I recently seen a beautiful shade of Lhasa Apso, one that I had never seen before, it had a red tinge with beautiful white markings with added white splotches all over body and head. I decided to learn more about the different colors of Lhasa Apso, so I did detailed research to know more about the different colors of the Lhasa Apso.
So, what are the colors of Lhasa Apso? There are 8 standard colors of Lhasa and 5 alternative colors, with a total of 6 marking choices. These colors and markings are the only recognized colors that are allowed by the American kennel club during registration. Each owner is only allowed to register 1 color and 1 marking for their Lhasa Apso.
Lhasa Apso comes in many different beautiful colors, and the colors are classified into standard colors and alternate colors.
- The standard colorsof Lhasa Apso include white, black, black and tan, grizzle and different forms of brown ranging from deep cream to light cream, rich Irish setter red. The grizzle color means the combination of black with various other types of colors. An example of a grizzle is a combination of black and red hairs to get a red grizzle, whereas a mixture of white hairs and black hairs makes a black grizzle. Brown variants are designated as cream, red gold, red and golden.
- The alternate colorsof Lhasa Apso include silver, charcoal, gray, blue and liver. Almost the 5 other Lhasa Apso colors come as diluted or softer standard colors, and the remaining are more-rare varieties of grizzle. Blue which is one the more known alternate colors comes like a washed-out black, while another type of grizzle silver, is a combination of blue hairs or black hairs with cream color hairs. A lot of Lhasa Apso’s that comes in alternate colors have very outstanding and beautiful looks.
Marking is another factor that adds to the color appearance of Lhasa Apso. There are 6 colors marking patterns in a Lhasa Apso, though they differ from one dog to another.
Brindle is a combination of a dark and light group of colors, and it causes a striping effect. Though they don’t appear striking and pronounced like the stripes of a tiger, the alternating color band makes almost the same effect.
The regular colors that are seen in brindle include black and silver, brown and black, and cream and blue. Both white markings and part-color add white splotches all through the body and head of the dog, though in different extents. White is seen on the chest and toes of some Lhasa’s, and some Lhasa’s are drizzled all over their belly, torso, and legs.
Sable and black tipping will make a hair that is light in color to become dark at the end, thereby producing a little-grizzled result, without combining 2 types of colors. The resultant pattern will bring about a ripple in the coat as the dog is walking.
Lhasa Apso comes in so many beautiful amazing colors, but don’t be in a hurry to register your puppy color she has now, because your puppy will change color as it grows older. My guidance is don’t be in a hurry to register the color of your dog, wait till at least 6 to 1 year old to do so.
The Basic Genetic Types of Coat Colors of Lhasa Apso
Some basic genetic types define the various coat color of the Lhasa Apso and understanding how they will help you to understand more on the different Color types of your Lhasa. And these genetic types include:
- Solid black – These types of Lhasa’s don’t have gold, cream, or red hair. Though they can have white markings on some parts of their body. Any Lhasa that has a black color, and any other type of color such as gold hairs, particularly on its feet, face, or underneath its tail, then it is a black and tan, and not genetic black.
- Clear tan – Clear tan such as cream, white, red and gold. These types of Lhasa Apso don’t have dark pigments of any kind on its coat, either liver or black, even when they are born. At maturity, some sables tend to have lost their black hairs.
- Black tan – This type of color is often mistaken to be solid black because it has white markings that are able to cover the tan. In some cases, Markings that are very light cream in color can be taken wrongly as white. If you want to check for black and tan color, then beneath the tail is the right place to check. Though white marking can hardly be found beneath the tail, you can see back and tan there.
- Sable. Sable colors, grey, cream, gold, and red – Sable is the most common color of the Lhasa Apso. It is made up of a combination of dark and light color hairs in different quantities. The different colors of light hair range from white to cream or red, while the dark hair comes in black color, though it can also be seen in grey or liver color, subject to the type genetic modifiers that are present. A Lhasa can be considered as a genetic sable if they are born with cream, red or gold color, or with a degree of overlay or dark tipping.
- Brindle – Brindle colors are red, gold cream. Brindle color puppies are given birth with distinctive uneven stripes of dark colors like black on a more light background, though the stripes pattern tend to become unclear as the dog become older. Brindle colors always become grey when the dog matures.
What Lhasa Apso Colors Can Be Registered?
When buying a puppy Lhasa Apso, it is highly advised that you find out the standard colors the breed can be registered. These are the colors you use when registering your Lhasa. Please note, there are Lhasa colors that you might not see in the breed standard. If you aim to show your Lhasa Apso, or you have a desire to adhere to the standard colors or colors recognized by the Kennel club, take a look below:
Black, black and tan, brindle and white, brindle, brown and white, brown, gold, golden, gold and black, gold and white, gold and brindle, grey, grey and white, cream, cream and white, red, red and gold, honey, honey and white, part-color, sandy, tan and white, tricolor, white, red, red and gold, red and white.
Any Lhasa Apso color that is not in the above list likely means that the color is not recognized and is not the ideal color for the breed standard. Though some other colors of Lhasa Apso do exist, those colors are looked at as undesirable. These colors might have resulted from crossbreeding, or health problems, in those cases, they are better avoided.
At What Stage Do Lhasa Apso Color Change?
Lhasa Apso comes in many colors and patterns, and their coat color changes as they mature. The change usually happens when the puppy is around 6 to 14 months old, in rare cases though Lhasa Apso has been known to change color as late as 16 months.
