I am considering buying a Lhasa Apso, what is your experience with the breed?

Question

We have been researching the breed for a few months now and think that a Lhasa is a perfect match for us. I plan to keep the dog cut in the "teddy bear" fashion rather than allow for the long mane. And I am a stay at home mom so s/he should get pleanty of attention, my only concern is that I have a 8 month old. If I get a puppy they should learn to adapt to each other pretty well, right?

Answer 1

I have a Lhasa Apso, Poodle mix. He doesn't shead, that is the poodle in him, not sure about Apsos if they shead. He poddy trained very well and gets along great with other dogs and people. He is very spoiled so... But alot of the poddy training, getting along stuff might be poodle. They are great though! Hope I've helped.

          P.S.  Maybe you will consider a Lhasa-Poo!!!!

Answer 2

it depends how they are introduced but they are normally really sweet dogs. The only thing is they are VERY VERY hard to potty train. My aunt has one and took it to training classes and worked with it non-stop but it still pee's EVERYWHERE. kinda groosss lol

Answer 3

Yes, they can adapt, but it will be dependant on you.  You'll have to supervise each and every encounter between the two of them.  You'll also have to teach your baby to respect the dog, and the dog to respect the child.  Lhasas are known to be nippy and can bite if pushed.  

Lhasas can be aggressive and territorial, so proper training, socialization and temperament are very important.  Will 1-2 times a week training classes be a problem for you?

They are also big on their families.  Once your child is in school, will you be returning to work?  How bout when the child starts t-ball, you have another child, and you are very busy.  Will the dog be pushed out or forgotten about?

http://www.lhasaapso.org/ for a breeder referral

http://www.petfinder.com for rescue

http://www.pbrc.net/breeding3.html to learn about good vs. bad breeders

Added:  Lhasa/poodle mixes can be great if found at a shelter.  Recommending one as a "breed" is ridiculous.

Added II:

"And naturally I would NEVER leave my child and ANY dog alone until I was positive they had adapted to each other entirely"

But here's the thing, they should NEVER be left alone together without supervision.  Especially with a known nippy breed.  You never know what can accidentally happen when you arent looking.  It's not just a matter of adapting.  This thought process is going to leave a big opportunity for danger.

Answer 4

You have picked the perfect breed to have with small children and babies.  I am a foster care and have fostered over 40 children. My Lhasa Apso Suzie has adapted to every child of any age that has came to stay.  Keeping their hair cut is best to prevent knotting, however, too short and you have a rat on a lead lol.  Hope this is a help tp you.  

Answer 5

no experience at all

Answer 6

I have never owned one but I have groomed many of them.  They tend to be a bit snippy but not all of them.  They have a coat that needs constant attention.  They need to be brushed & brushed & brushed to keep the mats at bay.  Or clipped short & kept that way.  It just depends on how much attention you are will to put forth with the brushing.  They are beautiful with a full coat but it is very time consuming to keep the mats from forming.

The 18 month old will harm the pup without even knowing what he/she is doing.  & due to some of them being a bit snippy the child may get bit before you can teach the child how to treat the dog & vise versa.  The pup will be very small & easily hurt by the child.  Grabbing a dog like they would a stuffed toy could cause a bite.  You should not leave them unattended while together.

You will be teaching each one of them the things you want them to learn.

Answer 7

My family had a Lhasa Apso growing up and he was a great dog!  He was fine with us kids and we adopted the dog when he was a couple years old from a local animal shelter.  We lived on a farm growing up and the dog was an outside dog.  However, in the winter he stayed in the heated mud room area of our garage and he never had an accident in there and we never even worked with him to potty train him, it was like he just knew not to use that area as a bathroom...  I don't really know the background of where he came from, maybe he was already potty trained, or maybe he was just smart?

Answer 8

Almost any dog can be trained from a puppy to be a good dog and get along with children.

However, Lhasa Apso's are among the snappiest breeds to walk into a grooming shop.  When a new one comes in, we all cringe.  I don't recommend one unless you're an experienced trainer, and I don't think having it around your baby is wise.  They're just not inclined to be good with children, and they certainly don't put up with any mishandling!!  Ever try to clip one's nails?

I would recommend researching Shih Tzu's instead.  They are very similar in appearance, but tend to be a little nicer.  A Shih Tzu will be a little more patient with your young one.  But make sure to walk it daily, or its exuberance will get the better of it.  I've children scratched very severely by a well-meaning, but energetic dog.