
Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso is a long-coated, sturdy little dog. They are slightly longer than they are tall. They come in a variety of colours: golden, sandy, honey, dark grizzle, slate, smoke, parti-colour, black, white or brown.








The Lhasa Apso breed is classed as brachycephalic; problems associated with the condition include;
- Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome: a condition in brachycephalic breeds (those with a short nose and squashed face) where breathing is obstructed and can lead to reduced ability to exercise, or even severe respiratory distress.
- Skin inflammation/infection: brachycephalic breeds have a short nose and a normal amount of facial tissue. This means there is often excess skin around their face which leads to skin folds. The skin inside these folds can become sore and infections are prone to develop.
- Eye ulcers: ulcers are painful erosions on the surface of the eye. They are more common in brachycephalic breeds due to their conformation, as their eyes tend to be more bulbous.
They can also suffer from:
- Patellar luxation
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy which is an inherited disorder where part of the eye degenerates and wastes away which can result in blindness.
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye) which is a painful condition where the tear gland stops working properly.
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
- Generalised progressive retinal atrophy DNA test which test whether or not a dog has the potential to be affected by this condition.
- Eye screening scheme
- Intervertebral disc disease¹ a condition where there us abnormality in the discs which act to cushion the bones in the spine.
- Hydrocephalus² which is a condition where fluid builds up around the brain and can cause damage.
¹B. A. Brisson, 'Intervertebral disc disease in dogs', 2010, Veterinary clinics: small animal practice
²C. M. Etsey, 'Congenital hydrocephalus', 2016, Veterinary clinics: small animal practice
The Lhasa Apso is quite an independent dog with a dignity and self-confidence that is entirely becoming in such a venerated breed. They are devoted and affectionate to their owners but often can be aloof or wary of strangers. With patience and sensitivity, they can be trained to quite a high standard - although may look on training as being entirely beneath them unless it is fun and enjoyable. They are quite sensitive and so do not respond well to raised voices, and do not enjoy being left on their own.
There are legends and myths about this breed – the most romantic involving the flying, white-headed, bone-eating goddess Sako. She nested up in the mountains and each year gave birth to two young – one with wings and one without. The wingless one was an Apso but every year because it couldn’t fly, it fell to its death. After several years, the heartbroken Sako place her wingless baby on her back and flew him to the ground – and so the Apso landed in Tibet.