hello, thanks for advice about my forthcoming spaniel.could any of you please give me any advice about lhasa apso dogs. my sister is thinking about rehoming a bitch of 16 months.she hasn't had any bad experiences, but her owners are going to america. my sister has a toddler of 3,and two cats. are this breed a good family pet, with well behaved children, or are they not suitable. my sis has researched the breed, but finds conflicting advice.
thanks alot for any help

It would depend on what prior experience it has with children, though she should be able to get a good idea by visiting with the kids in it's own terrritory where it lives, as if it is going to be dominant or funny with them it is more likely to be where it feels secure, it's current home.

Hi I have an 18 month male lhasa. I would do as Brainless has suggested and meet her with the children on her home territory. Barney is brilliant with children of all ages and grown ups and has never been aggressive to anyone, he is very laid back and lively and happy BUT he doesnt seem to like my daughter's cat at all. I hope your sister's' one is okay as they cant all dislike cats :)

Gina

thanks,brainless,and gina,
i will pass this on to my sis. gina, what sort of personality does Barney have? you say he's laid back,etc. Was he always like that? Do you have any other general tips i could pass on? For example, was he easy to house train,etc. Is he okay with being left alone for a few hours, and does he use a crate?
Sis hasn't got a computer yet, so it's down to me .....
Thanks again.
P.s. What does he actually do in reaction to your sister's cat????

Hi.

Barney's personality has never really changed since we got him at 8 weeks. We have never crated him. He has never ever caused any damage ever (unlike my little shih tzu who would chew everything and who was crated when young for a while). He has a lovely warm personality to all people and loves playing. He does like his own space now and again and he will sit where in his favourite places and may seem a bit moody but I put it down to him having his own mind and if he wants to sit on his own that is okay. He doesnt like being in a room on his own though and has to be able to see you. If you go up to him though his tail will wag and he is quite happy to see you. I think he sits in cool places because of his heavy coat.

He barks at the cat and gives her no peace at all. The cat doesnt like him either though :D. We keep them apart and if she is on the sofa he doesnt see her and all is well.

He is very gentle even when playing. You can take anything off him at any time. He wasnt exactly easy to housetrain but got the hang in the end at about 6 months. Only time we have to watch him is when I come home from work (husband works mainly from home). He gets excited every time and always brings me a gift of a chew or a toy when I come in the house and we have to make sure back door is open for him to have a quick tiddle. This happens every night LOL.

All in all he is gorgeous and I wouldnt be without him. I think if I remember rightly that girls are less "moody" and more affectionate so hopefully your sister should be okay. Barney is very affectionate and a big baby.

In all, a very good natured, funny, likeable dog. Oh and he is fine left on his own if we go out for a meal etc. and as I said we have never crated him. He has all his toys and chews and he is quite happy until we get home.

He is not overly noisy but does bark if someone comes to the door etc.

Hope this helps.

Gina

I have had two Lhasas. Both were bitches and wonderful dogs but very different in temperament. One was very outgoing, loved everybody and independant, the other was very aloof with strangers but a real lovy dovey dog with her family, quite noise sensitive though and wouldn't have coped with kids whilst the other one enjoyed the rough and tumble. One was a tom boy, the other a lady to be treated with respect. Once toilet trained they were very good but it took time. I have never had the same degree of trouble with any other breed. Neither of them had crates and they were never destructive even when left alone although to be honest they both felt that their place was with me where ever I went. Fortunately they both travelled well in the car.

I think you have found conflicting advice because they are all so different! One of mine would eat anything, the other was really fussy. One had alot of health problems, the other was very robust. One liked cats, the other didn't. I can say that it is a wonderful breed and a delight to share your life with.

thanks to all who replied. it seems like you rightly say, it depends on individual temperament and how they've been socialised, like most dogs. it was just that she was told they are naturally grumpy. sorry to ask so many questions, but to the owner with two bitches, what age did you , if in fact you did, spay your girls? did it affect them in any way? my sis's prospective bitch has not been spayed, but sis would want her done if that was the right thing to do. all i've read says it's definitely the best thing to do if you are not breeding from your bitch.
thank you so much for your replies.barney sounds a wonderful little dog! is he allowed on furniture,sofas,etc? or is this a breed that needs to know he has strict parameters???
sorry, last question,promise!!!

