Is he a Lhasa Apso? (pic included)?

Question

I have a 4 1/2 year old Lhasa Apso, but I didn't get him from a breeder, I bought him from a pet shop which I normally would NOT do but he was SO cute and I've always had Lhasas and LOVE them! He is AKC registered and I have his 5-year pedigree, but some people look at him and don't think he is a purebred Lhasa! It's mainly due to his size (he's 27 lbs, and not overweight, he's just that big!) and he has a somewhat longer nose than some Lhasas.

I've read somewhere that he's a "true" Lhasa and his lineage was never crossed with s**+ Tzu and that's why he looks this way but I am just curious...anyone else have a purebred Lhasa Apso that looks like him? :-) Here's his pic: http://files.dogster.com/pix/dogs/66/130766/130766_1111588361.jpg

Answer 1

You cant always tell by looks alone. There can be alot of variation within a breed. If you have no papers you will never know.

As long as you love him doesnt matter if he is half racoon really!

Answer 2

he sure looks lhapso even though he is a little bigger. my poochi is suppose to be poodle and chih but he weighs 17 lbs and has black brush wire hair and looks like a s**+ tzu/lapso so u never know what is in their back grounds.we love them anyways.

Answer 3

He looks like Shih/Lhasa mix or a very bad representation of a Lhasa Apso

Coming from a Puppy Mill, there is no way to tell.

That "registration" pet stores give is about as telling as c**p.

Answer 4

shih tzu lhasa apso mix

Answer 5

He looks like Indian Lhasa Apso. I have seen them here in India. Same dog appearance.  

Answer 6

He looks half lhasa apso and half something else

Answer 7

sweetie your doggie is a lhasa don't listen to what other ppl say i had a lhasa and i know what they look like plus my mother owned a dog grooming salon when i was a little girl i grew up around dogs my whole life  i have had so many different breeds and his weight doesn't make him a mutt either people don't know what they are talking about        by the way you dog is  very cute =)

Answer 8

Looks like a lhasa to me.

Size isn't really a true indicator of breed, rather of quality. Those that don't meet the standard are still purebred, they just weren't bred from dogs that should have been bred which is often the case with petstore/puppymill pups.

Answer 9

he looks like an apso to me although it is really difficult to differentiate with a shih tzu. I'd say that he quite big for an apso the average weight being upto about 18lb's.  If his AKC paperworks says he's a purebred then I would be happy with that.  

regardless of his breed he is very handsome and clearly much loved so what does it matter.