Breed History
In its native Tibet, the Lhasa Apso is known as the Abso Seng Kye, Bark Lion Sentinel Dog....
Originally from the areas surrounding the sacred city of Lhasa, the dog was traditionally kept indoors as a second line of defense against intruders, where its keen hearing and ability to distinguish strangers from intimates were put to good use. For at least two thousand years, only Tibetan holy men and nobles bred the Lhasa Apso, and it was first seen outside of its native lands only as gifts from the Dalai Lama. It was nearly impossible to purchase despite the common belief that it brought good luck. Traditional lore suggested that upon his death, a Lhasa Apsos masters soul entered the animals body. The Lhasa Apso arrived in Britain in the 1920s and in America in the 1930s. Naturalist and traveler Suydam Cutting is solely responsible for the Lhasa Apsos popularity in the United States. Originally recognized as a member of the Terrier Group in 1935, the Lhasa Apso was reclassified into the Non-Sporting Group in 1959. Today, the Lhasa Apso is the most popular Tibetan breed in the United States, both in the ring and in the home.