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Some people think the Lhasa Apso is an “evil” breed? In my experience, definitely not. So where did the reputation come from? I have some theories…
As the breed became popular in the ’70s and ’80s, puppy breeders were quick to jump on the bandwagon and buy and breed Lhasas with no other goal than to produce puppies, sell them quickly, and make money. There was no thoughtful consideration of physique, health or temperament prior to breeding. The glut of cute, fluffy puppies in pet stores being bought by people who bought from their looks with little knowledge (because, frankly, very little information about the Lhasa was published at the time) about the breed itself actually led to the Lhasas with pretty nasty dispositions. Since then, the reputation of the breed has suffered.
People buying a Lhasa puppy need to know that Lhasas are smart, independent (some might say “stubborn”), dignified, and easily offended. Their sense of justice and fairness requires a training approach that avoids yelling and corporal punishment. By that I don’t just mean “don’t hit”; Of course you shouldn’t hit a dog. By that I mean things like shaking the dog or jerking on the leash. Lhasas think highly of themselves and most strive to please their people. They respond well to treats and praise and training games that are fun, upbeat, and intellectually stimulating.
Grooming is part of a Lhasa’s life, so a big part of early training is training the dog to be groomed. Although many people prefer to keep their Lhasas shaved or in some sort of puppy clip, early training is still required as these Lhasas need to visit the groomer and know how to behave in order to be welcomed into the hair salon. I honestly believe that one reason the adjective “nasty” became associated with the Lhasa is the fault of the owners who “routinely” take their matted Lhasas to the groomer, maybe twice a year. These dogs are not well behaved because they have not been trained to be groomed. Poor groomer must face a dirty, matted, frightened dog who associates visits to the groomer with injuries. There is growling and cracking. I blame the owners for ignoring the dogs needs and putting them in a situation they are completely unprepared for.
And yes, there are Lhasas who are just mean through and through, just as there are mean individuals of every other race, and just as there are mean people of all ages from all walks of life and all ethnic groups. In my opinion, we shouldn’t call an entire group bad just because some of its members are lazy. This is just as true for dogs as it is for people!
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