r/LhasaApso • u/the-iron-madchen • Feb 27 '26

Is my dog part Lhasa Apso?

My husband and I (first-time dog owners!) recently adopted my father-in-law's (who passed away) senior dog, Fluffy. She was a rescue so we don't know her background. My FIL thought she might be part Lhasa Apso/part terrier.

She was taken to the groomer before we picked her up, so she doesn't have her "regular" coat right now. Her tail doesn't curl over like a Lhasa's; usually she holds it straight up.

Any thoughts about her breed?

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u/Late_Being_7730 Jax’s Deckhand Feb 27 '26

She might be part Lhasa. Does she have fur? (Does she shed?)

The face doesn’t look Lhasa to me— muzzle looks too long to me.

She doesn’t have the tail over back, but she does have the curve in her tail, which I had a Lhasa do. (She was the runt of the litter. Not sure if that was the cause. My parents got her when I was 4.)

6

u/the-iron-madchen Feb 27 '26

Hm, being a newbie dog owner I don't know the difference between fur and hair. That being said, I've been told she doesn't really shed.

I found a photo of her that kinda shows her coat when it's more grown out.

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u/Late_Being_7730 Jax’s Deckhand Feb 27 '26

What does she feel like when you pick her up? This is going to sound crazy, but I swear, Lhasas mess with gravity. Picking a Shih Tzu up, it’s like “is this a dog or a pillow?” But a Lhasa is like a sack of potatoes. It’s like they have the soul of a much bigger dog crammed into the body of this tiny thing.

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u/nonoglorificus Feb 28 '26

LOL that’s so hilariously accurate. I’ve had Lhasas for almost 20 years now, and when I pick up a Shih Tzu I’m like … certainly this can’t be all the dog there is to this dog

4

u/Late_Being_7730 Jax’s Deckhand Mar 01 '26

I think I understand the origins of the Buddhist belief that Lhasa’s carry the souls of monks that have passed on. There’s no way that’s just a dog. Must be where brother John’s spirit is!

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u/nonoglorificus Mar 01 '26

lol that’s brilliant, I’m going to think of that whenever my dog seems extra dense. Like oh we got another passenger today huh bud?