Lhasa Apso are an ancient breed, developed in Tibet from the Tibetan terrier and similar herding-type Tibetan dogs. With the conversion of Tibet to Buddhism in the 7th century AD the Lhasa Apso was established as a definitive breed. This breed was referred to as “the lion dog”, because Buddha is said to have had power over lions, and the Lhasa Apso has a full coat, full head of hair and leonine colours. The Dalai Lamas not only kept Lhasa Apsos as pets, but also used them as gifts for honoured guests. The Lhasa Apsos sent to China were used in the creation of the Shih Tzu and Pekingese breeds.

Appearance and Personality
These small dogs measure between 25-28cm and weighing between 6-7kgs, with the females being slightly smaller. They come in a variety of colours including sandy, honey, golden, brown dark grizzle, slate, smoke, black, white and combinations. They have a medium long coat hair length. Lhasa Apsos are long-lived dogs, routinely going into their late teens, with an average life expectancy of 12-14 years.
These dogs were bred as a guard dog as well as a companion dog and such can be aloof with strangers, although they are affectionate with people who they know and trust. Their sharp alarm bark can be a nuisance if the dog is not appropriately trained. They need with a fair amount of socialisation and plenty of human company. They are not always good with other dogs, so they need to be socialised with dogs and other pets as well as people from an early age.
Lhasa Apsos have a suspicious nature and can be snippy, but with family and friends at home they are lively and silly. Due to their small size, a regular walk 2 to 3 times a day is adequate, however too many treats or not enough exercise can easily lead to obesity. Being intelligent they do tend to pick up on training well however they are stubborn and independent so training is a must.
For such a small dog the grooming requirements are considerable due to their long, heavy topcoat. They do require a lot of daily grooming to keep their coats looking healthy.

Common Health Concerns
The five most common reasons for a Lhasa Apso to visit the vet (excluding routine care visits) according to PetSure data from the 2022 calendar year include:

Rank Condition Average cost for single treatment
(average pet insurance claim amount) Highest cost for single treatment (highest pet insurance claim seen for this condition)
1 Hypersensitivity (Allergic) Skin Disorder $534 $2,275
2 Otitis Externa $352 $1,807
3 Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) $291 $982
4 Dental Condition $945 $2,428
5 Diarrhoea $420 $3,838
Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider.
* Please note that the values calculated are based on all claims for that condition and medically related conditions in each calendar year.

For the same period (2022 calendar year), the top five highest single vet treatments (or highest pet insurance claims) for from PetSure data were:
Rank Condition Highest Cost of treatment for condition
(average pet insurance claim amount)
1 Gallbladder Mucocele $15,569
2 Corneal Ulcer $7,399
3 Neoplasm – Thyroid $6,656
4 Intervertebral Disc Disease $6,463
5 Foreign Body Ingestion $5,828
Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider.
* Please note that the values calculated are based on all claims for that condition and medically related conditions in each calendar year.

Most popular Lhasa Apso names from PetSure 2022 calendar year data:

Most popular names
1. Cookie
2. Millie
3. Winston
4. Barney
5. Biscuit
6. Chewy
7. Elvis
8. Luna
9. Maisie
10. Max

Most popular female names
1. Cookie
2. Millie
3. Luna
4. Maisie
5. Nala
6. Poppy

Most popular male names:
1. Winston
2. Barney
3. Chewy
4. Elvis
5. Max
6. Maximus
7. Milo
8. Otis
9. Rocky
10. Simba

Did you know?
In Tibet, Lhasa Apsos are often gifted as a sign of good fortune. Although Lhasa Apsos are common, you will find it difficult to buy a Lhasa Apsos in Tibet!
References
1. Purina, Lhasa Apso, accessed 3 May 2022 and available from: https://www.purina.com.au/dogs/breeds/lhasa-apso#.YnCkjtpByUk
2. American Kennel Club, Lhasa Apso, accessed 3 May 2022 and available from: https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/lhasa-apso/
3. Hills Pet Nutrition, Lhasa Apso, accessed 3 May 2022 and available from: https://www.hillspet.com.au/dog-care/dog-breeds/lhasa-apso
4. Your Pure Bred Puppy, Lhasa Apso, accessed 3 May 2022 and available from: https://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/lhasaapsos.html