Puppies & Dogs

All dogs have a natural instinct to keep their fur clean, rolling around on their backs, licking or chewing at matted hair, etc., etc. However, for the best possible cleaning, your Lhasa Apso will need some additional human assistance.

When you perform regular grooming for your dog, you help them stay clean and assist them in staying healthy. Ignoring matted hair in the coat can be a breeding ground for yeast infections, and neglected teeth can cause periodontal diseases; dirty ears can lead to a build up of wax that can keep dirt trapped and lead to ear infections due to the build-up of bacteria.

Regular grooming is a serious commitment and it should be approached as being an enjoyable, bonding experience for you and your dog. It can and will be, if you keep the follow information in mind:

If you do not have the amount of time needed to completely groom your Lhasa Aspo, do not feel bad, simply take them to a professional dog groomer.

If you intend on doing the grooming yourself, establish a ritual and schedule, and if the animal is young, make sure you do everything you can to relax the dog. Begin by keeping the initial sessions short and easy, approximately 5-10 minutes is sufficient. Gradually increase the duration of each session so that your dog can become accustomed to being handled and touched. Then gently extend the areas you groom, gradually moving into the sensitive areas such as the ears, feet, stomach and around the mouth and eyes.

Brushing is important because the dogs coat can be quite long. It is best to begin brushing the undercoat first and work towards the top. Train the dog to lay on its side and this will allow grooming to be carried out as easily as possible. Use a warm anti-static solution, a detangler or crème rinse with water and spray on the area before you start to groom. Begin with the tail, proceed to the back legs and then the front, ending with the stomach area.

Turn the dog over and repeat these steps again. Finish up the grooming session with the neck, face, ears and top of the head. Once you have concluded the brushing session, you can bathe the dog. First completely wet the dog down and apply shampoo in a downward motion, never in circles, because it may result in tangling of the coat.

When you are finished shampooing, remove the extra water and squeeze and press the coat between towels, never using a rubbing motion. Once the extra water has been removed, end the session by completely drying the dog by hand or using a hair dryer set at a warm temperature.

Other areas that require extra attention would be the toenails, ears, teeth and gums. These areas are a bit tricky and require you and the dog to remain calm. Use only specially designed dog nail clippers and clip off only the very tips of the nail and be careful to avoid any veins. Brush the dogs teeth and gums using specially designed dog toothpaste. Use a Q-tip to clean the inner flap of the ear and never insert it into the ear canal. If you are not confident enough to do this part of grooming, or you do not have the time, use the services of a professional dog groomer.

This article was written by John Jackson and has been contributed by http://www.greatdogsite.com. For more information on the Lhasa Apso, please visit our page http://www.greatdogsite.com/breeds/details/Lhasa_Apso/.

Lhasa Apso Puppies (Maverick, Spot, Senator, & Prince)

“Help,” came the plea, “my Lhasa came out of his bath matted and it took me hours to untangle his coat. What happened? Did I do something wrong?”

Who would have thought that a simple, ordinary activity such as giving a dog a bath could result in a matted mess? However, it could easily happen if you aren’t careful before, during, and after the bath. I know because it happened to me “way back when I was ‘just learning’.” My poor little Lhasa had to be clipped down.

I am a firm believer in “Better Safe than Sorry” and advocate brushing a Lhasa before bathing him to remove any mats or tangles that might get worse when they are wet. Not everyone agrees with this approach. I have friends who just bathe their Lhasas and worry about getting the mats and tangles out when the coat is wet. This works unless the coat has a lot of “hidden” mats or unless there are some tight mats. Then you have a disaster on your hands.

Before his bath, lay your Lhasa on his side and brush his coat in layers. This technique makes finding and removing any mats or tangles much easier. If your Lhasa happens to be going through one of those stages where the top coat looks mat-free but the undercoat is full of mats and tangles, brushing before bathing can save you from a disaster.

There’s also a technique to bathing a Lhasa that is easy and does not cause the coat to tangle. After you’ve wet the Lhasa completely, apply the shampoo by squeezing it through the coat in a downward motion. Do not massage it into the coat in a circular motion as you might do when you wash your own hair. Applying shampoo in a circular motion only tends to tangle the coat. Continue working the shampoo through the coat using the downward motion. You’ll still get a nice sudsy lather.

