gait—From the side
The Lhasa Apso gait is normal. It should be smooth, efficient and balanced, with
no exaggeration. Head carriage is inclined slightly forward on the move, not too
upright. Reach and drive should be equal with no excessive action on either end.
The topline is level in movement, with no bouncing or rolling. The impression is
that of a small, muscular, athletic dog; agile and light on his feet but never toyish.
Dr. Catherine Marley

Amy Andrews
 The Lhasa Apso
 Gait—From the front
Front movement should be smooth and efficient, not exaggerated. The Lhasa
Apso should reach well out in front but not come up too high in wasteful motion.
The head will be inclined toward the line of travel, with no obvious bouncing or
bobbing from side to side as the dog moves. The front feet will converge
toward the center line as speed increases. The front pads should not be seen.

Nancy Sherwood
Amy Andrews
 The Lhasa Apso
 Gait—Rear movement

Rear movement should be efficient and never exaggerated. A moderately

angulated rear is the most sound and efficient for a climbing animal. Efficiency
demands that front and rear angulation be balanced to one another. Normal
pelvic tilt will allow the arc of motion to be equal fore and aft of the vertical. The
rear pad should be seen going away, but should not kick up too high.

Dr. Catherine Marley

Dr. Catherine Marley
 The Lhasa Apso
 Gait—Common faults

Straight shoulder assembly placed extremely forward on the body. Depending

on the length and angle of the upper arm this can result in the dog having either
restricted reach, taking many short, little mincing steps or abnormally high head
carriage with noticeable rocking or bouncing of the front during movement. Front
reach in the latter case is illusory as correct placement of the shoulder and head
would shorten the stride considerably.

A pelvis that is too flat results in exaggerated and inefficient rear drive. Most of
the rear action will be behind the vertical, with limited contact on the ground. The
effect is a “wind-milling” rear that goes nowhere fast. A flat pelvis weakens the
loin and is inefficient in a mountain animal that must get its rear assembly under
the body to provide the impetus and balance necessary for jumping and climbing.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Common Problems 

Photo courtesy of Kerstin Handrich

 Brachycephalic head characteristics:
Domed skull
Abrupt stop
Square muzzle
Dish-face
Pinched nostrils
Excessive white around the eyes
Large, round eyes  Soft coats
 Oversize
Too short backed and refined

Photo courtesy of Kerstin Handrich

 Flat pelvis
 Poor pigment
 Unsound structure
 The Lhasa Apso
 Comparing and Contrasting Similar Breeds
 Coat
length
texture
 Head
skull
muzzle
eye
 Height
 Proportion
 The Lhasa Apso
 Examining the Lhasa Apso

 DO allow the handler to prepare the dog for examination

 DO always approach the dog from the front
 DO go over the dog confidently, not roughly or aggressively
 DO use a gentle touch, not too hesitant or cautious
 DON’T approach the dog from behind or the side
 DON’T go over the dog on the ground, DO put them back on the table
 DON’T pull on the whiskers to examine the mouth
 DON’T push a dog that is having difficulty, DO allow the
handler to deal with the situation.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Movement Considerations
 Speed: Handlers should not run with
the Lhasa Apso. Fast movement can
hide many structural faults, so do ask
for moderate speed.
 Loose lead: The Lhasa Apso’s heavy
headfall may interfere with vision,
making light contact with the lead to
provide guidance preferable.
 Stringing up: Stringing up helps to
support a poor front assembly. Be

Nancy Sherwood
wary when you see this type of
handling, and look very closely at the
front movement at a slow gait.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Deceptive Grooming Techniques

Trimming the hair between the eyes to lessen the appearance of stop.
Thinning or clipping the coat from the chest and neck area to shorten the
appearance of length.
Thinning the coat in front of the shoulder blade to give the appearance of
more neck.
Trimming at the base of the tail to shorten the appearance of length and
make the tail set look higher.
Growing excessively long skirts to give the appearance of more rear
angulation and kick up.
Ironing the coat to straighten an undesirable wavy, soft or wooly texture.
Teasing the coat to change the outline of the dog.
Using foreign substances to straighten and weigh down soft or wooly coats.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Checks and Balances

Some variation in breed type is natural,

but one must also be able to recognize
when variation has gone too far and type
has been lost. The Lhasa Apso standard,
though short, is a masterpiece of checks
and balances that help determine the
limits of acceptable variation for each type
trait. Each trait listed in the standard
works in perfect harmony with the rest and 
if one trait deviates too far from the ideal it

Photo courtesy of Kerstin Handrich

will invariably begin to impact on other
important features. When in doubt, one
has only to look to the Tibetan origins of
the breed to find the answers.
The Lhasa Apso

Close Encounters of the Furry Kind

Just as these puppies are the foundation for the future, your new
knowledge of the breed should give you a strong foundation to
recognize quality of type when evaluating the Lhasa Apso.
 The Lhasa Apso
 Acknowledgements

A most sincere thank you to the following people for the use of their
photographs, without which this program could not have been
presented:
Jeannie & Bane Harrison of ”Close Encounters of the Furry Kind”
Kerstin Handrich
Dr. Catherine Marley
Nancy Sherwood
Amy Andrews

These photos are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or used

in any way without the express permission of the owners.
Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepet
n. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA
Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepet
n. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA
Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepet
n. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA
Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepet
n. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA
Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepet
n. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA
Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepet
n. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA
Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepet
n. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA
Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepet
n. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA
Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepet
n. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA
Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepet
n. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA