After learning that Lhasa Apso dogs were originally used as Tibetan guard dogs for monks, I have come to wonder about their tolerance for children. Did these dogs ever have any interaction with children? I have done a bit of research in order to find out the truth so that everyone else looking for the same answer can look to a single article.
Are Lhasa Apso’s good with young children? Lhasa Apsos are usually great with young children with early exposure. The biggest factor on a Lhasa Apso being good with children is how they are raised. However, the breed is typically less patient with little-grabbing hands and accidental stepping on paws, so toddlers are a little more tricky.
Toddlers and Young Children
Toddlers don’t always understand how to treat animals. Getting them to learn to be gentle is a task that is absolutely needed, but it is also a process that takes time and patience. Some Lhasa Apso do not respond kindly to this process. Some kids do not enjoy the process either. However, it is completely necessary to do it continuously and persistently in order to have a comfortable and safe space for both your Lhasa Apso and your children.
Even once toddlers begin to grasp the concept of gentle, they are often still clumsy little people. Stepping on tails, tripping over paws, and getting fingers tangled in fur is probably going to be an everyday occurrence. That cannot always be helped. Toddlers are learning new skills each day and accidents are common. This is where tolerance comes into play.
A big part of raising children and Lhasa Apso together is teaching them both to be tolerant of each other. If a Lhasa Apso is introduced to a baby at a young age and they grow up together, the dog is much more likely to tolerate the child and their clumsy ways. A child will also learn how to treat an animal at a young age if taught correctly. The socialization of a Lhasa Apso is usually the first and most important step in teaching the dog to be kid-friendly.
It is best to socialize your Lhasa Apso with children between the ages of 8 and 16 weeks, as this is the age of most development. This does not mean that an adult Lhasa Apso cannot be socialized, but it may be more difficult to change their ways as an adult dog. If your Lhasa Apso is a well-behaved dog, no matter the age, they are more likely to accept a child and their typical actions. If your pup is struggling in the area of good behavior, being nice or gentle with kids can be more unlikely. Enrolling the puppy in obedience school may help the behavior issue and hence, the child socialization.
Another big help in preparing your pup for kids is to tug on their tail or pull on their ears while giving treats. Don’t do this to be abusive or for punishment, but rather give your Lhasa Apso the chance to get used to the feeling. Taking toys or bones from them is another action that a small child might get snapped at or bitten for, so training your Lhasa Apso to ignore this is a good idea as well. It can help to desensitize the dog to clumsy toddlers and their grabby hands. It will also reinforce the patience level if they are praised while the child is doing this, too. However, be sure that when you praise the Lhasa Apso for their patience, teach the child that we should be gentle and kind to our puppy.
It can also be helpful to teach your Lhasa Apso which toys belong to the child and the noises they make or actions they perform. A certain noise might get the pup excited, but that excitement can sometimes get a toddler nipped at. There also might be toys that your pup fears. If there are toys on wheels, make sure your pup understands how it might move or be moved. Preparing for these toys helps to get them ready for a child’s play.
If your Lhasa Apso is slow to accept kids, do not force the dog into a child’s space. While it is important to socialize, pushing the pup to be near kids when they’re scared or uncomfortable can be dangerous. It is often at this point that a Lhasa Apso will growl, snap, or even bite the child. To avoid this issue let the dog set the pace.
See also: HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT LHASA APSO PUPPY FOR YOU
You may even want to provide your dog with a safe space where they can go to escape from the child if they need a break. This space could be a crate or a comfortable place outside. It may even be the whole second floor if your child is unable to climb stairs yet. Providing this space for your Lhasa Apso is a great way to give your pup time to destress without any traumas to the dog or the child.
Giving your dog time to adjust to life with a child might be a cumbersome ordeal, but the safety of all involved is the single most important aspect of bringing a Lhasa Apso into the family. Without safety, it is difficult to provide a loving home. Treating your Lhasa Apso with respect will garner respect for you and your children.
Teaching a Child How to Treat a Lhasa Apso
While there are some actions, such as tripping or accidental fur pulling, that toddlers can’t always help, there are many things that should be taught or taught to avoid. A dog will generally only take so much fur pulling before (at the very least) growling their disapproval of how a toddler is handling them. In order to keep the child and the Lhasa Apso safe, it is best to teach the child the best ways to treat their new puppy and friend.
From early on in life, a child should be shown the proper way to pet a dog. With a smaller dog like a Lhasa Apso, patting rather than petting can often feel like hitting. Additionally, young children love to grab at loose things like long fur or a dangling ID tag from a collar.
When any fur pulling or hitting happens, stop the child immediately and remove them from the dog’s vicinity. Give the Lhasa Apso a treat and then show the child how to pet again. Immediate corrective action for the child and praise of the dog for not reacting negatively will help prevent any incidents in the future.
It can be a huge help if you were to teach the child that most dogs don’t appreciate hugs as kids do. This often makes a Lhasa Apso feel confined and uncomfortable, causing their stress levels to rise and agitation to incur. The best way to show a Lhasa Apso love is with praise and treats.
Allow the child to give treats, but emphasize the importance of not teasing or closing their hand around the treat. Any teasing can cause snapping or biting and will inevitably reverse any progress made with the socialization.
