Lhasa Apsos typically reach their full size at 10 to 12 months old. It’s important to provide proper nutrition, exercise, and healthcare during their growth stages to ensure they develop into healthy adult dogs. Regular veterinary check-ups can also help monitor their growth and overall well-being.

“Lhasa Apso” is pronounced “LAH-su AP-soh” with the stress on the “LAH” and “AP” syllables.

Lhasa Apsos are named after the Himalayan capital city of Tibet where they originated: Lhasa. These sturdy, robust little mountain dogs have been around for centuries, used to guard Buddhist monasteries and Tibetan nobles.

Lhasa Apsos were bred to be inside watchdogs and guard dogs.

Lhasa Apsos live to be between 12 and 15 years old. However, individual lifespans can vary based on factors such as genetics, diet, exercise, healthcare, and overall lifestyle. Providing proper care, regular veterinary check-ups, a balanced diet, and maintaining a healthy weight can contribute to helping dogs of all breeds live long and healthy lives.

Yes, Lhasa Apsos are generally good with kids. They are friendly, affectionate, and can make fun playmates to active older kids, although they might not be the most responsive to the spontaneous rambunctiousness of younger children.

As with any breed, it is recommended that your child is always supervised when interacting with your Lhasa Apso to keep both the child and dog safe. Teaching children how to properly approach and handle dogs is crucial to ensure positive experiences for both the dog and the child, as is teaching dogs how to interact gently with children.

Yes, Lhasa Apsos bark. They are traditional sentinel dogs, and as such, they are alarm barkers. As with any dog, they can be discouraged from barking as frequently with proper training and exercise. Providing them with mental and physical stimulation can also help reduce boredom-related barking.

Yes, Lhasa Apsos can be good family pets. They are loyal, playful, and protective dogs.

Yes, Lhasa Apsos can get along well with cats, especially if introduced at a young age. Of course, each dog (and cat) has their own preferences and temperament, but you can feel fairly confident your Lhasa Apso, if properly socialized with your cat, should get along with them just fine.

Yes, Lhasa Apsos can generally get along well with other dogs, especially if they have been properly socialized from a young age. Like any breed, individual personalities can vary, but early positive experiences with other dogs can help ensure that they develop good manners and positive interactions with their canine companions.

Yes, Lhasa Apsos are considered very smart dogs. They can learn anything that a trainer makes interesting enough, but they can be stubborn and don’t like repetitive drills.

Yes, Lhasa Apsos can be stubborn. They have an independent mind and are definitely not pushovers when it comes to training.

While Lhasa Apsos can learn to swim, most of them don’t like the water.

Yes, some Lhasa Apsos may be good for first-time pet parents due to their adaptability. However, other Lhasa Apso dogs may be stubborn and overprotective, making it challenging for a new pet parent to train these dogs.

Yes, Lhasa Apsos are generally friendly with people they know well. However, they may be aloof or suspicious of strangers.

No, Lhasa Apsos are not typically lazy dogs. They need a medium level of activity each day.

Yes, Lhasa Apsos are considered a hypoallergenic dog breed. While no dog breed is completely hypoallergenic, their coats shed less, which can help reduce the amount of hair and dander in the environment.

It’s important to note that allergens are not only present in a dog’s hair but also in their skin cells, saliva, and urine. Even hypoallergenic breeds can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. 

Regular grooming practices such as brushing and bathing can help reduce allergens on a dog’s coat and skin. Spending time around Lhasa Apsos before bringing one into your home is recommended to gauge the potential for allergic reactions.

Yes, Lhasa Apsos are brachycephalic, meaning they have a flat face and short nose.

No, Lhasa Apsos are not always easy to train. They tend to need a strong and consistent hand when it comes to training, and they might take longer to understand commands.

However, training any dog takes substantial time and effort, regardless of breed. With patience and consistency, Lhasa Apsos can be trained as well as other breeds.

Lhasa Apsos are generally a very healthy breed with a relatively long lifespan, but, like all dogs, may experience some health issues. Diseases to keep an eye out for include: 

• Eye problems: Lhasa Apsos may experience cherry eye, a condition where a gland on the lower eyelid known as the third eyelid pops out and swells, causing a red oval mass on the inner corner of the eye, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a progressive degenerative disease affecting the retina that eventually leads to blindness

• Renal cortical hypoplasia: This inherited condition causes abnormal kidney development, resulting in improperly filtered toxins from the bloodstream. Though the progression of the disease can vary, renal cortical hypoplasia eventually ends in renal failure. Dogs with the condition will be excessively thirsty, need to urinate often, and may be small for their age.

• Sebaceous adenitis: This genetic skin disease causes very scaly, dry skin and hair loss

• Patellar Luxation: This is a common problem in many dog breeds that causes the knee joint to slide in and out of place.