Lhasa Apso
History
It is thought that the Lhasa Apso developed
in the area of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, about 800
years ago. The
Lhasa Apso has an exotic origin as an important part of
the religious and spiritual history
of Tibet, a
mysterious land in the
Himalayan Mountains. The breed was developed and nurtured
by the Dalai Lamas, or spiritual leaders of the Buddhist
religion, and by members of the aristocracy. They wanted
a dog that was not only a guardian but one that served
as a companion as well. The dogs
were considered holy, and to be presented with one was
to be
blessed with good fortune. The breed was unknown outside
of Tibet until the 16th century when trade began with the
Manchu Dynasty of China.
With Tibet's geographic isolation, its people historically
have been isolated and, therefore, wary of strangers.
For this reason, the dogs have adapted the same characteristic
of being cautious of newcomers until they are sure all
is well. This trait, in combination with their excellent
hearing, made them excellent sentinel dogs, willing to
bark a warning when strangers approach, allowing the Tibetans
to release their giant Tibetan mastiffs to fend off unwelcome
visitors.
In Tibet, the dogs were called Seng Kyi, or lion dogs,
because of their resemblance to the symbolic lion of Lamaist
Buddhism. One myth describes a Lhasa turning into a lion
to protect its master, while another claims that if a Buddhist
monk leads an exemplary life, he will be reincarnated as
a Lhasa Apso, since the dogs are so highly revered.
In 1901 Mrs. A. McLaren Morrison brought Lhasa Apso to
England where it was registered as an official breed,
the Lhasa Terrier, (although the Lhasa Apso is in no way
a terrier) in The Kennel Club in 1902. World War I had
a devastating effect
on the breed. It has been reported that as few as
as few as 30 Lhasa Apsos may still exist in Tibet.
The Lhasa Apso arrived in the United States when a pair
were gifted by the
Dalai Lama to
C. Suydam
Cutting in the early 1930s. The
American Kennel Club officially accepted the breed
in
1935 in the Terrier group, and in 1959 transferred
the breed to the Non-Sporting group.
Recently, DNA Analysis has identified the Lhasa Apso as
one of the 14 most ancient dog breeds.
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