The Lhasa Apso

An In Depth Study Of The Breed

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Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepet

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The Lhasa Apso

Origins—The Himalayas of Tibet

“Chomolungma”, known to theoutside world as Mt. Everest

Altitude: Average elevation 16,000 ft.Extremely thin atmosphere Intense UV radiation

Climate: High arctic desert Extremes of temperature Very little rain

Terrain:Mountainous Arid and rocky 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.

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”.

Photo courtesy of K

erstin H

andrich

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 evil spirits.

The larger Apsos were kept out of doors and used for guarding and tending livestock.

Photo courtesy of K

erstin Handrich

The Lhasa Apso

History

The Potala towers high over the capital city of Lhasa. Serving for centuries as the home of the Dalai Lama,

it is now simply a tourist attraction.

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 in the United States.

The Lhasa Apso

History

These Apsos were among several givenby 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 alsobegan importingApsos early in the1900s. The British dogs were verysimilar in type to those brought tothe United States.Note the veryconsistent head type, coat textureand 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 astrong 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

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.

Origin of the standard

The Lhasa Apso

Breed Standard: Character

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.

“Gay and assertive but

chary of strangers”

The Lhasa Apso

Breed Standard: Size

“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.

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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 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.

All photos courtesy of C

lose Encounters of the F

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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

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.

Photo courtesy of K

erstin H

andrich

The Lhasa Apso

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.

Courtesy of K

erstin Handrich

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

Photo by Inge P

anitz

The Lhasa Apso

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.

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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. 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 Jacob, 1901: “Fore face of fair length, strong in front of the eyes…” Good pigment is an asset under intense UV radiation.

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atherine M

arley

The Lhasa Apso

Breed Standard: Eyes

“Dark brown, neither very 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 radiation. The medium eye is another feature that distinguishes between the Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu.

Dr. C

atherine M

arley D

r. Catherine

Marley

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 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.

Nancy S

herwood

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. ConditionCoat 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.

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

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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.

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The Lhasa Apso

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.

Photo courtesy of K

erstin H

andrich

The Lhasa Apso

Different aspects will affect the appearance of proportion

Hard surface vs. grass

Tightness of tail Shoulder assembly Slope of pelvis Length of leg

It is important to understand exactly what you are looking at when evaluating each individual dog.

The Lhasa Apso

Gait—Video

Dr. C

atherine M

arley

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.

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arley Am

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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.

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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. C

atherine Marley

Dr. C

atherine M

arley

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 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

Flat pelvis

Poor pigment

Unsound structure

Photo courtesy of K

erstin Handrich

Photo courtesy of K

erstin Handrich

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 wary when you see this type of handling, and look very closely at the front movement at a slow gait.

Nancy

Sherw

ood

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 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.

Photo courtesy of K

erstin H

andrich

The Lhasa Apso

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.

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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’Ivepetn. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA

Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepetn. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA

Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepetn. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA

Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepetn. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA

Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepetn. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA

Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepetn. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA

Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepetn. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA

Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepetn. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA

Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepetn. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA

Lasya Pabu Kipu d’Ivepetn. May 6th 2010 – Owner: Ovidiu & Monica PANEA