The Lhasa Poo is one of those crossbreeds or designer dog types that is popular among dog lovers and families. People nowadays like to have crossbreeds as a pet since they combine the best of both dog types.
So what is a Lhasapoo dog and why is it a suitable pet for you and your family? In this article, you learn about the origins, personality, physical health and other relevant information about the Lhasa Apso Poodle mix breed.
What is a Lhasa Poo?
The Lhasa Poo is a mix of the Lhasa Apso and Poodle dog breeds. Unlike the dog’s antecedents, Lhasa Poos are a more recent (about 10 or 20 years old) breed. It was during the 1990s that the Lhasa Poos and other Poodle Mixes became popular. However, the breed’s ancestors do have a lot of history behind their bloodlines.
The Lhasa Apso is from Tibet, and it has an incredibly old pedigree. The dog’s name translates as “Bearded Lion Dog,” and it quite an accurate name for such an animal. The nobles of Tibet and the Buddhist monks place a high value on the breed since it serves as a sentinel that guards the household of the Tibetan nobility and the monasteries of the Buddhist monks.
The dog’s sharp bark and keen hearing make them excellent burglar alarms against intruders.
The Buddhist monks believe that their deceased lamas enter a Lhasa Apso’s body to await their time of incarnation. Though the Lhasa Apso was full-grown is a precious animal, the Tibetan nobility and Buddhist monks do not sell the dog. To own a Lhasa Apso, one must be given it as a gift.
The Poodle has its roots in Germany, though its ancestor might have originally come from France. The canine serves its masters as a working and hunting dog. As a companion of duck hunters, its task is to retrieve the duck and bring it to its master. Poodles also excel in physical activities like agility and exercise training.
Lhasapoo dog Mix Appearance
As a mixed dog breed, the Lhasa Apso Poodle mix’s appearance depends on how much of their parents’ appearance they got. The dog’s coat may be long and straight like a Lhasa Apso, or it can be thick and curly like the Poodle. The kind of coat that the dog possesses might affect how you groom it.
Coats and Colors
- White
- Black
- Brown
- Cream
- Apricot
- Tan
The coat has a single color or a combination of any of the colors above.
A full-grown lhasapoodle is small in size and has the following statistics below:
- Height: 9 to 13 inches
- Weight: 10 to 20 lbs
- Lifespan: 10 to 15 years
Lhasa Poo Temperament
One of the things you will love about the Lhasa Poo is its temperament, which is all-loving, attention-getter, protective, affectionate and adorable. The dog is also smart and will know the difference between its family or friends and strangers. The canine seems to be the stereotype “small, yappy dog,” but be rest assured that its barking has a purpose. Due to its Lhasa Apso temperament, the Lhasapoo dog will bark at unfamiliar people to protect its home.
Due to the canine’s nature, it likes to play with children and adults and other dogs provided that the lhasapoodle pup has been socialized. Since the animal-like to interact a lot, leaving it alone for long periods of time is not a good thing. But once you’re home, the Lhaso poodle will sit on your lap or beside you.
Health Issue
As a mixed breed, the Lhasa Poo is subject to various physical issues. As an owner of a lhasapoodle, it’s your responsibility and right to know the various health issues that will show up. Here in the list are four examples of health problems affecting the dog:
- Addison’s Disease – This is a condition that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones (glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids) or produce too much of them for the canine’s body system. If not addressed in time, Addison’s Disease can have severe consequences on the body. Signs of Addison’s Disease or hypoadrenocorticism are weight loss.
- Bloat or Stomach Dilatation – Bloat is a disease in dogs that happen when the animal’s stomach dilates itself and twists or rotates on its axis. Adult Lhasa Poos suffers from bloat, but it can also affect puppies. If your pet is lucky, it may not get bloat since it tends to affect larger dog breeds, but the possibility of getting bloat is still there. The causes of bloat are genetics or anatomy, but ingesting too much food and water as well as strenuous activities after meals is the cause of bloat. Depression, excessive drooling, and vomiting are signs of bloat.
- Hip Dysplasia – In any normal circumstances, the hip of the Lhaso poodle usually functions. However, when the hip’s ball and socket joints get deformed, the bones no longer slide smoothly into the socket but grind and rub instead. This condition is hip dysplasia, and it often begins when the pup is four months old. Hip dysplasia is inherited from the canine’s parents if it is genetically susceptible to have one. However, various environmental factors, obesity, or rapid weight gain and nutritional factors can cause hip dysplasia as well. Signs of hip dysplasia are swaying gait, difficulty in rising, reluctant to jump, run or climb, lameness and decreasing physical activity.
- Patellar Luxation – This disease is similar to hip dysplasia since it affects the bone joints. Still, in this case, the disease affects the Lhasa Poos’ kneecaps explicitly. The kneecap is dislocated from the thigh bone’s groove, where it should stay in place. However, the kneecap can return to its proper place if the dog holds up their hind legs for a few minutes. Smaller dog breeds are the most common types of canine breeds that suffer from patellar luxation. Symptoms of patellar luxation are lameness, abnormal movement and occasional skipping of the hind limb.
