When I decided to have my first dog, I always had in mind a small dog but with a significant presence as the Lhasa Apso, also referred to as the “Bearded Lion Dog.” However, while inquiring about this breed, I realized that some call it Lhasa Apso Terrier or even Tibetan Terrier. Then, the question arose, and I decided to investigate what is the origin of these dogs…
So, is Lhasa Apso a Terrier? The Lhasa Apso is not technically a Terrier breed and is currently classified within the Non-Sporting Group according to The American Kennel Club (AKC) and most canine clubs. Although around the 1850s the Kennel Club of England members considered that all small dogs were Terriers and classified them as such.
But … What are the specific characteristics of the Terriers? And what makes the Lhasa Apso a unique breed of the Non-Sporting Group? Actually, there are many great and exciting things about the Lhasa and their closest relatives. The story of why the Lhasa was raised and their special relationship with Tibetan mythology make the Lhasa a wonderful breed.
The Terriers Vs. The Lhasa Apso
The word Terrier comes from the Latin terra and refers to a group of dog breeds that hunt on earth, a function that was never performed by the Tibetan Terrier or Lhasa Apso. The Lhasa was not made for work, but for companionship and have great spiritual significance in their homeland.
The Terrier breed group, although quite heterogeneous and extensive, is composed mostly of small dogs that were developed and were bred mainly in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland for hunting and/or control of the vermin. They were used to fight rats, rabbits, and foxes, both above and below the ground (burrows). The largest terriers were used to hunt badgers and to face beavers and otters in deep water.
While the Lhasa Apso is a unique and homogeneous breed of dogs. Its origin goes back to the 800 years A.C. in the Tibet Plateau. The dogs of this breed were bred for centuries to be companions and guardians in isolated Tibetan monasteries. These small dogs were kept in the monasteries to fulfill an alarm function. Typically the Lhasas were the guardian couple of the vast Tibetan Mastiff who was held by a leash on the outskirts of the monastery. Then, when the little Bearded Lion Dog barked, it was the warning signal to the monks that intruders or uninvited people had managed to dodge the vast Mastiffs.
The Lhasa Apso breed and The Non-Sporting Group
As mentioned before, this breed originated in the high plateau of Tibet. Often, when we hear the phrase “mountain dog,” our thoughts are naturally directed to big dogs like Saint Bernards, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and other large created to guard flocks and rescue luckless travelers amid the world’s great mountains. Dogs reared in the high mountains can be of all sizes. So the small but robust Lhasa Apso, and his equally small cousin, the Tibetan Spaniel, could be our first reference when thinking of mountain dogs.
Therefore, specific characteristics typical of the Lhasa Apso breed evolved as a result of the geographical and climatic environment characteristic of high mountains, specifically of a plateau that is 13,000 feet above sea level. Developed in a dry and windy climate, dusty terrain, hot summer and a long cold winter of the Himalayas, the Lhasa has a hair that forms a long coat that hangs down to the floor, separated in the middle and covering each side of the body. They have a particular fall off the eye, musculature and robust body structure and great general resistance and longevity of the breed as well as its tail curls over the back typical of Tibetan breeds.
The complete image is unmistakable of an Asian dog: with aristocratic bearing, elegant, exotic, and serenely well balanced. According to the AKC standards, the breed has the following measurements: Height: 10-11 inches (male) with a slightly smaller (female); weight: 12-18 pounds and Life Expectancy: 12-15 years.
On the other hand, DNA analysis dating back to the Lhasa Apso is among the 14 oldest breeds in the world and more related to the ancestral wolf. What verifies that lap dogs and companion dogs are among the first dogs bred by humans.
That is why, in its beginnings in the Western world the Lhasa Apso was classified as the Terrier because of its small size, in 1959 the AKC transferred the breed to the Non-Sporting Group.
This is a very diverse group of breeds with different sizes, fur, personalities, and general appearance. Coming from a diversity of backgrounds, it makes it difficult to generalize about this group of dogs, but in general, they are good watchdogs and house dogs. But the Lhasa with its great antiquity and its mythological symbolism, like its cousins the Tibetan Terrier, makes them unique to the group.
The Lhasa And their closest relatives
Throughout the post, some close cousins of the Lhasa Apso have been named. And it happens that for centuries Tibetans began to separate large dogs from small dogs which led to the existence of two types of dogs: 1) “The Great Tibetan Dog” whose direct descendant is The Tibetan Mastiff. And the other Tibetan dog that was smaller and gave rise to the Lhasa Apso, its larger relative The Tibetan Terrier and contributed to the formation of the Tibetan Spaniel.
When these breeds began to arrive in the western world, there was considerable confusion between them due to their similar appearance. However, the three breeds are clearly differentiable by size as per the length, thickness, and color of the hair. The smallest is the Lhasa Apso and the Tibetan Spaniel while the cousin the Tibetan Terrier has longer legs and larger.
All three share the fact of being breeds raised for the companionship, but the Tibetan Terrier had another use; the use of his abundant hair to elaborate clothes, reason why his coat was cut partially in the months of summer. Also, they have relevance in the mythological Tibetan and have been highly esteemed dogs for monks and Lamas. Although at present these breeds are raised mainly as pets.
See also : LHASA APSO VS. MALTESE
Meaning of Terrier & Lhasa Apso
The Terrier word does not have a unique meaning beyond a reference to hunting on the land, and when grouping a large number of breeds, you can not generalize about these dogs. However, it is possible that some of the members of this group represent or symbolize a hierarchical, spiritual or mythological entity in any of their countries of origin.
On the contrary, the Lhasa, who come from a place full of spirituality and were raised to be companions of the Dalai Lama, keep great spiritual and mythological symbolism.
In ancient folklore, the protector of Tibet and Lord Buddha is the snow lion, a mythical beast that lives in the Himalayas. The snow lion is still the national symbol of Tibet and is represented on its flag. But people think that if the lion remains in the mountains, it is a snow lion but if it goes down into the valleys, it becomes a dog: a Lhasa Apso. The original name of the Lhasa is Apsok Seng-Kyi, which translates freely as the “Bearded Lion Dog.” Therefore this breed represented a living incarnation of the Snow Lion and became the favorite guard dog of the Tibetan nobles and spiritual leaders, especially near the sacred city.
It was also believed that the souls of the deceased lamas could enter the bodies of the Lhasa Apso while awaiting rebirth in a new body. So they represented an amulet of good luck and could not be sold. The only way a person could get one was as a good omen gift. These dogs were also given as an offering and company to have a good trip from Tibet to China since the caravan trips were very long and lasted eight to ten months.
How many types of Terrier are there?
During the eighteenth century in England, there were only two types of terrier: those with long legs and those with short legs. At present, terriers are often classified informally by size or function: Working Terriers, Fell Terrier, Miniature Terrier, Hunting Terrier, and Bull Terrier.
What is the ideal environment to have a Lhasa Apso?
Lhasa Apso dogs are of excellent temperament, are confident, smart and funny. They adapt very well to small spaces because of their size, and it is not a breed that demands much exercising. This is why it is considered an ideal breed for family environments and as companion dogs for what they were raised.
What are the primary caregivers of the Lhasa Apso?
Lhasa Apso’s have a long and conspicuous coat so you will need to play a lot of grooming attention to maintain proper coat care.
See Also: LHASA APSO GROOMING TOOLS