Tasy vs Lhasa Apso - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Lhasa Apso is a non-sporting dog hailing from Tibet. He was a useful dog to the monks who would use him in the palaces as well as the monasteries to ward off intruders.

He actually takes his name from the holy city of Lhasa, with the history of the breed going back to 600BC.

Today he is a true companion dog, a family dog, known as as the Tibetan Apso, the Bearded Lion Dog, the Apso and Lhasa.

The dog has been recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1935, in the Non-Sporting Group category.

Call them Tasy or Tazys these sighthound dogs from Kazakhstan have always been used for hunting. This Turkish dog is thought to be one of the oldest dog breeds in the world.

There aren’t many left in the world and the Kazakhstan government is putting steps into action to prevent the dog from becoming extinct.

These dogs are not recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale. Their ancestry is unclear, but the dog shares DNA with quite a few similar-looking breeds.

Lhasa Apsos are small dogs which stand at between 25 to 28cm in height and weigh in the region of 6 to 8kg.

The body length of the dog is longer than the height of the dog. He has brown eyes, a black nose and medium length, floppy ears. The long tail is carried over the dog's back.

Many people get used to seeing a sheared or clipped Lhaso, so when they see a dog where the coat has been left uncut they can’t believe the long, straight, dense coat.

Because the dog hails from Tibet where the weather can be extremely cold, he has a double coat – an under- and outer coat. While the coat looks fairly silky, it isn’t really and is in fact quite course to the touch.

Colors of the coat can be gold, tan, cream, white, black and white. Regular brushing will be needed for the coat because this is a dog with continual shedding. These dogs are regarded as being hypoallergenic as they hardly shed.

Temperament:

Looks can be quite deceiving when it comes to the Lhasa Apso as he is a dog who looks as though butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth and that he is essentially just a cuddly lapdog.

This small little dog is tough, robust, strong-willed and in his heart he believes he is a huge Tiger.

He’ll make his human family a loyal and loving pet but he is wary with strangers, distrusting anyone he meets for the first time. He is a dog that will need to be trained and socialized as he may take over your home in his ‘Tiger’ role.

Smart and dominant, this training will turn him into an obedient dog to have around which is important as he can become bossy if left to go his own way.

The slender Tasy is a fairly large dog standing at between 55 to 72 centimeters in height and weighing in the region of 20 – 35g.

The dog has a short, silky coat and can be in a number of colors – fawn, grey, red.The tail is long and thin, the legs long and slender, the muzzle long and thin and the floppy ears are often folded back.

Temperament:

Independent and Intelligent, the Tasy will be easy to train. This is a gentle dog, not looking to get into trouble with other dogs. He gets on well with children and loves human companionship. They are known for their playfulness.

The Lhasa Apso is a small dog full of surprises. That's because he can be manipulative, naughty and feisty one minute, and sweet and gentle the next. He happens to be a good watch dog too, and will alert you well in advance to intruders.

Because he is small and not a particularly energetic dog, he can slot into life in the city or the countryside with ease. However, exercise is good and necessary for every dog so be sure he joins you on your daily walks or you give him some games indoors.

The Lhasa can be a wonderful family companion and you’ll find that he can get on well with children who have been taught to treat animals with kindness and respect. He isn’t the kind of dog that you keep outdoors but is essentially an indoor dog, relishing the time he spends with his beloved human family and making a wonderful companion.

The Tasy is such a beautiful dog and capable of making a splendid family pet and companion.

It is sad that these dog's numbers have dropped so much so that there is concern for its existence.

We hope that the Tasy's breeding programs meet with success and that this slender, attractive dog, such an ancient breed, will take his place firmly as man’s best friend.

Every dog can develop genetic health problems, but it is highly unlikely that with good care, your Lhasa Apso is going to get sick.

He’s a healthy dog breed that can get to 14 years of age and even older. With Lhasas, health problems can include things like hip dysplasia, eye problems and intervertebral disc disease.

If you are buying a puppy, be careful from where you buy him from. You want careful breeders who screen their parent dogs for genetic diseases. Keeping your dog at the right weight and preventing obesity will also help to ensure he remains healthy.

Your Tasy is such a beautiful dog, you don’t want to see him getting sick, and yet there are some illnesses and conditions he can succumb to -

Hip Dysplasia:

Many large breeds, even slender ones, can be prone to hip dysplasia. This is where the joint’s ball and socket don't fit together properly. For your canine friend it can mean pain and arthritis, and you may find your pet making a huge effort to stand once he is lying down.

Obesity:

Any dog can become overweight, but it is more noticeable in slender-build dogs like the Tasy. Obesity pus unnatural pressure on the joints and it is also linked to other health problems. Every dog needs good food and good exercise.

Do research on other dog problems such as cancer, skin problems and bloat.

Grooming:

The Lhasa Apso is going to require regular brushing of his coat as it can get long and then it will matt and tangle easily.

There are owners of this dog breed who prefer to send their dog to their grooming parlor where the coat is trimmed short the way they prefer, minimizing the time spent grooming the dog. At the grooming parlour they also check the ears, the teeth of the dog and the nails, particularly if they don’t wear down naturally.

Diet:

The Lhasa was bred to be a watchdog, so even though he is a small dog, he does his best to guard and protect you. He is no pushover, and training him and socializing him makes him even more adorable to be around.

As man’s best friend, he needs a high-quality, nutritious diet because this helps to protect him from disease. You can feed him the best commercially manufactured foods, but study the packaging details on what the ingredients are. You want to be avoiding corn and wheat, colorants and preservatives.

Your Lhasa has 4 – 6 puppies and as these get older and are weaned they will require 4 meals a day. Once your dog reaches one year of age, he can have 2 meals a day instead of one larger meal.

Every dog loves a little bit of home-made food as a treat, and your Lhasa will wag his tail when you add in some cooked chicken, brown rice and some raw or cooked vegetables into his kibble. Include some raw meat in the diet occasionally as well as this helps to avoid dog skin problems.

Folliculitis

Folliculitis is a skin disease starting in the hair follicles of the dog and often occurs in conjunction with other skin disorders like mange. It is found mostly on the dog's abdomen, his armpits and groin and you’ll notice scaly rings with pus and scabs.

To avoid nasty skin diseases which can be very distressing for your pet, remember that your dog's dietary intake plays a huge role in the maintenance of a healthy skin and some raw meat is key to his wellbeing.

Exercise:

The Tasy is a playful, energetic dog and will need to be exercised on a regular basis. He loves a good run and is the kind of dog that won’t do well in a small city property. He is far better suited to life in the country where he can run freely.

Grooming:

The Tazy is looked upon as being low maintenance. It’s always a good idea to get into the habit of brushing your dog’s coat once or twice a week to not only remove loose hairs but to have some bonding time with your pet.

It’s also time to run your hands over the lean body ad to make sure there aren’t any unusual lumps. Look inside his ears and make sure there is no sign of redness to indicate an infection. Remember, if you don’t like to do the grooming part for your pet, professional groomers can do all these things for you as well as trim his nails and clean his teeth.

Diet:

The Tasy is a fairly tall, lean, energetic dog, so if you opt to feed him one of the commercially manufactred dog foods there are, choose one that suits the age, size and energy levels of your pet.

Your dog can get sick if you feed him inferior dog food so read the packaging carefully and make sure its a good brand with vitamins and minerals instead of useless, toxic fillers.

Try to include some simple,home-made food devoid of spices or other exotic things that can give him a stomach ache. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a super healthy choice. Chop it up and feed it to your pet twice a week or so as a tasty treat.

Always make sure that your canine friend has access to fresh, cool water.