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Lhasa Apso

This breed comes from Tibet where many live at high altitudes and the climate can be severe. He has to be hardy little dog to withstand these conditions, and this has had a great influence on his development. His long, hard coat with its dense undercoat acts as insulation during winter, the fall of hair over his eyes protects them from the wind, dust and glare. An Apso in full coat is a most impresive sight. It is not difficult to keep his coat in good condition, though grooming is necessary, for it will mat if not properly cared for. He is of an independent nature, and can be quite stubborn, chary of strangers, but very loving and affectionnate to friends and family. He will happily walk for miles over any terrain and make a charming, very attractive pet, with his jaunty movement and proud head carriage, all set off by a beautifully plumed tail.

General Appearance ** Well balanced, sturdy, heavily coated.

Characteristics** Gay and assertive.

Temperament ** Alert, steady but somewhat aloof with strangers.

Head and skull ** Heavy head furnishings with good fall over eyes, good whiskers and beard. Skull moderately narrow, falling away behind eyes, not quite flat, but not domed or apple headed. Straight foreface with medium stop. Nose black. Muzzle about 4 cms 1 1/2 ins, but not square, length from tip of nose roughly onethird total length from nose to back of skull.

Eyes ** Dark. Medium size, frontally placed, oval, neither large nor full, nor small and sunk. No white showing at base or top.

Ears ** Pendant, Heavily feathered.

Mouth ** Upper incisors close just inside lowere i.e. reverse scissor bite. Incisors in a broad and a straight a line as possible. Full dentition desirable.

Neck ** Strong and well arched.

ForeQuarters ** Shoulders well laid back. Forelegs straight, heavily furnished with hair.

Body ** Length from point of shoulders to point of buttocks greater than height at withers. Well ribbed. Level topline . Strong loin. Balanced and compact.

HindQuarters ** Well developed with good muscle. good angulation. Heavily furnished with hair. Hocks when viewed from behind parallel and not too close together.

Feet ** Round, cat - like with firm pads. Well feathered.

Gait & Movement ** Free and jaunty.

Tail ** High - set, carried well over back but not like a pot - hook. Often a kink at end. Well feathered.

Coat ** Top coat long, heavy, straight, hard, neither woolly nor silky. Moderate undercoat.

Colour ** Golden, sandy, honey, dark grizzle, slate, smoke, parti-colour, black, white or brown. All equally acceptable.

Size ** Ideal height, dogs 25.4 csms ( 10 ins ) at shoulders, bitches slightly smaller.

Faults ** Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be exact proportion to its degree.

Note ** Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully into the scrotum.