Lhasa Apso. The Lhasa Apso is native to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It looks like a lion and has long and rich coats. It is now an ideal family dog. The Lhasa Apso is also known as the “Holy Dog to Exorcise Demons”. Although the Lhasa Apso is small in size and not aggressive in nature, it has always been the guard dog of the Dalai Lama in Tibet. This dog is not only very resilient, but also has very keen hearing. Its English name originally means "goat-like", and goats play a special role in Tibetan mythology.

Dog Breed History

The Lhasa Apso has a history of 2,000 years. Before the 20th century, this dog breed was rarely seen except in Tibet, where it originated. Apso in Tibetan means "barking guard dog."

Before the 20th century, this dog breed was rarely seen except in Tibet, where it originated. There are many monasteries and lamas in Tibet. The original purpose of the Lhasa Apso was to accompany and guard the monks in these monasteries. The dog is also regarded as a sacred thing by the monks. It is believed that after the death of the breeder, the soul of the breeder resides in the dog's body, providing... Breeders bring good luck. Therefore, it was impossible to buy this dog breed at that time, but in history, the Dalai Lama also used Lhasa Apso dogs as gifts to pay tribute to the court and neighboring countries, and to make friends with dignitaries. Because of their gorgeous appearance, they were widely spread around the world.

Dog breed characteristics

It looks like a lion, with fur colors ranging from golden yellow, cinnabar, gray, floral, black, white, tea and other colors. The coat is long and rich, especially on the head, ears and tail. The coat is thickest and can be dragged to ground.

Extremely strong and patient, this dog is known for barking and resembling a lion. The Lhasa Apso has a strong ability to distinguish strangers and is most suitable as a guard dog. It has high self-esteem, strong vigilance, cheerful personality, and is very obedient to its trustworthy owner.

Dog knowledge

Cleaning and hygiene work is required every day. In addition to paying attention to its food hygiene, the Lhasa Apso has long and abundant coat, so it must be combed and brushed every day. The grooming method is the same as for other dogs.

Lhasa Apso dogs have a habit of recognizing the familiar but not the unfamiliar. Therefore, it is best to raise this kind of dog from puppyhood to old age, and do not change owners midway. Otherwise, they will miss their old master, disobey the new master’s discipline and instructions, and will not be easy to change after a long period of time.

The Lhasa Apso dog's disease resistance is not very strong. When feeding, in addition to paying attention to cleaning and hygiene, you must also frequently observe its mental state, appetite, feces shape, the humidity at the bottom of the nose, and whether there are fecal stains around the anus. Once found, If there are any abnormalities or symptoms, early measures should be taken for treatment.

How to tell the difference between Lhasa Apso and Shih TzuDog?

At first glance, the Lhasa Apso and the Shih Tzu are similar, but if you carefully distinguish them, they are quite different. Let’s analyze the differences between the Lhasa Apso and the Shih Tzu from several aspects.

1. The difference in appearance between Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu

The overall weight of the Lhasa Apso male should be 6-7 kg, and the female dog is slightly smaller. The ideal shoulder height of the Lhasa Apso male dog should be 25-28 cm, and the female dog is slightly smaller. The skull is narrow, significantly sunken behind the eyes, not very flat, but not arched or apple-shaped. The tail is heavily feathered, spirally curled behind the back, and may be tangled at the end.

The male Shih Tzu weighs 4.5-8.0 kg, the female Shih Tzu weighs 4.5-8.1 kg, the shoulder height is 26.7-28.1 cm, the female dog has a shoulder height of 26.7-28.1 cm, the head is round and wide, the eyes are widely apart, and the tail is long and feathery. Decorative fur, curled toward the back. The base of the tail is set high. Almost level with the forehead, making the body appear proportional.

2. The personality difference between Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu

The Lhasa Apso has a good voice, barks a few times no matter what, and has a strong ability to distinguish strangers, so it is very suitable to be a guard dog. Although this dog is small in size, it is very strong and has endurance. The Lhasa Apso has high self-esteem, strong vigilance, and cheerful personality. It is very obedient to its trustworthy owner. The long coat covering the body is very beautiful. It is also smart and obedient. It is wary of strangers, strong and brave, and is an excellent vigilance dog. dog.

The Shih Tzu has a cheerful and joyful personality, and is very friendly to everyone. The Shih Tzu is smart, loyal, friendly, and energetic. Although it is not particularly easy to train, as long as you have patience and confidence, it will become quite obedient. Of course, it is also full of curiosity about things and sometimes a little reckless.