Hi ya :)

Yes he is allowed on the sofa and on the bed BUT he only sits on them for a while as he definitely likes cooler spots to laze about in. He sits on the sofa to look out the window with Molly our shih tzu as it is her favourite pastime if she is indoors. If I do not want him on the sofa or bed though there is no problem letting him know he cant get up.

I hope your sister is able to give her a home and although Chrys' girls sounded different they certainly seemed both to be lovely girls. Not that I am biased or anything :D

By the way, Barney hates the car and is always sick on long journeys :D

Gina

PS Let us know what happens :p

thanks gina. i will keep you posted. i think after all the advice and the research she's done, sis is going to take the pup on. thanks to both the replies....

Hey Gina, are you sure thats Barney your talking about and not my Charlie? Aside from the car sickness (Charlie LOVES being in the car), they could be the same dog :) - And the slightly freaky thing is, i've jsut seen a pic of him on the msn site, and they even *look* alike :D

Aside from Charlie, we know five other lhasas, and a couple of shih tzu's and they all have lovely personilaites - i know there are the exceptions in every breed, but our experience of them has been lovely

Majix

thanks for comments. what is the msn site, so my sis and i can check the photos out,please?

Its probably the Cleo and Solo site set up by Cleopatra on here she means. It has loads of piccies of everyones dogs / family etc.

Ali :)

thanks ali, great site.nice to be able to put a face,etc to some of the names. thanks again.

Both my Lhasas were spayed, as are all my bitches. I always let them have their first season, then they are spayed about half way before their next one. I have been lucky and there have never been any side affects. I have never met a grumpy Lhasa although a stranger might think some of them were unfriendly because they can ignore them, only being interested in the family. Both my girls had wonderful natures. They were originally palace dogs and tend to think they should be treated as such - you can't expect them to sit on the floor or sleep in a dog bed!! They have an incredible way of getting you to do want they want. How can you resist those eyes? And they are really intelligent and know their own minds. Size means nothing.Tilly was always the undisputed boss of my other, larger dogs.
I lost Tilly a year ago.I still have a Beardie and an ancient Polish Lowland Sheepdog whose health isn't good. I didn't want to stress her with a new arrival, but I really miss not having a Lasa around and will have another one day.
Carrie

I'm sorry to hear you lost your Tilly. I see what you mean about a natural aloofness with strangers, rather than being grumpy. I hate when people make generalisations about a whole breed, and enough people repeat it, and so that breed becomes known for it. I will advise sis to get her lhasa spayed.As she's around 16 months, she must have had at least one litter, is that right? You obviously like the shaggier breeds!!!! Beardies and Polish Lowland Sheepdog are gorgeous. Sorry he's not in good health. Thanks for your comments.

Unless I've missed something in the previous posts, there's no need for the bitch to have had any litters at all! She's only 16 months!!

I think she may have meant "season" and typed the wrong word - easily done when reading threads - well it is with me :D

Gina :p

oops.sorry, did mean season....thanks

Phew! :D

I have a rescue llhasa we have had him 7 years now and the vet thought he was about 2 when we got him he came from the ncdl and i must say he is the most wonderful dog you could wish to meet. He has always had the run of the house since day one and has never ever put a foot wrong The rescue kennels had to clip him off down to the skin as his coat was in a terrible state and the vet couldn't even get the needle through the mats to give him his vaccinations his nails were also in a dreadful state and the actual nail beds were damaged and the vet put it down to him standing for long periods in urine, in fact he was in a pretty bad state altogether but his coat soon grew back and we sorted out the other things like his nails etc, but even now his nails are not brilliant and when being clipped can be a bit crumbly and bless him he hates his feet being done but never gets aggressive or anything just a bit fidgity. He gets on with all my other dogs and my son did obedience with him and was part of our local dog club display team for a number of years and was a great favourite with all the spectators at the various venues . He is a real couch potatoe now and spends much of his time asleep on my sons bed,And even though my son is now 18 they are still inseperable,The best days work i have ever done was going along to the rescue kennels and coming home with our dougal.

thanks Ace. sounds like you really struck lucky. hope my sis is as lucky. thanks again.