Other diseases affecting Lhasa Poos are allergies and heart diseases. A regular visit to a veterinarian, along with a thorough check-up, should prevent or mitigate whatever problems your pet experiences. Do let any of the issues get severe since they can potentially be crippling or fatal. Therefore do not hesitate to bring your dog to a vet if you suspect something is not okay with your pet.
Training and Exercise
The Lhasa Poo benefits a lot from training and exercise since they can keep the dog healthy and instill discipline. Here are some tips for training and activities
- When it comes to training Lhasa Poos, you need to be calm and confident in your approach since the dog will react more positively. Treats and praises for successful acts during training are the best way to give your pet more encouragement to excel in practice. If your dog fails, don’t get angry or rough; encourage it to do better next time. As a bonus, Lhasa Poos are smart and will do their best to please their owners so you won’t have a difficult time dealing with your dog. Lastly, the best time to train your Lhasa Apso Poodle mix pet is when it is still a puppy so that it can learn as much as it can earlier in its life.
- Lhasa Poos are active dogs, but not too active and they need average daily exercises. You can take out your pet (on a leash, of course) outdoors by a walk around the neighborhood or going to the park. If the weather outside prevents you from going out for a walk, the canine could always play indoors with you as a substitute.
Living With a Lhasa Poodle Mix
Having a Lhasa Poo as a pet can change your life, your family, and your home. For one thing, you need to take good care of the dog’s health and provide for its needs.
Lhasa Poos can get along with everyone, including other animals, just as long as they have been socialized. The canine loves to interact with children, though you or other adults may need to supervise such interactions since the kids may unintentionally hurt the poor thing. A socialized canine has a well-behaved manner and won’t be noisy by doing the incessant barking. Lhasa Poos that are three years older make excellent companion pets to older adults.
Whether it’s a house or an apartment is a suitable environment for the breed. All you need to do is take the dog outdoors for a walk to give it some exercise or just play with it indoors. Since Lhasa Poos are the results of mixing the Lhasa Apso and Poodle breeds, they also get their parents’ personalities, especially the guard dog trait. Lhasa Poos are excellent watchdogs and will alert you via barking if there is a stranger. This breed can handle hot weather but won’t fare well against the rain, snow, etc.
Grooming and Feeding Tips
Long-haired dogs like the Lhasa Apso Poodle mix breed need brushing to keep their hair tidy. It would be best if you brushed the dog’s coat every two or three days to remove or prevent tangles and mats. Regular bathing is necessary and uses doggie shampoo specifically for it.
Lhasa Poos hair is either soft, tight, loose waves, straight or big looping curls that can be curly or wavy, which needs trimming. Because of the coat’s long hair, trimming is a must, but the question here is where you are skilled enough for the job or not. If you have the skill, then you can trim your pet by yourself. If not, get a professional trimmer to do Lhasa Poo haircuts. Have the canine cut once in 6 to 8 months. Pay particular attention to genitals and have a lower belly area shaved.
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Next, you need to check the animal’s body, especially the eyes, since they develop reddish-brown stains from their tears. Get a clean cloth and carefully wipe the area beneath the eyes and wash your pet’s face while you are at it. After every bath, rub the dog’s ear until they are clean and dry to prevent bacterial infection.
Trim the toenails when the situation warrants it. To check if you need to trim the toenails, listen carefully if your dog makes a clicking sound on the floor when moving. That’s your cue to cut the animal’s toenails. Get a professional to trim the nails if you feel not up to it.
Lastly, attend to the dog’s teeth and brush them regularly to keep its breath fresh and prevent tartar and plaque. Ask your vet as to what toothpaste is right for your pet.
It needs plenty of carbohydrates, fat, and protein to keep itself adequately nourished as feeding the dog. You can put meat chunks in the canine’s regular food and serve it chews as well as kibbles. Switch to adult dry dog food once a Lhasapoo becomes one year old. Also, feed your pet according to its age and weight.
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Where Can I Find A Lhasa Poo?
It is almost certain that you would want a high-quality Lhasa Poo pup or adult dog. To find such a dog, you need to go to Lhasa Poo breeders. Here are some tips to help you find a reputable breeder or deal with one:
- You can find a breeder online and once you find one, visit him or her.
- Avoid breeders that sell puppies online.
- A good breeder will match the right puppy for you and ensure that you have a good home.
- Health certifications for a pup’s physical health must be available.
- The breeder answers questions about the puppy’s history, personality, and physical health.
- Check the puppy’s living conditions and observe it yourself.
- Steer clear of puppy mills and pet stores.
A Lhasapoo puppy costs $400 to $1000. Still, the prices do not include expenses for doggie stuff, medical check-up, dog license, and grooming.
If you don’t have the money to buy Lhasapoo, then getting one from a Lhasa Poo rescue center is your only option. Sites like AnimalShelter.org and Petfinder.com have a listing of Lhasa Poos available for adoption along with other relevant info.
Recognize Groups
- American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC)
- Designer Breed Registry (DBR)
- Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC)
- Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA)
- International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR)
- Designer Breed Registry (DBR)
Now that you have read about the Lhasa Poo dog, you would want to get one as a pet. If you already got the canine as a pet, then the topics above will help you care for the little guy. Be it a puppy or an adult; this dog breed has a special place in everyone’s heart and home. Not only do you get a pet to love, but you have one that is more eager to love you back.
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