Lhasa apso

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Animals & Nature

Lhasa apso

breed of dog

Also known as: abso seng kye

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Mar 6, 2024 • Article History

Lhasa apso

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Category: Animals & Nature

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Lhasa apso, breed of dog from Tibet, where it is called abso seng kye (“bark lion sentinel dog”) and is used as an indoor guard dog. The Lhasa apso is characteristically hardy, intelligent, and watchful. Longer than it is tall, it stands 10 to 11 inches (25 to 28 cm) and weighs 13 to 15 pounds (6 to 7 kg). It has a heavily haired tail that curls over its back and a long, profuse coat that covers its eyes. The coat of the Lhasa apso may be of various colours, but golden-brown shades are preferred by most breeders.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Chelsey Parrott-Sheffer.