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Appearance
The maximum height for these dogs at maturity should be no more than 11.5 inches at the shoulder with females being slightly smaller. Lhasas should have dark brown eyes with black pigmentation on eye rims and a black nose. They have a hard straight outer coat with a soft undercoat (depending upon weather conditions) which comes in a variety of different colors. The tail should curl up over the back. In appearance, the Lhasa Apso is very similar to the Shih Tzu breed but the face of a Lhasa Apso is not as flat as that of the Shih Tzu. It is believed that the Chinese crossed the Lhasa Apso with the Pekinese which resulted in the Shih Tzu with its flatter face. These dogs do not shed, are very hardy and do not mind heat or cold weather. Their heavy coats can be explained by the geographical features of their home country of Tibet where the temperature frequently drops below freezing, thus making it hard for a dog to survive without sufficient insulation. If it is maintained, they will grow beautiful long hair that should be brushed on a regular basis. Most Lhasas love their bath and it is a rare Lhasa that does not enjoy playing in water. |