Making a decision to own a dog is no small feat. Raising the dog is an even testier task. It takes courage, determination, knowledge, and patience. Before getting a Lhasa Apso dog as a pet, you should consider the 25 challenges that come with owning the Lhasa Apso breed. If you are asking yourself whether you are ready to own a Lhasa Apso, then you should really read through this article to help you make the decision.
Lhasa Apso’s are stubborn in nature which most at times frustrate during training. They are not especially commended for families with young ones because of their unpredictable nature, overprotectiveness and not tolerating being teased. Lhasa Apso’s are a high maintenance breed that requires a lot of attention and care. It’s also very expensive to maintain costing around $125 per month, in terms of food, training, shots and supplements.
For Lhasa Apso’s to look fabulous as they do on posters, a lot of grooming is needed. Because they are naturally bred to be watchdogs, they can be openly aggressive when their personal space is intruded. This makes them unsuitable for families with young children.
They are also highly temperamental and cannot be pushed to do anything. This largely depends on their mood. This makes it especially hard to train. Your fabrics, sofas and carpets will also suffer as Lhasa Apso’s shed a lot of fur. This will add to your chores as you will have to use a lint roller to remove the fur.
To add to that, they are especially needy and not ideal for people who leave early and come back late in the day unless you can foot the bill for a shelter or have a trusted colleague to take care of it. Lhasa Apso’s can also trash your house if it is not properly house trained and if left on its own.
Nonetheless, do not let the dog’s appearance fool you. It is a small and very hairy dog. Its fur is long and in most case brushes the ground. It has short legs that are completely covered in fur and are hidden by its thick over layer of fur. It has large oval eyes and a flat mouth. The dog looks like a stuffed animal, with its cute and cuddly appearance. This dog is, however, anything but cute and cuddly.
It comes with its fair share of problems and shortcomings. Here are 25 problems that come with Lhasa apsos and reasons why you should not get one.
Reasons not to get a Lhasa Apso
1.Expensive to maintain – $1,500 per year
The Lhasa apso is a sassy dog which requires a lot of attention. It is prone to allergies and other infections. It requires regular shots and some nutrient supplements. The dog also requires a lot of training, which is mostly a reward-based training.
On average, the dog requires about $125 to maintain every month, in terms of food, training, shots, and supplements. For most of the average people, this is a very expensive dog to keep.
2.Regular grooming
The outward appearance of the dog does not remain as such naturally. The dog needs to be groomed regularly, and this task is not for the faint of heart. It is a slow process as it needs to be done carefully to avoid injury to the dog. As a result of this slowness and care given to the dog, the grooming process takes up a lot of the owner’s time.
If grooming is not done regularly, the dog’s fur becomes tangled and starts to look like a mop. The grooming also has to be deep. If the undercoat is left untouched, it may develop mats over time, which will be difficult to get rid of.
See also: 5 SIMPLE WAYS TO GROOM YOUR LHASA APSO
3.Territorial
The apso is a very territorial dog. It really values its personal space and can be openly aggressive to anyone who invades its territory or privacy. It is naturally bred and equipped to be a watchdog and it does not take lightly to trespassers.
It has a “big dog” personality and tends to feel like the alpha in the home. This can cause problems, especially if you have another pet. Whether it is a dog, cat or another animal, expect regular clashes between them and the Lhasa apso.
4.Highly temperamental
The Lhasa apso is temperamental in that it cannot be pushed into doing anything. Its activities largely depend on its mood. One owner of this breed reported that she started walking her dog because it seemed excited, but halfway into the walk, the dog sat and refused to move. She couldn’t get the dog to move and had to carry it home.
This trait also makes the dog difficult to train. It may flat out refuse the training if it is not rewarded for its obedience.
5.Not ideal for kids and toddlers
If you have a toddler or kids in your home, then this is not the ideal dog for your household. Since the dog is territorial, it does not take lightly to people who invade its privacy, not forgiving innocent and unknowing kids.
