Dog breed guide
Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso is a small, assertive companion that is wary of strangers and does not shed much, but its long coat needs daily grooming or a practical shorter clip. It needs little exercise and adapts to apartment living. It generally prefers the company of adults, although some do well with children.
Lhasa Apso at a glance
- Adult weight, male
- 6 to 8 kg
- Adult weight, female
- 5 to 6 kg
- Size
- Small, under 10 kg
- Height
- 25 to 28 cm
- Lifespan
- 12 to 15 years
- Coat
- heavy, straight and hard top coat of good length with a dense undercoat
Ratings
Petboost editorial ratings from 1 to 5, drawn from the breed standard text under Sources. A breed with no basis in the sources for a rating shows none.
- Shedding
- Grooming effort
- Energy
- Trainability
- Good with children
- Suits an apartment
5 means it sheds heavily
5 means it needs the most grooming
5 means it needs a lot of exercise
5 means it learns quickly and eagerly
5 means it suits a family best
5 means it copes best in a small home
Next steps
- Find a local groomer or daycarePet businesses near you that take bookings online.
- Check a Lhasa Apso puppy's weightWhere a puppy sits against the breed's adult range.
- Dog age in human yearsFrom a formula, not the seven-to-one rule.
Sources
- Petboost breed reference data, adult weight ranges (breed list snapshot).
- Dogs Australia, Lhasa Apso Breed Standard, https://dogsaustralia.org.au/members/breeds/breed-standards/Lhasa-Apso, read 2026-10-05
- American Kennel Club, Is the Lhasa Apso the Right Breed for Your Lifestyle?, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/lhasa-apso-right-for-you/, read 2026-10-05
- American Kennel Club, Lhasa Apso vs. Shih Tzu: Similarities and Differences, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/lhasa-apso-versus-shih-tzu-how-to-tell-the-difference/, read 2026-10-05
- Dogs NSW, Lhasa Apso, https://www.dogsnsw.org.au/breeds/browse-all-breeds/lhasa-apso/, read 2026-10-05
- The Royal Kennel Club, Lhasa Apso, https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/utility/lhasa-apso/, read 2026-10-05
General information about the breed, not veterinary advice. Speak with your vet about your own pet.