When the bath is finished and all the shampoo and conditioners have been thoroughly rinsed from the Lhasa’s coat, squeeze all the excess water from the ears, legs, and tail before removing the dog from the tub. When towel drying your Lhasa, squeeze or blot the coat with the towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Don’t rub the coat with the towel.

Finally, dry your Lhasa with a blow dryer. Give him a chance to shake water out of his coat, but don’t let him air dry for more than a few minutes unless you confine him. Most dogs love nothing more than to rub themselves on rugs, carpeting or toweling when they are turned loose after a bath. They may have a great time, but they manage to rub in some tangles and lose coat in the process.

Use a blow dryer to dry your Lhasa, but don’t just stick him in a cage with a dryer blowing on him. Many times some coats get kinky, the force of the air from the dryer whips tangles into the coat, or the entire coat doesn’t dry (especially those hard-to-reach, mat-attracting places like the “arm pits” and behind the ears).

Instead, with the blow dryer set at a comfortable temperature and speed, lay the dog on his side while you brush his coat in layers as they dry. Be sure to completely dry the insides of the legs and behind the ears.

When the dog is dry, put in his part, secure his eyefall so it’s out of his eyes, and tell him he’s gorgeous!

That’s all there is to it!  

Please note: Permission to reproduce and/or circulate information in this article is granted. However, the article must be disseminated in its entirety and credit must be given to Joyce Johanson, Joyslyn’s Lhasa Apsos. Thanks!

The Lhasa Apso is a small dog but exudes an air of dignity and comedy. He is a friendly and devoted companion.

These dogs have a dark beard and mustache, medium-length muzzle, small dark and deep-set eyes with long eyelashes, heavy feathered ears, black nose and a tail that curls over his back. He carries himself with dignity.

Their durable coat is long, straight and heavy which drapes to the floor covering their eyes. It’s not a silky or soft coat. This coat serves as insulation barrier to cool in the summer and warm in winter. The most popular colors are: honey, cream and gold. It also comes in brown, slate, smoke and multicolored of brown and white and white and black.

Lhasa Apso dogs weight between 12 – 15 pounds, are 10 – 11 inches tall and live to be around 15 years.

The Lhasa Apso’s breed goes back to 800 B.C. Their home is the land of Tibet. They are called the “Bark Lion Sentinel Dog” there. For two thousand years this breed was only bred in Tibet by holy men and nobles. They were used as watchdogs in temples and monasteries. They were finally spread to other parts of the world because Dalai Lama, Tibet’s ruler presented them to foreign diplomats. They were introduced in the U.S. in the 1930’s.

These dogs have acute hearing and can tell if a friend or stranger is coming. Therefore, they make great watchdogs and their bark makes one think he is a big dog!

CHARACTERTICS AND TEMPERAMENT

• Intelligent

• Spirited

• Lively

• Outgoing

• Assertive nature

• Affectionate

• Friendly

Lhasa Apso’s can be very possessive, independent and a bossy little dog but has great affection for his master. He does not tolerate rough or badly behaved children. He can be good with children if socialized with them but better if just an adult home or one with older children.

These dogs need to be socialized and obedience trained early. If not they may become aggressive or overly shy toward strangers as they are naturally suspicious of strangers. They need to be taught properly with patience, consistency and kindness. Since they can be stubborn, training requires positive reinforcement and they respond well to praise and rewards. These dogs need a family willing to do these things and you will have a well-adjusted dog.

Lhasa Apso’s thrive on attention and do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. They want to be the only pet but if properly socialized early with other pets get along good with them. They are considered to be one of the strongest-minded and strongest-willed of the small dog breeds.

They are considered a hardy dog but like all breeds are prone to certain diseases. They are: skin problems, kidney problems and eye problems.

These dogs need considerable grooming to maintain their luxuriant coats. They need to be brushed once a day a to prevent matting and knots from forming. They also need to have their eyes and ears cleaned. Use dry shampoo when needed. They are considered an average shedder.

Lhasa Apso’s make excellent apartment dogs but do like daily walks and like to play indoor games.

When purchasing a dog it is best to buy from a responsible breeder to ensure you are getting a healthy dog. Ask for a referral from the American Kennel Club or your vet.