Lhaso Apso

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"Muffin" - Lhaso Apso

In the earliest times, the Lhasa Apsos lived within the palace of the Dalai Lama, as the chosen pets of Tibetan nobility. Anyone acquainted with the breed today will surely attest that time has only served to enhance the affectionate, congenial nature of this most revered little lion dog. Apso Seng Kye(translated to Bark Sentinel Lion Dog in English) is the title by which the breed is known in their homeland. These hardy little dogs date back to 800 B.C. and have been said to be bring good luck to all who were fortunate enough to come in contact with them. Raised in monasteries by religious leaders, the Lhasa Apso was guarded and nurtured. Although dogs would sometimes be presented to visiting dignitaries as honored guest or symbols of good will and thanks, the little lion dog were never sold or widely bred. The mountainous and isolated land of Tibet provided a haven for this breed to mature and develop the aristocratic temperament that is so much a characteristic of the breed today.

The Lhasa Apso's most distinctive physical trait is their flowing, profuse coat, which if properly cared for, will fall straight to the ground without wave or curl. The hair around the head and eyes adds to the oriental look of this breed, and with the moustache and goatee being especially attractive. This heavy coat greatly aids the Lhasa Apso in surviving the extremes of weather that are common to the high, mountainous altitudes of the homelands - The Himalayas Mountains.

Standard for the Lhaso Apso

Character:Gay and assertive, but cautious of strangers.

Colouring:All colors acceptable with or without dark tip to the ears and beard.

Size:Variable, but approximately 10 to 11 inches at shoulders with females being a bit smaller.

Eyes:Dark brown, neither very large and full, nor very small and sunk.

Ears:Pendant, heavily feathered, hanging down and not upright.

Muzzle:Medium length (not pushed in like the Shihtzu).

Teeth:The preferred bite is either level or slightly undershot.

Feet:Well feathered, should be round and catlike, with good pads.

Tail:Carried well over the back in a screw, and maybe a kink at the end of the tail.

Grooming:Potential owners must be willing to take time to groom and brush the coat of the Lhasapoo everyday. Without this attention the coat will mat up and require cutting and trimming. If you know that you do not, or will not groom your Lhasapoo, then we suggest that you get a puppy cut on your Lhasapoo, which does not need to be brushed everyday. But, you should brush it at least twice a week. This is good for your puppy or adult Lhasapoo and most do not mind it if you are gentle with them.

Life Expectancy:Lhasapoo's can live for 12-16 years if provided with:

• good source of nutrition or well balanced diet
• regular vet visit (at least once a year)
• regular dental care (every 16 months)
• heart worm prevention (is a must)
• flea protection (Most Lhaso Apso's are very sensitive to flea bites, causing many irritations to the animals skin and loss of coat. Not to mention...how would you feel if you had these little fleabites on your body? So, prevention is worth a pound of cure, thus making you and your Lhaso Apso's or any other animal in your home happy and flea free.)

Click on Pug to view more Pug pictures

The Dutch, thought their East Indian Trading Company, brought these dogs to Holland, and later they came to England, where they were known for a time as Dutch Pugs. It was not until the middle of the last century two pug enthusists, Lady de Willoughby and Mr. Morrison, established kennels in England, and both succeded in creating an extraodinary vogue. The stock from their respective kennels presented distinct characteristics and were known accordingly. The Willoughby Pug were silver fawns with very dark black masks and distinct tracings. The Morrison Pugs were of a brighter golden fawn. The two gene pools have since been crossed many times over thus losing some of the characteristics that both Willoughby and Morrison first set out to produce.

The black Pug is a more recient production, first appearing about 1886. The black Pug have since devided in popularity with the fawns, they are all alike except for the color. They are not lacking in intelligence, as was sometimes supposed, but are on the contrary highly intelligent, wide awake, alert and very prompt to give warning of stangers. The Pug dog makes the most interesting of all pets,with his natural cleanliness, freedom from smell, and slight care needed to keep them looking great. They are great with children and all people alike. Pugs take training very well, and are very eager to please. As with any breed, the Pug is not without problems, and many of these are directly related to the dog's structure. The shortened muzzle (referred to as brachiocephalic) can cause breathing problems and air gulping, which can give him gas.