It also does not also respond lightly to teasing and physical threats. Therefore, a misplaced kid’s foot or a slight tugging of its ears could lead the dog to bite whoever it perceives as its attacker.
As such, it is not safe to keep this dog around your kids.
6.Sheds fur
For dogs with full-length coats, they brush up against almost everything that the it encounters. This contact and the corresponding friction that comes with it causes the dog to leave bits of fur in random places. It can be quite troublesome to remove the dog’s fur, especially from things with fabrics, like sofas and carpets.
7.Stubborn at times
Lhasas are highly temperamental dogs. Their alpha personalities lead them to be very stubborn when they want to. They are really intelligent and at times do things because they know they annoy you.
If you have a short temper yourself or are not very patient, then getting along with this dog will be a problem for you.
8.Very possessive
The dogs are very possessive to a point where they can get aggressive and violent. This happens especially when it comes to food. They will guard their food and anyone who tries to take away their meal (including owners) will be met with great resistance.
They also aggressively protect their toys and this is another reason they do not get along with kids and toddlers.
9.Can be difficult to train
Apsos respond only to reward-based training. They tend to feel more appreciated and are more willing to work when rewarded for their effort and positive response.
Physical reprimand and threats only cause the dogs to become defensive. Therefore, hitting this dog because it refuses to do what you say is out of the question.
Be warned, the dog will fight back regardless of who you are.
See also: ARE LHASA APSO’S EASY TO TRAIN
10.Does not like being left alone
It is an extremely needy dog. It requires constant attention and becomes frantic when it is set out to be on its own. If you are almost always on the road, then this dog is not for you.
For people who leave for work early and get back late, do not get this dog unless you have a shelter to take it to or someone who you can trust to take care of it. The dog can trash your house if it is not properly house trained and is left on its own.
11.Not cuddly
For people who want a dog to cuddle with, this dog is out of the question. It is a bundle of nervous energy and is on its feet for a greater part of every day. It does not like being held and may get aggressive if it feels trapped in any way.
It also likes its personal space and in most cases, it only allows the owner to pet it or holds it.
12.Does not react well to teasing
This dog has a very short temper and it, therefore, reacts poorly to teasing. Lhasas may get aggressive and attack if they feel frustrated. This is also an additional reason why this dog is not ideal for a household that has kids.
13.Very barky
This dog’s intense bark does not match its body size. In Tibet, the place of origin of the dog, they were used as guard dogs to warn the residents of incoming strangers or intruders who managed to slip past the front-line guards.
Be assured that every stranger that comes close to your home will be met with consistent barking, which may become quite scary and annoying.
14.Prone to eye problems
The dog’s long hair comes with its share of cons. One of them is the grooming and another is the dog’s eye problems. When the hair grows long and touches the eyes, the dog may develop some problems such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy. This condition begins with light symptoms such as the dog developing night blindness and ends with the dog becoming fully or partially blind.
The dog may also develop cherry eye, which is caused by an infection of the third eyelid, which causes a red swelling at the corner of the eye, hence the name “cherry eye”.
15.Picky Eaters
Lhasas are said to be sassy dogs. This title is truly fitting. They are extremely picky about what they eat and this may at times vary according to their mood.
Some Lhasas eat pure dog food and refuse to eat home-made meals and raw foods, whereas others eat pure home-made meals and raw meat and react negatively to dog food. There are also cases where the same dog may want raw meat today and refuse the meat on the next days and instead eat dog food.
16. Dislikes bigger dogs
They are small dogs with a big personality. They like the feeling of being the alpha and they tend to hang around smaller dogs. When confronted by bigger dogs, they may feel small, threatened and undermined. This leads them to develop a disliking for larger dogs and the Lhasas adopt a negative attitude towards any larger breeds.