When most Lhasa puppies are born, they are brown or dark colored, but these dark or brown colors become lighter as the puppy becomes more mature. So, don’t be surprised that the color of your puppy Lhasa will look entirely different when they grow older.
For example, a puppy Lhasa Apso might be white when you first get it, but it can grow older to become an entirely different color such as brown. Because Lhasa Apso’s change color as they get older, it’s hard to know the eventual color your puppy will be.
Or you can buy a newborn puppy at 3 months old with a rich gold color, and the same puppy grows up to become white in color.
So as a new Lhasa Apso owner be ready for a color change, though it takes time, and will not happen drastically, it will happen.
What is The Result of The Undercoat of Lhasa Apso During Color Change?
As an owner of a young Lhasa, it is a beautiful experience to see a Lhasa change color, but you have to be prepared for what will happen while your Lhasa is turning color, because, in this period, you are going to experience matting of the undercoat and have difficulties in grooming your Lhasa.
When the coat color of your Lhasa Apso is changing, you will also notice your puppy’s very soft coat will be replaced with a thick and very harsh coat. That is when the hard work of grooming your Lhasa every day is needed.
Lhasa Apso’s come in so many beautiful and elegant colors. Though there is no fixed timetable when a Lhasa Apso changes color, you should expect your puppy coat color to start turning as they grow older. Coat color changes begin from 6 months and last as late as 16 months old.
Related Questions
What Is the Physical Appearance of Lhasa Apso?
Lhasa Apso is a little, energetic, and cute dog with a height of 10 to 11 inches for males, and slightly less for the females, and they weigh around 13 to 15 pounds, that is about 5.9 to 6.8 kg.
Lhasa Apso’s body length is much longer to its height. Lhasa Apso has a brown and smallish deep-set eye, with pendant looking ears that profoundly covered with hair. Lhasa’s has straight front legs, and their back legs are covered with so much hair.
They have a muzzle that is medium sized long. The feet of Lhasa Apso are covered with so much hair, and they appear like that of a cat. Lhasa’s carry their tail over their back, and the tail is heavily feathered and fixed high.
Some Lhasa’s possess a kink at the end of their tail, while others don’t have a kink. They have a double coat comprising of a rough outer coat, and a soft undercoat that helps to produce and insulate them from cold or any adverse weather condition. The thick double coat of the Lhasa is long, and it runs straight covering the whole body. Lhasa’s come in various beautiful and adorable colors, but a lot of people love the cream, honey and gold tones that seem to be the most popular colors of Lhasa Apso.
Other coat colors of the Lhasa include white, black, slate, different shades of brown, and some come in various outstanding grizzle colors. Though, their color can’t be determined at the puppy stage as Lhasa’s change color as they grow older.
What is the temperament of Lhasa Apso?
Lhasa Apso is unique and unpredictable in their temperament. Lhasa Apso is loving, loyal and adorable companions to have around you, but they can be stubborn and independent-minded, so they will not always conform to the behavior you want them to exhibit at a particular time, or not ready to adhere to your instructions.
Lhasa Apso is not an ideal lap dog, so trying to force him to become one may trigger some aggressive behavior from him. Lhasa Apso is not the best type of submissive dogs, they would prefer to play and do other activities with you.
This breed of dogs has an exquisite and robust personality, and they can be friendly, humorous, energetic, and they are the ideal dogs for people that have matured children. Lhasa Apso may not bond so well with kids, because of their bubbly nature, and Lhasa’s don’t love rough types of play which young kids are prone to.
Children love to handle Lhasa Apso as play toys, roughing up their coat, touching the ears, or even playfully stepping on their paws which will make the dog to react aggressively or even bite.
Another positive character of Lhasa Apso is that they are very agile and alert. Though Lhasa’s appear funny and naughty at times, they very alert and keeping a keen eye on their environment. Though Lhasa’s can be stubborn and aggressive sometimes, training them when they are young to be sociable is the key to getting the best out of your Lhasa Apso.
Is short coat better for Lhasa Apso?
Lhasa Apso possesses a long beautiful coat that flows to the ground, and they need adequate and regular grooming to keep them elegant and healthy. But for some Lhasa owners, the work and time required to maintain the long flowing coat of their Lhasa are just too much.
So, it is advisable for Lhasa Apso owners that don’t use their Lhasa as show dogs to give the dogs a short hairstyle, because Lhasa Apso can easily develop mats if the coat is not groomed regularly by brushing the hairs almost on a daily basis. So, keeping your Lhasa’s hair short will make it easier for you to maintain.
A full coated Lhasa Apso is very elegant and beautiful, and so also can a short coat Lhasa look beautiful if it is well trimmed. You can cut the coat of your Lhasa in many ways to give your dog a desired beautiful look, and at the same time making the maintenance of the coat very easy and convenient for you.
It is good also to employ the service of a professional groomer a few times a year so that you will not go through the stress of taking away mats and tangles from the hair of your dog, a process that can cause your dog pain.
The hair of the Lhasa Apso should be trimmed very close its skin for a puppy cut, you can still leave it a little longer to give your dog a beautiful Lhasa Apso look. Make sure to have your dog’s hair trimmed close on your dog’s body, face, and leg. It is good to leave some inches of hair on your dog’s body to give your puppy an adorable fluffy look.