Where the Lhasa Apso came from
The Lhasa Apso comes from Tibet and is named after Lhasa, the capital. The breed is often described as about a thousand years old and as a sentinel that guarded palaces and monasteries. The exact start is not well documented.
The dogs were kept indoors as alert watchdogs. They are said to bark at strangers while larger mastiffs guarded outside. The meaning of the word Apso is debated.
Tibetan dogs reached Britain in the early 1900s with military men returning from the Indian subcontinent. In 1933, one common account says the 13th Dalai Lama gave a pair to the American C. Suydam Cutting. The AKC recognized the breed in 1935.
- 1933 One account says the first pair arrives in the United States as a gift from the 13th Dalai Lama to C. Suydam Cutting
- 1935 AKC recognizes the Lhasa Apso
- 1959 AKC moves the breed to the Non-Sporting Group
- 1960 The FCI accepts the breed
The job a Lhasa Apso was bred for
Lhasas were indoor sentinels. They listened for strangers and sounded the alarm. That is why many bark at every sound, guard their space and stay wary of visitors, even though they are small.
What you may see at home
Barks at sounds, wary of strangers, independent.
Give them: Quiet cue practice, short nose games, and handling practice.
Sports that fit a Lhasa Apso
- Rally. Short, fun obedience work builds focus
- Scent work. A good, calm job for a watchful nose
- Trick dog. Small, sturdy and able to learn with food
- Obedience. Independent but can do well with patient handlers
Training tips for a Lhasa Apso
- Teach a quiet cue and reward silence, since barking is part of the breed's job.
- Introduce visitors in small steps and pay for calm greetings.
- Practice grooming and handling daily from puppyhood, and keep sessions short.
- Be patient. Lhasas are independent, so use tasty rewards and keep things fun.
Body and health
The long coat needs steady grooming, and many owners keep it in a short clip. Watch the eyes, skin and teeth, and keep a healthy weight.
Fun fact. The Lhasa Apso was first accepted by the AKC in 1935, in the Terrier Group, before moving to the Non-Sporting Group in 1959.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Lhasa Apso is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Free tools for your dog
- Breed drive calculatorMixed breed? Add the other breeds and see the drives your dog was bred with.
- Dog breed quizTen photos, four names each. The same quiz our trainers take.
- Dog drive testAnswer everyday moments and find the job your dog runs on.
Looking for a different breed? See what 137 breeds were bred to do, and download any of their guides.