17.Doesn’t get along with cats
As is the case with most dogs, Lhasas do not get along with any cat. So, if you own a cat or live in an area where many of your neighbors have cats, it is not advisable to keep this dog. It will end up attacking your cat, no matter how long they live under the same roof. It may also end up attacking your neighbors’ cats if it is not kept in check.
18. Very active and can get annoying
As earlier said, Lhasas have a lot of nervous energy. This energy makes them very active dogs and they have the ability to run around your compound or yard for hours on end. If you keep them inside the house, they can get very annoying since the dog will keep zapping around the house, trying to exhaust the energy it has built up. So, if you are a quiet person that likes a serene and quiet environment, it will be difficult for you to keep this dog around.
19.Regular exercise
The dog’s constant energy requires a way to expel it. This means that it will constantly be on its feet and requires walks. If the dog is not walked, then it will have too much energy and this may be a nuisance to you. It will keep running around until it is completely worn out, which may take hours.
This may also prove to be a difficult task for you if you have a very demanding job that requires you to work odd hours or if your place of work has no definite work schedule
20.Ear infections
The dog’s ears are full of hair and though this may make the dogs pretty, it also comes with its problems. This hair is a breeding ground for bacteria and microbes. If left unchecked, the dog may develop serious ear infections which may or may not affect its hearing. Therefore, the dog’s ears need constant attention and cleaning, which may get tiresome for the owner.
21.Not an ideal guide dog
The Lhasa is an excellent watchdog, but a terrible guide dog. Its jumpy personality means it can get distracted very easily. Its temperamental traits also make it a lousy guide because one small, wrong move can set it off and cause it to become very aggressive.
However, it has excellent hearing and this is a useful trait for a watchdog.
22.Allergies
The dog has serious allergy issues. The most common allergy across this breed is a skin condition that causes its skin and undercoat to get very itchy. The dog can lose a lot of hair in distinct patches if the itchiness persists due to the constant scratching. The dogs are also allergic to grains. This also causes itching.
Another is a reaction to cooked meat. It can give the dog severe diarrhea. They can also develop allergies to flea products and some of the medical vaccines that they are constantly given.
Lhasas are also allergic to some leaves and in the fall, they may have a particularly rough time. Fragrances and perfumes also negatively affect these dogs.
23.Can be a problem if not socialized and trained at an early age
Lhasas are highly territorial and protective. They should be trained to interact with other dogs and strangers from a very early age.
Failure to this will cause the dogs to become hostile in social situations. They may also develop hostility towards other dogs and it may cause problems for you when you go outside with it. They are also slow to train and require a lot of patience on the owner’s part, which may get very tiring very fast.
24.Breathing problems
The dog’s physical build can make it hard for the dog to breathe at times. It has a small nose and a flat mouth. As a result of this, if the dog lies in its side for too long or if it lies on its back, it may develop breathing difficulties. It will, therefore, be necessary for you to keep track of where your dog is and what position it is in when it is resting.
See also: DO LHASA APSOS HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS?
25.Prone to Small Dog Syndrome
The Lhasa is a very small dog which believes it is meant to be the alpha. With proper training, the dog will learn to respect you as its owner and not to take on too much in the world. However, if this training is not administered properly, it may cause the dog to develop a condition that is common to small dogs like Lhasas was known as the Small Dog Syndrome.
This happens when the dog is led to believe it is the alpha in every scenario and fails to respect you and other large dogs and people. In such cases, the dog’s life expectancy is greatly lowered as the dog is likely to take on something that it cannot handle.
It is, therefore, necessary to give your dog respect training when it is still young and open-minded. This cannot be done forcefully, and if it is, it may cause the Lhasa to develop an attitude and stick to believing it is the alpha.
See also: 25 Reasons You Should Get a Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa apso is a very beautiful dog but comes with its fair share of problems. This dog is not ideal for people who have troubles with schedules or people with unpredictable jobs. It requires constant attention from you on your part and failure to do so may bring a lot of problems. However, if you feel like these cons do not apply to you in any way, you can go ahead and get yourself one.