Overview
The Lhasa Apso was kept in Tibetan monasteries and homes as an indoor watchdog, alerting to anyone the big dogs outside had missed. It is small but solid, with a long, heavy coat that many pet owners keep clipped, and a confident, slightly aloof manner that has nothing to do with being a lapdog.
That history matters on a walk. Lhasas are not especially interested in strangers, human or canine, and they do not see why they should do anything they have not decided to do. Won over, they are loyal and funny. Rushed, they are stubborn and quite capable of a warning snap.
Exercise and walking needs
Forty minutes a day in two short walks is plenty for most Lhasas. They enjoy a potter with lots of sniffing and are happy to go further on a good day, but they are not built for distance and they will sit down when they have had enough.
They cope with cold well thanks to the coat and dislike heat and heavy rain. A wet long coat is heavy and uncomfortable, so shorten walks in downpours.
On the walk
- Handling: Let the dog come to you. Reaching over its head or scooping it up without warning is how most Lhasa grumbles happen.
- Other dogs: Indifferent at best, bossy at worst, with a tendency to tell off bigger dogs that get too close. Keep greetings short and avoid rowdy groups.
- Recall: Optional, in the dog's view. Off-lead time is for quiet, enclosed places where a slow response does not matter.
- Coat: A full coat drags through mud, collects seeds and gets in the eyes. Check the face and feet at the end of the walk and report any matting.
Tips for professional walkers
- Give the dog a minute at the door before clipping the lead on. It likes to inspect you first.
- Keep the pace relaxed and the route interesting. Lhasas walk for the sniffing, not the exercise.
- Carry a small towel for the face and underside after wet walks.
- Watch for signs of eye irritation if hair is falling into the eyes; mention it to the owner.
What to ask the owner
- How does the dog like to be approached and picked up, and is there anything it dislikes?
- Any eye, skin or kidney conditions that affect how long or where you walk?
- Is the dog clipped or in full coat, and what care do you want after muddy walks?