Standard for the Pug

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Colouring:Fawn, Silver Fawn and Blacks are expectable in this breed. The light colors with the black or dark mask are the most preferred.

Size:Being a toy dog the Pug should be around 14 lbs. and not be over 18lbs.

Head:Large, massive, and round.

Eyes:Large, dark, prominent, round, and lustrous, when excited full of fire. (Pugs have large, round, expressive eyes, that don't have the protection of a large nose like other breeds. Their eyes are often scratched as a result. An owner should learn how to recognize when the eye is scratched and have it treated or it could eventually cause the dog to become blind.) Their eyes are set shallowly into their heads, sometimes eyes do come out. Some Pugs go through their lives without any eye problems, some have chronic problems.

Ears:Thin, small soft, luke black velvet, there are two kinds: rose and button, the preference is the button.

Muzzle:Short, blunt, square.

Teeth:Slightly undershot jaw.

Feet:Neither long nor short nor round like a cat, nails are black.

Grooming:Very short coated breed, very little grooming. "If you have any trouble with dog hair or allergies...the Pug is not the breed for you."

Life Expectancy:Pugs can live for 10-16 years if provided with:

• good source of nutrition or well balanced diet (A fat Pug will not live for a long time.)
• regular vet visit (at least once a year)
• regular dental care (every 16 months)
• heart worm prevention (is a must)
• flea protection (Most Pug's are very sensitive to flea bites, causing many irritations to the animals skin and loss of coat. Not to mention...how would you feel if you had these little fleabites on your body? So, prevention is worth a pound of cure, thus making you and your Pug's or any other animal in your home happy and flea free.)

Click on Yorkie to view more Yorkie pictures

These changes are gradual until about 12 to 18 months at which time the coat should reach it's adult color. The head and leg feathering being a real golden tan or a nice deepening of almost mahogany. The Yorkie being that of a Toy dog is not a suitable dog for families with young children. Yorkies generally prefer grown-ups or semi retired people. They love to be the center of one's attention and enjoy traveling. Since the Yorkie is such a small dog it can go just about anywhere with you. Most Yorkie's can be house trained just like a cat and they can use a litter box in the same manner as a cat.

Standard for the Yorkie

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Appearance:The Yorkie is a small dog with a long coat. A Yorkie must have an intelligent expression with bright and clear eyes.

Colouring:Puppies are born black and tan and are normally darker in the body colour, showing an intermingling of black hairs in the tan until they are mature. Color of hair on their body and richness of tan on their head and legs are of prime importance in the adult dog. (Most yorkie's do not achieve this coloring until about 2 yrs. old.)

Size:4 to 7 lbs.

Ears:Ears are small and v-shaped, carried erect and set not too far apart.

Muzzle:The nose on the Yorkie is always black.

Teeth:The yorkie's bite is neither undershot nor overshot. Either scissors bite or level bite is acceptable.

Tail:The tail is docked to a medium length and carried slightly higher than the level of the back.

Nails:Should be dark and have dewclaws removed.

Coat:Moderately long and perfectly straight (not wavy). The Yorkie coat is glossy, fine and silky in texture.

Grooming:Potential Yorkie owners must be willing to, take time to groom, and brush the coat of the Yorkie every day. Without this attention the coat will mat up and require cutting and trimming. If you know that you do not, or will not groom your Yorkie, then we suggest that you get a puppy cut on your Yorkie. You will not need to brush the coat of your puppy everyday but you should brush it at least twice a week, as this is good for your puppy or adult Yorkie. Most do not mind it if you are gentle with them.

Life Expectancy:Yorkie's can live for 12-15 years, if provided with:

• good source of nutrition or well balanced diet
• regular vet visits (at least once a year)
• regular dental care (every 16 months)
• heart worm prevention (is a must)
• flea protection (Most Yorkie's are very sensitive to flea bites, causing many irritations to the animals skin and loss of coat. Not to mention...how would you feel if you had these little flea bites on your body. So prevention is worth a pound of cure. Making you and your Yorkie or any other animal in your home happy and flea free.)