Life with a Lhasa
The Lhasa Apso is an independent little dog who expects to live life by his own set of rules. As loving a companion as a Lhasa can be he is equally independent and free thinking.
There are few breeds that can equal a Lhasa for devotion and companionship, but few breeds can equal his ability to test the patience and endurance levels of his owner. Centuries of natural selection in Tibet have created a dog who's unique combination of character traits makes him fiercely devoted to his human owners and at the same time stubbornly independent.
You'll find a Lhasa to be happy and confident most of the time. To those he knows and loves he can be the riotous clown or an extremely sensitive and intuitive friend. But, at the same time he is an ever vigilant sentry and guardian of his home and family.
Frequently called a companion dog the Lhasa lives to be near you. He thrives on your attention and companionship. This little dog has empathic abilities that are a never ending source of comfort and sometimes utter amazement. The Lhasa's semi domestic history has also endowed him with intelligence beyond the norm and creative problem solving skills to match.
Personality's vary from dog to dog but some common threads can be found. First, they have a need for human companionship and will go to great lengths to get the attention they feel they deserve.
They are highly possessive of their belongings, toys, create, food, home and yes, you their human too. From a Lhasa's perspective you are lucky to be owned by him!
Life with a Lhasa can be entertaining and heartwarming, but as an owner always remember behind those dark brown eyes and happy smile the Lhasa always has his interests first and foremost in his mind and, regardless of what he is doing in life that motivation will be behind EVERYTHING, good or bad he does.
Most Lhasa's will view strangers and things out of the ordinary as suspicious until proven otherwise. By nature a Lhasa will be standoffish to strangers and trying to force him to accept someone as a friend will most usually have the opposite effect. It is typical for a Lhasa to sit back and observe a new person for a period of time. Only when he has determined that the stranger is not a threat will he relax and in some cases approach. Many Lhasa's will remain at a distance for quite sometime and only when "properly introduced" allow a stranger the honor of knowing them. Anyone with a hostile or deceitful intent will NEVER win the trust of a Lhasa Apso.
Lhasa's were self-reliant in their homeland for centuries and that trait translates into a dog who has a mind of his own and they often will refuse to do what they are told. "What's in it for me?" may be an attitude the Lhasa owner will often see on the face of his canine companion.
One of the most endearing and special traits of the Lhasa is his ability to read emotion. It seems as if they are endowed with the ability to read your heart and without fail react to that emotion in their own personal way. This uncanny ability to read emotion almost before it's displayed makes him a special friend and companion.
For example our boy had spent his first year in the company of an old yellow lab who lived next door. They shared many afternoons together with the gentle lab standing in as "daddy" dog for my pup. One morning he was intent on going to the back gate and demanded to be let through. He insisted, and when I opened the gate discovered that the lab was in his final moments of life on their back deck. B.J. sat with him and his owner through those last few moments and when it was over stood up and kissed her on the cheek, then nuzzled his old friend one last time. It was such a moving experience I was brought to tears by the understanding of grief he displayed to both human and beast.
Lhasa's are great vocalists as well. They will sound the alarm whenever they hear, see, or smell something out of the ordinary. However,some will bark to draw attention to the things he considers to be important such as a dropped toy, an empty food bowl or the lack of attention by his human. This is natural for him and part of his unique character. You should account for his vocal nature when considering him as a companion.
Be aware this is a breed with a wicked, mischievous sense of humor. Your Lhasa companion will spend hours thinking up games to play often at your expense. If you love the Lhasa smile then you won't mind when it's directed at you.
In conclusion living with a Lhasa can be a wonderful, life enriching experience. This is a breed with a heart that exceeds his small size. A sense of humor that can carry you both through the toughest times and an endearing emotional connection that will enrich your life for many years
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