The Legacy of the Lhasa Apso
Follow the watchful Lhasa's lineage from
Tibet to America.
Discover the Jewel in the Lotus
Get to know the loyal and hardy Lhasa's
larger-than-life personality.
The Lhasa Apso Uncloaked
The Lhasa's breed standard describes the
ideal dog from nose to tail.
Behind the Top Lhasa Kennels
Lhasa breeders reveal how they raise
Champions.
Seeking a Lhasa Pup
How to find a perfect Lhasa Apso puppy.
Win the Housetraining Battle
Discover the best methods for
housetraining your Lhasa.
Train for Success
Positive reward-based training will
motivate your independent and sensitive Lhasa Apso.
8 Activities to Challenge Your Apso
Keep your assertive Lhasa busy with
activities ranging from agility to freestyle.
Hear Me Out!
The loyal Lhasa makes a difference in the lives of the hearing
impaired.
Select the Best Food for Your Lhasa
Follow one vet's advice on how to
balance proper nutrition with good taste.
Tame Your Lhasa's Locks
No more tangles—learn to care for your
Lhasa's copious coat.
Controlling Hereditary Disease
Learn about the signs and treatments for
illnesses that plague Lhasas, such as eye, knee, skin and
kidney problems.
Wanted: Homes for Misunderstood Lhasa
Apsos
Dedicated volunteers transform scared,
homeless Lhasas into loving companions.
Why I Love My Lhasa Apso
A photo celebration of this majestic,
intelligent Tibetan breed from those who love them.
The Spirit of Lhasa
Normally, when we speak of a dog’s character, we use the word
temperament. However, for the Lhasa Apso, a more appropriate
term is spirit (in more ways than one). According to Buddhist
beliefs, the souls of deceased lamas (monks) enter the bodies
of Lhasa Apsos for a time, at least until the good lama is
reincarnated into a new body. This is considered a high honor,
by the way. Not every run-of-the-mill lama gets the chance to
experience his next life as a dog. The Lhasa seems to know
that it bears no ordinary doggie soul. (According to Tibetan
breeder-in-exile Lama Ghen Yeshi, formerly from Eastern Tibet,
it’s sometimes possible for the soul of an ordinary layperson,
usually a nobleman, to enter into the body of a Lhasa, but not
ordinarily. More commonly, only the highest lamas received
such an honor.)
As
the traditional bearer of an enlightened soul, the Lhasa Apso
is no mere lama’s pet, but a respected member of the
monastery. (In the ancient, powerful Dre-Pung Monastery,
situated about three miles west of Lhasa and founded in 1414,
the Lhasa Apso was the only breed of dog permitted to enter
and live.)
Of course, it is not easy bearing the soul of a deceased lama.
The Lhasa Apso, truly an enlightened being in its own right,
is up to the job. And perhaps pet is not the right word,
either, for the contemporary Lhasa. “I consider Dakini my
friend, not a pet,” says Lhasa owner Marilyn Lee of Dallas,
Texas. “She just doesn’t act like a dog.” Perhaps she isn’t.
—Diane Morgan
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