Teaching a child the warning signs of an agitated dog can help to avoid any immediate trouble. If the dog’s tail is not wagging, or if their tail wagging is tense or going in tight circles, they are probably not enjoying the interaction. If they try to move away from the interaction or don’t lean into the touch, the same is true. Baring the teeth, growling, and barking
See also: ARE LHASA APSO’S EASY TO TRAIN
If your child knows these signs by sight, they are likely more prepared to move away and give the dog their much-needed space. This will help to prevent any biting or snapping. They will also know that the action they were performing is not one to be repeated. Most toddlers will understand in time that getting.bit is not something they want to experience.
If the dog seems especially agitated, it may be necessary for the child to stay still after backing away. They should look at the floor and keep their hands still and in a visible position across their body. This will show the dog that they are not a threat. Being sure that your child understands the dangers of an angry dog could save them a severe injury.
If your Lhasa Apso is provoked to the point of snapping or biting, do not resort to striking them as punishment. Doing so could damage any trust developed between you and the dog as well as any progress made between the dog and the child. You may want to remove the dog from the situation and determine if your child will learn to be kind to the Lhasa Apso or if another measure (possible rehoming) is necessary.
A Lhasa Apso that protects itself is still a Lhasa Apso that deserves a lifelong home. It is important to remember this fact if a bite to a child does in fact occur.
Bonding Activities for Lhasa Apso and Children
A Lhasa Apso that has a strong bond with a child is less likely to lose their patience quickly. While children are bonding with the dog it is imperative that they are watched at all times. However, since it is important to socialize a Lhasa Apso and kids, the bonding process is a highly recommended interaction.
In addition to giving treats, a Lhasa Apso and a child can bond with a game of fetch. While monitored, this is a safe game for both dog and child. If your Lhasa Apso has not grasped the “drop it” command or that aspect of the game, it may be best to start out by having the dog bring the toy to the adult. The adult can then give the item to the child, who can throw it. Once the dog learns to drop it, the child can play both roles.
Include your child on your walks. Even having the child in a stroller gives more time for interaction. If your child is a little older, have them hold the leash. Have your child give treats periodically throughout the walk. Ask your child to talk to the dog and offer praise frequently. Having both dog and child there will allow both parties to realize that they are both included.
Another way to have your child bond with the Lhasa Apso is by simply being involved in the training sessions. While most dogs tend to have one “master,” they will often follow the commands of others as well. Giving your child this role allows the dog to see that they should listen to the child as well.
With adult supervision, have your child command the pup to sit and then give the treat when the command is followed. They can even have the pup sit and stay while they feed him or her and allow the dog to eat on the child’s command. Be wary of an excited Lhasa Apso knocking the child down to get to the food, but once fully trained the dog will listen to even the child. This will help the dog to see the child as someone of importance and respect.
Including your child in the grooming process for a Lhasa Apso can be incredibly beneficial, as it is a necessary task that can take a lot of time. A child can easily be involved in the bathing portion by scrubbing the soap into the dog’s fur. They can also help to brush or blow dry with adult assistance. It is not recommended to let a child trim nails or clean the pup’s ears, as those tasks could lead to an injury.
Providing both dog and child positive reinforcement during their bonding activities will encourage that same activity to continue. A good bond between dog and child will last a lifetime for your Lhasa Apso and will guarantee a loyal friend for your child.
Lhasa Apso Dogs are Loyal to Children
Having a Lhasa Apso dog that is loyal to your child is a wonderful way to ensure that they are safe. The Lhasa Apso breed of dogs were originally utilized as guard dogs, meaning that the dogs have always been intended to alert their people to something that they consider suspicious. If there is something at all suspicious near your child, a Lhasa Apso would most definitely alert you to it. This breed can be very protective in regards to those they are loyal to.
If you do not have a home alarm system, your Lhasa Apso will solve that problem! You can trust that any out if the ordinary noises or people will not enter the home without your dog letting you know about it.
A Lhasa Apso could also be a very loyal hearing dog to a deaf child. These types of service dogs are trained to listen for specific noises. They can often alert their owner to sounds such as fire alarms, doorbells, or a telephone. Because of a Lhasa Apso dog’s suspicious nature, they make great hearing dogs for people of all ages. A child that has a Lhasa Apso hearing dog will be well protected and can trust that their dog is alerting them to all important noises.
Having a Lhasa Apso dog that has been socialized with children of all ages is the best way to ensure that they are kid-friendly. Like with many dogs, the kid-friendly portion of the personality comes in part by how the dog was raised and trained. Whether your Lhasa Apso is intended to be a family dog or a service dog, with the proper training they will be a loved companion for years to come.
Related Questions
What are the main personality aspects of a Lhasa Apso?
A Lhasa Apso is generally a stubborn dog that is fearless and lively. The stubbornness requires consistent training while the fearless aspect leads to great guard dogs. Being that they are a lively breed, they also love to play.
Can a Lhasa Apso live peacefully with other animals?
With the right socialization, a Lhasa Apso can live with other animals without issue. However, with little to no socialization, a Lhasa Apso will require some exposure prior to living with other animals.
See also: LHASA APSO VS. MALTESE
Do Lhasa Apso dogs bite?
While it is not typical for a Lhasa Apso to bite, if they are provoked, biting can indeed occur. A bite is usually forewarned with body language or growling and is used as protection.