Lhasa Poo Dog Breed

The Lhasa Poo, as a mixed breed, is not an official member of any breed group. Neither does any info exist about these hybrids' true origin, but they were likely developed as part of the "designer dog explosion" in North America during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. These alert little pups have hypoallergenic coats, so they're ideal for allergy sufferers looking for a protective indoor companion.

A few Lhasa Apso-Poodle mix facts: they're small-sized, averaging 11 inches at the shoulders in height and 13 pounds in weight; they can have long, straight coats or shorter, wavy to curly ones (or somewhere in between)--and the coats won't shed much; and these hybrids are pretty "yappy," so they'll need to be trained starting at a young age to curb their barking tendencies.

Some advantages and drawbacks to owning a LhasaPoo dog:

The Lhasa Poo is, of course, the offspring of a Lhasa Apso and a Poodle--and while a Standard Poodle could certainly be used in the breeding, Miniature (or even Toy) Poodles are used to maintain these hybrids' small size.

One important bit of LhasaPoo information concerns the dog's protectiveness, inherited from its Lhasa Apso parent. And while the idea of a dog this small being "protective," consider that the Lhasa Apso was originally developed to serve as a protector of Buddhist monasteries. A Lhasa Poo, then, will be alert, vocal, and suspicious of strangers; the dog will need early obedience training and socialization so it can learn respectful behavior. But if properly trained, these hybrids will be very adaptable to various situations, people, and environments.

Your Lhasa-Poodle mix will also be pretty energetic. These hybrids will fulfill a lot of their daily exercise needs just running around being their curious little selves, but taking them for a walk or two each day is a good idea.

Active, intelligent, protective, affectionate, and sometimes stubborn, the LhasaPoo temperament is one of devotion and confidence. These hybrids are friendly and fun-loving around family members, but they'll be suspicious of strangers and may try to "protect" their human owners from them by barking and being defensive--which means early socialization is key in developing a well-balanced dog. They're also known for barking excessively, and may turn extra-fussy and stubborn if allowed--so some obedience training during puppyhood will be a good idea as well. The LhasaPoo personality also means these hybrids will normally get along well with kids and other pets, especially if they're raised together.

Another aspect of the Lhasa-Poodle temperament is its willingness to please, so this dog usually responds well to training. A Lhasa Poo can normally learn tasks, tricks, and commands without too many repetitions; as with any dog, firm, consistent, reward-based training methods are best.

And the Lhasa Poo will make an excellent watchdog. While these dogs are really too small to be able to neutralize potential threats, they're alert, curious, and protective, and will definitely sound a vocal alarm if they perceive an unknown sight or sound.

The Lhasa Poo, due to hybrid vigor (in which a crossbred dog inherits the healthiest traits of its parent breeds), is very healthy. Still, these hybrids might suffer a few ailments common to both parent breeds, including structural problems (like hip dysplasia and patellar luxation) and various eye issues. Potential owners are advised to ask breeders for health screenings for the dog and/or its parents, or they can have their own veterinarians do the screenings.

Life expectancy for the Lhasa Poo is 10-15 years.